3-4 Pages, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman, at least two sources, citation page
Along Comes Butler: A Deeper Look at Identity
While the conversation about identity rages on, people enter and exit the circle. As you
think about the ideas of Appiah and Said a third and fourth participant enters the conversation.
Judith Butler talks about how, “as bodies, we are something more than, and other then ourselves”
(244). Butler also goes on to add that, “The question of who and what is considered real and true
is apparently a question of knowledge. But it is also, as Michael Foucault makes plain, a question
of power” (245). Griffin adds to the conversation that, “Each life is influenced and in turn
becomes an influence. Whatever is a cause is also an effect” (386). Griffin goes on to postulates,
“At a certain age we begin to define ourselves, to choose an image of who we are” (387). As
Butler and Griffin expresses their thoughts, you being to think about the connections that you see
within what Butler and Griffin are talking about and what Appiah and Said have said. When she
finishes speaking, Griffin sees you in deep thought and asks if you want to add to the
conversation. You take a deep breath and begin.
What I am asking of you guy is to do the following 3 things: 1.) Explore the ideas of one,
or both, of our previous two scholars – Appiah and/or Said. Re-examine some of the ideas either
Appiah or Said, or both, put forth in their essays. 2.) Engage with Butler’s and/or Griffin’s essay
and examine some of the ideas that they have put forth. In her piece Butler is asking, on a
philosophical level, what it means to be human, she is also asking use to join in on this
conversation. Griffin explores the impact that our childhood has on the building of someone’s
identity. How does Butler and Griffin go about exploring these ideas? 3.) Connect the ideas of
Butler and/or Griffin and at least one other scholar (that we have read in class) and your own
thoughts about identity together. Think about the things that Butler, Griffin and our other
scholars have said. In what ways do they agree or disagree with the theories that you have, or
that you are developing about the concept of identity. This essay is designed to be built off of
your previous essay. Feel free to incorporate some of the ideas that you have put forth in your
prior piece while you are creating this new paper.

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