Sage Publications Identity: A Reader (Published in association with The Open University)

Identity provides an essential resource of key statements drawn from cultural studies, sociology, and psychoanalytic theory, and includes three editorial essays, which place the readings in their theoretical and historical context. Divided into three parts: Language, Ideology and Discourse; Psychoanalysis and Psycho-Social Relations; and Identity, Sociology and History, this book invites readers to compare and contrast cultural studies approaches with psychoanalytic and historical and sociological accounts of identity formation. The Identity Reader will be an essential sourcebook for students of cultural studies, gender studies, social psychology, and sociology. The key statements are from the work of: Louis Althusser, Jessica Benjamin, Emile Benveniste, Homi K Bhabha, Pierre Bourdieu, Judith Butler, Ian Craib, Jacques D[ac]errida, Norbert Elias, Frantz Fanon, Michel Foucault, Anthony Giddens, Stuart Hall, Pierre Hadot, Melanie Klein, Jacques Lacan, Christopher Lasch, Isabel Menzies, Lyth, T H Marshall, Marcel Mauss, Am[gr]elie Okensberg Rorty, Jacqueline Rose, Nikolas Rose, Michael Rustin, Kaja Silverman, Max Weber, D W Winnicott Review `This ability to raise so many interesting themes and questions is precisely one of the strengths of this Reader. Another is a choice of contributions based on an historical perspective that enables us to trace some of the main threads in the debate over identity in a variety of disciplines in the last fifty years. In conclusion: an invaluable tool for scholars in the field′ - Discourse & Society" ‘Identity’ is one of the most overused but least considered terms in the lexicon of the contemporary humanities and social sciences. This volume brings together many of the key texts that will contribute to a more thoughtful understanding of the many issues involved in this elusive and deceptively difficult concept. The editors are not merely innocent anthologisers, however. They bring a sharp critical eye and a polemical editorial line to their task." -- James Donald About the Author Paul du Gay is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at The Open University Jessica Evans is Senior Lecturer in Cultural & Media Studies at the Open University. Peter Redman has been teaching social science at The Open University for the last 25 years. During this time he has worked closely with numerous students helping them reflect on and improve their writing skills. He is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology.