Who Am I?
This video is part of the TED Talks series. TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a nonprofit devoted to disseminating "ideas worth spreading." I thought the idea of creating authentic identity through failed imitation was a great theme to begin the course as well as the blog. My hope is that you will step outside of the status quo and use your creative nature to complete the assignments and explore identity in a global context throughout this semester. What are your thoughts about Hetain Patel's presentation?
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ReplyDeleteHi everyone! I thought that Hetain Patel's Ted Talk was funny and informative. I liked the idea about how when you fail to imitate someone that you look up to, you become more authentically yourself. The people that we look up to can shape who we are, but it is through the process of learning, trying, and failing where we can really become our true selves.
ReplyDeleteI liked that idea, too. It can feel fake or like there is something lacking when I catch myself imitating someone else. But the idea that it is normal and even a good part of human development (so long as we are imitating worthy characters) that leads to a more true version of the self (as opposed to something counterfeit) is a refreshing take. We are pretty social creatures, after all.
DeleteSuper funny video. It made me think of all the times I've picked up some phrase or "bit" from work or elsewhere and brought it home as if it were my own. My kids think I'm super clever and funny, but I'm mostly just rehashing stuff I've picked up here and there like an unoriginal standup comic. Still, after a while, the bit I am doing kind of gets adapted into my own flavor and, in a way, does become part of what I am actually doing and not just what I'm imitating.
ReplyDeleteThe part where the presenter discusses his attempt to look like his father struck a chord for me. I definitely see more and more of my dad (and my mom, too) coming out in me as I get older. Especially in the context of my wife and kids (because that is the only version of my dad I ever saw, I guess!) The biggest take away I got from the TED talk is how we really are the sum of all the influences around us. Somehow, even though there is nothing new under the sun and we may be able to identify the same common ingredients that go into the different mixes, we still end up totally original.
That last part is so true! It reminds me of how Hetain talked about how he learned about his way of sitting down through Spiderman rather than what others might perceive to be a more South Asian way of sitting down. It's interesting how we have different influences for similar habits or ways of living and being.
DeleteI thought that Hetain's presentation was really interesting. The idea of finding your authentic self by failing to imitate others isn't something I've really thought about before. Now that I think about it, that's a lot of what my theatre professors have gotten us to do - whether it's imitating someone older or younger, someone with a different religion, someone from another part of the world, etc. Somehow we find parts of ourselves when we do that - just little bits of ourselves, but it helps to truly find out who you are and what you're made of in a way. We just did final presentations in my accents and dialects class and it was interesting to see what parts of a certain culture/way of speaking/body language resonated personally and what did not. It's interesting to see what we truly relate to by way of trial and error.
ReplyDeleteYou have such an interesting and unique perspective coming from theatre experience, and I'm really looking forward to how that part of you shines in discussions!
DeleteI enjoyed Hetain's presentation a lot. It definitely made me think deeper about how people create their own identity and finding their authentic self. I feel that in today's society, many people imitate others in a way that makes their life seem better than it may be in reality. Repeated connections and exposure made between people from varying cultures and lifestyles occurs through social media and networking platforms. The idea of putting on a front or imitation leads people to convince themselves that is their true identity. In reality, I feel that people realize their true identity when they realize that the imitation is unsustainable or that they actually do not like their imitating form in the long run. With that being said, I definitely agree with the idea that our authentic selves come to the surface through failed imitation. Through trials and tribulations, we find out a lot about ourselves, such as what we value, our morals, and how we want to live out lives, which are all major passengers in the vehicle of our identity.
ReplyDeleteKamryn I loved your mention of trials and tribulations. In my undergrad, I lived in a house with 7 other girls and I found myself imitating them. Doing what I thought would make me a "blue house" girl. I soon realized that that's not me, not really. It was exhausting to continual imitate, and I knew that wasn't sustainable. The trials and tribulations led to me breaking through the assumptions and expectations of others to be my true authentic self!!
DeleteHetain's presentation presented identity in a why that I have thought through before. I love the topic of identity and have studied it through slam poetry in my undergrad for Rhetoric. I find it a fascinating complex concept. Working with students 4-12th grade I see a lot of sides to identity formation and after Hetain's presentation, I've come to recall the way my student's imitate each other and me. In that I've seen students wrestle with failed imitation and what occurs after. Failed imitation can be hard but in myself and through my students I've seen through us become more uniquely us. Like many of you mentioned, I loved the ending. Where he mentioned he learned to sit in that position because of spiderman not from what people probably assume. This furthers the idea that identity is complex with lots of different factors.
ReplyDeleteI also work with kids and I have noticed this as well! I teach dance, and I can always tell which kids are super close outside of class because they talk and act very similarly. It's also interesting for me to see failed imitation, especially in dance when they're trying to copy movement instead of words or phrases, which can be pretty frustrating for some of them, but they always learn more from failing!
DeleteI loved how entertaining this TED talk was! I really liked how Hetain Patel switched between languages and accents to keep reminding the audience to question their assumptions they were making about him. I also think the part about failing to be like someone else makes you become yourself resonated with me a lot. I have an older sister, and I wanted to be exactly like her when I was kid, so I could definitely relate when Hetain spoke about trying to be exactly like his dad. I love the idea that when we are imitating someone else, we are actually discovering who we are!
ReplyDeleteClara, I totally agree with you! I also have an older sister, so I really resonate with that statement. I looked up to her so much and wanted to be just like her. I also liked how you pointed out that Hetain Patel switched languages to challenge people’s assumptions. I hadn’t thought of it that way at first, but your comment helped me see how intentional he was with that choice. It really added another layer to his message about identity and perception.
DeleteHetain's talk left me with more thoughts to ponder than I expected. As I sat and thought after watching the talk, I wondered what this process would have looked like if I thought this way my whole life. People always tell you growing up to be yourself and not to follow the crowd. I have often been told that leaders are their own person and don't act in ways others act. According to this TED talk, that is all wrong. We imitate the people around us in ways that we admire, hence why we imitate is to become more like that person. When we were younger, the derogatory phrase copycat was used when someone imitated us. As I have gotten older, and with information from the talk, I have realized that imitation is the best form of flattery. People imitate the ideals and actions that they want to have, do, or become more like. Overall, the TED talk shows us that on the road to become your true authentic self, imitation is bound to happen, but how you develop your identity from that imitation is what truly matters.
ReplyDeleteHey Reagan. Yes! Being authentic is what we should all strive for - it's interesting to reflect on how we identify ourselves and what our own view is within our own authenticity.
DeleteHi Everyone!
ReplyDeleteI agree with what everyone else has been saying - this was a great video that was comical and insightful. It was interesting to see two different individuals, with different characteristics, backgrounds, features, languages, cultures, etc., interacting through a video to show us that different people have different identities and ways of living. It helped bring to light the identities that we have within ourselves. What do we identify as? How do we identify? How do others categorize us? It's fascinating to think about how others identify themselves, as well, through past experiences, growth, and knowledge.
Hi! I like how you bring up the point of how do others categorize us? I think this is interesting because different people could categorize us in so many different ways, and I think it all depends on their background and their own identity.
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ReplyDeleteHetain Patel’s TED Talk left a strong impression on me, especially his statement: “Every time I fail, I become more authentically me.” It challenged the way I view failure, not as something negative but as a vital part of discovering who I truly am. Patel demonstrates how imitation, even when imperfect, can lead to self-discovery and growth. His message made me reflect on the people and environments that have influenced me. I realized that even when I’ve failed at fitting in or trying something new, those experiences have played a key role in shaping my identity. What I appreciated most was his reminder that identity isn’t fixed. It evolves through our experiences, missteps, and growth. Overall, it was a powerful talk that encouraged me to embrace my journey, including the imperfect parts, as an essential path to becoming my true self.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you mentioned that this talk will allow you to embrace your journey and become more of your true self!
DeleteHetain Patel's presentation was very enlightening and interesting to me. I really admired his goals in achieving authenticity and his true self. While watching this video, I thought of a quote from Dwight Schrute: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." I believe that failing to be other people that we are not, also shows us deeply who we are. I also believe that although we have cultural differences, we should not judge others who fall under certain stereotypes. This Ted Talk was really interesting, and I know that I will "imitate" some behaviors and actions that I witness on our trip to Morocco, that will hopefully become a part of my true self as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that I will imitate some of the behaviors represented in Morocco! It is all apart of the journey to becoming our true self and an authentic leader in every day life. I can not wait for the journey and glad to be sharing it with the members on this trip!
DeleteHi! I thought that was super interesting and witty. it makes me think about having a very southern father and Floridian mother. As a kid I picked up a bunch of slang words they both used around me a lot, and over time they became staples in my vocabulary. Just the other day, I asked my roommate to "pass me the flicker', as in the remote for the TV, and she looked at me like I had three heads. I guess flicker is a word I picked up from my mother, and my roommate who is from Louisiana had never heard of it. Its funny to think how we can have these simple words we use often but to other people those words are bizarre.
ReplyDeleteHey Peach! I liked your example about the flicker/tv remote. I think everyone has little things like that, regardless of if they notice it or not. I am excited to learn more about myself through this journey to Morocco!
DeleteI really enjoyed this video and his perspective. I like that his whole point seemed to be "it is okay and even good to mess up". He's not just giving us reassurance that things will work out when we fail; he is giving us an invitation to fail. I believe that his point about imitating people is true; we find out who we truly are in the failure. I think in the same where you imitate a person, everything that isn't failure (which is actually just growing closer to your own core) is a success. For example, I absolutely relate to trying to be more like my mom because she is wonderful, and I either picked up sweet and graceful traits from her and I became more authentically myself. Light imitation seems to be a win-win situation. I anticipate learning traditions and practices in Morocco that really speak to me that I want to integrate into my life, and that is exciting for me, and after watching this video, I am not afraid of what doesn't stick.
ReplyDeleteHi Christina! I enjoyed how you put this, especially the idea that failure is an invitation, not just something to recover from. This discussion made me connect back to the idea that good things come after hardships.
DeleteWe discover who we are as we imitate others. This was a key theme in Hetain Patel's presentation, and it’s an idea that really invites reflection. As we mimic people, whether consciously or not, we reveal parts of ourselves. These moments of imitation aren’t just about copying; they’re about exploring identity, experimenting with how we move through the world and figuring out what resonates with us. And whether it's adopting someone’s mannerisms, voice or even cultural cues, we start to better understand our own identity.
ReplyDeletePatel’s message points to the fact that who we are is shaped not just by our inner thoughts but by the people we learn from and the identities we try on along the way. It’s not about losing ourselves in others, it’s about finding ourselves in the spaces between.