Over-identification

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Over-identification (also over-identification) is a communication strategy used as a form of protest and is used in art and guerrilla communication .

Function and consequences

Over-identification aims strategically at a distortion and unmasking of opposing self-portrayals and thereby tries to symbolically disarm the opponent. Symbolic forms, argumentation and thought logics of the opponent are adopted (i.e., apparently identified with them), but continued through a suitable representation into the absurd and ridiculous. The identity theft that is regularly associated with this is made transparent at a suitable point in time, at the latest when the attacked victim feels compelled to make a public correction. In this way, the 'actual' motives and attitudes hidden by the attacked victim are made comprehensible for observers.

Theoretical foundation

Theoretically, the form of protest of over-identification was primarily examined and conceptually shaped in the context of the communication guerrilla. In this context it means "to openly express those aspects of the familiar that are generally known, but at the same time taboo. It takes the logic of the prevailing thought patterns, values ​​and norms in all their consequences and implications seriously, especially where these consequences are not be pronounced (may) and swept under the table. "

In theory, Judith Butler and Slavoj Žižek "also deal with over-identification. So Butler writes:

"Where the uniformity of the subject is expected, where the behavioral conformity of the subject is commanded, the rejection of the law could be generated in the form of a parodic filling in of the conformity, which subtly makes the legitimacy of the command questionable, a repetition that the law into exaggeration a reformulation of the law against the authority of the one who makes it. "

Examples

Over-identification is systematically used in non-violent protest actions, such as those made known by the Yes Men (see the Dow Chemicals case as a prominent example ). In German-speaking countries, actions by the Center for Political Beauty (such as the “Kindertransporthilfe des Bundes”) and some actions by the group monochrom should be mentioned. An example of over-identification is also the solidarity declaration of the punk band WIZO with the actor Manfred Krug , who was on trial for assault in connection with a traffic offense. Examples of artistic use can be found with the Slovenian band Laibach or the artist Damien Hirst .

See also

literature

  • Hagen Schölzel: Guerrilla communication: Genealogy of a political form of conflict . Transcript, Bielefeld 2014, ISBN 978-3-8394-2235-9 .
  • Marc Amann (Ed.): Go. stop. act !: The art of creative street protest; Stories - actions - ideas . 3. revised Ed. Nevertheless, Grafenau et al. 2011, ISBN 978-3-931786-50-2 (229 pages).
  • Luther Blissett, Sonja Brünzels: Handbook of the communication guerilla . 5th edition, Association A, Berlin, Hamburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-86241-410-9 (248 pages).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Hagen Schölzel: Guerrilla communication: Genealogy of a political form of conflict . Transcript, Bielefeld 2012, ISBN 978-3-8394-2235-9 , pp. 275 f .
  2. ^ Slavoj Žižek: Why Laibach and NSK are not Fascists (1993). In: Inke Arns (ed.): Irwinretroprinzip, 1983-2003. Frankfurt / Main 2003, p. 21.
  3. ↑ Judith Butler. Body of weight. The discursive borders of gender. Berlin. 1995, p. 166.
  4. ^ Center for political beauty: Kindertransporthilfe des Bundes. 2014, accessed July 3, 2017 .
  5. ↑ Chapter over-identification with the viewer, in: Ulrich Blanché: Konsumkunst. Culture and Commerce at Banksy and Damien Hirst. Bielefeld 2012, p. 285ff.