Identity and the Body: J-Lo and Barbra --Katie Moore

It’s amazing how much our identities (social, ethnic, religious) can be inscribed on the body.  Recently, the concept of “the body” has become increasingly popular in archaeology: the body as a “scene of display” and as an “artifact” (Joyce 2005:Archaeology of the Body).  The body is the site of everyday lived experience, where the biological person , as well as the products such as clothing or tattoos which are active constructions of identity, are expressed.  In the two chapters from Paredez about “becoming Selena,” or “Selenidad,” the recurring issue of Selena (or Jennifer Lopez’s) butt becomes a point of contention and also celebration.  Has the costume in the Selena Museum been altered to a smaller size to fit the mannequin? Is the author’s remembrance of Selena now an amalgamation of the imagined Latina icon, Selena herself, and her portrayal by Jennifer Lopez.  Can an iconic body part provide a stage for acceptance or denial of authenticity, identity formation among thousands of young Latinas, and stand as a political statement about racism in America?

Other examples come to mind: Barbra Streisand’s nose, recently commemorated on the Fox show Glee.  In a recent episode, Rachel Berry, a young Jewish girl with designs for making it on Broadway, contemplates getting a nose job (which she thinks will advance her career) but ultimately decides against it in favor of her Jewish heritage and her idol, Barbra.  Googling this topic, I came across a blog post from the Jewish Women’s Archive blog (Jewesses with Attitude), which comments:

“We have blogged about both Rachel Berry and nose jobs plenty of times here at Jewesses with Attitude. There's a lot to talk about because for Jewish women, a nose job isn't just a nose job. It becomes political because it's tied to our Jewish identity. For some it's a way to look "less ethnic," and for some it can be a feminist act.”

The Selena chapters mention other Latina actresses who did decide to hide their ethnic identity in order to become successful, whether that meant changing her name, wearing different clothing, or “lightening” her complexion with makeup. Our bodies can express identity through physical attributes such as a nose, a butt, eyes, or skin color, but nowadays altering or hiding these things has become a viable option, making embodiment of ethnic identity even more of a conscious choice.  Especially for those in show business.  Adjacent to this issue is the aspect of “becoming” a proud member of a group, such as Latina or Jewish girls, through positive, highly visible role models.  There are many groups still lacking this outlet in the mass media, and I think the Paredez chapters really illuminate why this is a huge problem for underrepresented groups.