Kai kurios tapatybės teorijos sąvokos

Abstract

The article discusses concepts related to identity issues that have been developed by such sociologists and socio-psychologists as Norman K. Denzin, Anthony Giddens, Karmela Liebkind, Hazel Markus, Paula Nurius, Sasha Roseneil, Julie Seymour, Sheldon Stryker, Peter Burke, and Wsevolod W. Isajiw from their studies of real people. Concepts like multiple identity, salience hierarchy, identity salience, locale, ethnic identity, identity negotiation, possible selves, integration, assimilation, marginality, and separation are presented. Isajiw’s selective generational identity construction theory consisting of five strategies that describe to what extent ethnic identity is sustained is presented as well. The strategies are the following: keeping the ‘two worlds’ apart; pushing the world of broader society aside and engaging oneself primary in the ethnic world; pushing the ethnic world aside and engaging oneself in the world of broader society; involving oneself in alternative activities; and bringing the two worlds together. These concepts are illustrated with examples from two literary works by exile writers: the novella „Ilgoji naktis“ (Long Night) by Algirdas Landsbergis and the short story „Emigrantas“ (Emigrant) by Marius Katiliškis. Thus the aim of the article is not only to discuss the important concepts but also to try to apply them in the analysis of the two selected literary works related to identity issues.