The Pros to Self-Invention

One interesting idea that was brought up in class was that people can essentially construct (and reconstruct) their own identity in any way they want. If our sense of self is dynamic and can be altered as we mature and change, then we are essentially able to manipulate our identity into whatever we want. This is exactly what Timothy Treadwell did, not just by changing his name, but also by creating an entirely new persona. Because he was not happy with his alcoholic, "struggling actor" identity, he actively changed it by embodying a new "savior of the bears" character. What Herzog is suggesting by representing Treadwell in this light, is that our so-called "identities" are not fully accurate representations of who we are, but moreso embody how we would like to think of ourselves and how we would like others to think of us.

Just like the San Lorenzans and Tim O'Brien constructed lies that were more useful to them than the truth, Timothy Treadwell constructed an identity that would serve him better than his previous self-definition. For Tim, becoming Grizzly Man gave him purpose, drive, and an antidote to so many of his life's woes (his alcoholism and apparent depression come to mind here). Purposefully altering his own identity by changing what he did with his life and outwardly projecting an idea of himself as the guardian of bears allowed Timothy to turn his life around and actually find some sort of meaning and happiness. This redefinition is, arguably, what saved Tim's life (for thirteen years) because he was able to get out exactly what he needed since he was the one inventing his new identity so he was the one who knew what to put in it. Tim realized that he needed a purpose so he created an identity that would give him that kind of direction.

I think this is where the power of the identity as a fluid, artistic entity lies. Because an identity is self-invented, it can deliver whatever its owner needs at the exact moment that they need. Identity therefore transcends a simple static definition of the self as it comes to embody a tool with which people can live better--the trick is, you just have to be aware of it (like Tim O'Brien and the San Lorenzans)!

This also works into our current discussion on Foe, since Daniel Defoe and Susan Barton both seem, to an extent, to have manipulated their own identities into something that they could make more meaningful to themselves--but more on that later!