Understanding Material Culture

by Ian Woodward

Why are i-pods and mobile phones fashion accessories? Why do people spend thousands remodelling their perfectly functional kitchen? Why do people crave shoes or handbags? Is our desire for objects unhealthy, or irrational? Objects have an inescapable hold over us, not just in consumer culture but increasingly in the disciplines that study social relations too. This book offers a systematic overview of the diverse ways of studying the material as culture. Surveying the field of material culture studies through an examination and synthesis of classical and contemporary scholarship on objects, commodities, consumption, and symbolization, this " Introduces the key concepts and approaches in the study of objects and their meanings; " Presents the full sweep of core theory - from Marxist and critical approaches to structuralism and semiotics - to evaluate the frameworks for approaching the material world; " Shows how and why people use objects to perform identity, achieve social status, and narrativize life experiences; " Analyzes everyday domains in which objects are social status, identity, social performance and narrativization; " Shows why studying material culture is necessary for understanding the social. This book will be essential reading for students and researchers in sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, consumer behaviour studies, design and fashion studies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Material Culture, Theory, School

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Anya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is wildly repetitive and kind of whatever but it does bring up some interesting ideas that I'm sure will come up for me in class and elsewhere in the near future. Probably could've been done in far fewer pages, but I guess I understand why there's a need for the specificity and length.

Read for HIST136 CM Objects of War and Genocide

[Dutchermann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Background about theoretical approaches to and methods for the study of objects & material culture. Succinct summaries.

[Chels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is refreshingly straightforward and concise, which is especially impressive considering the overwhelming scope of the field.

[Goran Ovčariček · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though at times difficult to read this book is a solid review of theoretical frameworks present in the material culture studies today, from a mainly sociological point of view. More reader-friendly style would do wonders for this book. The book is basically a theoretical rundown of the field, as the author offers very little of his original output and satisfies himself with interpreting others. A good intro into the field though.

[Becca]

This book is a solid introduction to material culture from a social science and consumer studies perspective, and includes good summaries of three important theoretical frameworks. It's less useful as a textbook for Art History, Design, or Folklore students, unless the goal is to introduce them to material culture theory outside of those fields.

[Jennifer J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Way too "i know a ton about theory! Look at all the big words I use." Not enough "Here's what I have to say about it."

I would recommend just reading Marx and Durkheim and skipping this guy.

[Jackie ϟ Bookseller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a class, and it definitely could've been worse. The examples and case studies were the most interesting parts, but some of the theoretical explanations could get boring and lengthy.