What Objects Mean: An Introduction to Material Culture

by Arthur Asa Berger

Objects, artifacts, and other forms of material culture are studied in many different parts of the university. Yet, to date, there has been no introductory book that allows students to understand the basic ways in which material culture can be studied. Arthur Asa Berger, author of an array of texts in communication, popular culture, and social theory, provides a brief, user-friendly guide for students who want to learn what objects can mean. He takes the reader through half a dozen theoretical models that are commonly used to understand objects. He then describes and analyzes fifteen objects, showing how they demonstrate ideas like authenticity, globalization, and identity. Finally, Berger provides a series of exercises to allow students to do their own analyses of objects in their environment. Brief and inexpensive enough to be included as a component in courses ranging from anthropology to art history, pop culture and psychology, Berger’s introductory guide to material culture will be of use to many instructors and their students.

Genres: Material Culture, Anthropology, Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2009

Reviews

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as an introduction into material culture studies, especially the beginning six or seven chapters that lay out the principal theories that can be used to analyze objects. The mini essays that follow are short and entertaining but the interest level seemed a bit mixed. I was also sort of surprised by which essays interested me most- while I love books and can pass on shoes, the shoe article was fascinating while the book article was boring, not to mention that I partially disagreed with it. In all, a really fun little book.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A geriatric social "scientist" rambling about blue jeans, bagels, and blonde hair. +2 stars for teaching me about functionalism, +0 for thinking anything else in this book even remotely aligns to reality.

[Julius Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully clear, insightful, and surprisingly fun to read.
Berger covers essential theories without overwhelming the reader.
The fifteen object studies are fascinating and practical.
An excellent beginner’s guide to understanding material culture.

[Franci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did i read this for uni and its basically a textbook? yes.
Do i count it towards my reading challenge? Definetly.
Was this enjoyable? Sometimes. But it helped with the course.

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I don't typically include stuff I've assigned for class on my Goodreads page, I am including this one because the grad students in my Heritage Resources Management seminar reported at the outset that they couldn't wait to get to this assignment because "it looks fun." Wow--fun is not a word overworked students typically associate with assignments. As we got to tackle this one over a tornado-inspired potluck dinner makeup class, it made for a very nice addition to an otherwise hectic end-of-semester run. The consensus of my students, drawn from many different disciplinary backgrounds into a multi-disciplinary graduate program was that it was a great jumping off point but not an intellectual destination in and of itself. As for me, I enjoyed the book particularly because it's a nice overview of a wide range of approaches to interpreting meaning--a veritable "Whitman's sampler" of approaches that is highly readable. As a course text, I'd prefer a bit more scholarly referencing, but I'm sure that the students will like it precisely because it isn't weighed down with all that additional stuff. The book is divided into thirds--thr first, consisting of theoretical perspectives,the second of applications of particular theories, and the thrid of activities or games. All told, we enjoyed it as a light introduction to the subject of interpreting material culture. Please rmember, though, it's an introduction, and not the final destination itself.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice introduction to material cultural meanings.

[Sarah Swedberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would not like a book that has a discussion of Thorstein Veblen next to a picture of Tootsie Pops?

[Mills College Library]

306.01 B496w 2014

[Adéla Tůmová]

Tak hledat erotično v láhvi od coca-coly mě ještě nenapadlo:))