Material Culture: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept
Etymology/Term:
The term “material culture” originated from the field of anthropology, combining “material,” pertaining to physical objects, and “culture,” referring to the shared beliefs and practices of a group. It encompasses the study of artifacts, objects, and tangible items produced or modified by humans within a specific cultural context.
Meanings:
- Physical Artifacts: Material culture involves the analysis and interpretation of physical objects, artifacts, and tools created by societies, providing insights into their technological advancements and daily practices.
- Symbolic Significance: Objects within material culture often carry symbolic meanings, representing cultural values, beliefs, rituals, and social structures.
- Cultural Expression: It includes the examination of how material objects express cultural identity, aesthetics, and the unique ways in which communities distinguish themselves.
- Historical Insights: The study of material culture aids in understanding historical periods by examining the evolution of tools, architecture, and other artifacts, offering a tangible connection to the past.
- Everyday Life Practices: Material culture explores the role of objects in everyday life, shedding light on the routines, habits, and customs of a particular community.
Concept:
Material culture serves as a lens through which scholars analyze and interpret human societies. It recognizes the significance of physical objects in shaping cultural identity, expressing values, and providing a tangible link between past and present. The concept emphasizes the interconnectedness of objects and culture, showcasing the intricate ways in which artifacts reflect and influence the social fabric of a community.
Material Culture: Definition of a Theoretical Term
Material culture, as a theoretical term, refers to the study and interpretation of physical objects and artifacts produced or modified by human societies within a cultural context. It involves analyzing the symbolic meanings embedded in these objects, understanding how they express cultural identity and values, and recognizing their role in shaping the daily practices and historical narratives of a community. The concept highlights the interplay between tangible artifacts and the intangible aspects of culture, providing valuable insights into the complexities of human societies.
Material Culture: Theorists, Works and Arguments
Theorists:
- Lewis Henry Morgan: An early anthropologist, Morgan’s work, including “Ancient Society” (1877), laid the foundation for the study of material culture by examining the evolution of tools and social structures among indigenous societies.
- Alfred Kroeber: A prominent cultural anthropologist, Kroeber’s contributions, such as “Anthropology” (1923), emphasized the importance of studying material culture to understand cultural patterns and historical developments.
Works:
- “The Interpretation of Cultures” by Clifford Geertz (1973): Geertz’s influential work underscores the symbolic meanings embedded in material culture, emphasizing the role of objects in expressing and shaping cultural practices.
- “Purity and Danger” by Mary Douglas (1966): Douglas explores the symbolic significance of materialistic culture, particularly in rituals and taboos, revealing how objects reflect and reinforce cultural boundaries.
Arguments:
- Cultural Transmission: Materialistic culture is seen as a means of transmitting cultural knowledge from one generation to another, as objects carry embedded meanings and practices that are passed down over time.
- Identity Construction: Scholars argue that materialistic culture plays a crucial role in constructing and expressing individual and collective identities, reflecting cultural values and distinguishing one group from another.
- Historical Insights: The study of materialistic culture provides valuable insights into historical periods, technological advancements, and societal changes, allowing researchers to reconstruct and understand past civilizations.
Material Culture: Major Characteristics
| Major Characteristics of Material Culture | Literary References |
| Artifact Analysis: The study and interpretation of physical objects. | – In Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, the gypsy’s magnets symbolize both technological wonder and magical realism, highlighting the intersection of material and mystical elements. |
| Symbolic Meanings: Recognition of the symbolic significance of objects in expressing cultural values. | – J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series uses magical objects like the Sorting Hat and wands to symbolize cultural distinctions and the magical world’s societal structure. |
| Cultural Expression: Exploration of how materialistic objects express cultural identity. | – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus uses the figurines in the protagonist‘s home to reflect the family’s social status and the impact of colonial influence on Nigerian culture. |
| Historical Insight: Use of materialistic culture to understand historical periods. | – In Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, the descriptions of Tudor-era clothing and artifacts provide a vivid portrayal of the historical setting, aiding readers in connecting with the past. |
| Everyday Life Practices: Examination of objects in everyday life to understand routines and customs. | – Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice provides insights into the materialistic culture of the Regency era, detailing clothing, furnishings, and social customs of the time. |
Material Culture: Relevance in Literary Theories
| Literary Theory | Relevance of Material Culture |
| Cultural Studies | Materialistic culture is integral to cultural studies, offering insights into how physical artifacts reflect and shape cultural identities and societal norms. |
| Historicism | In historicist literary theories, materialistic culture is essential for contextualizing literary works within specific historical periods, providing a tangible connection to the past. |
| Postcolonialism | Materialistic culture is relevant in postcolonial literary theories as it explores the impact of colonialism on cultural artifacts, examining how objects reflect power dynamics and resistance. |
| Feminist Criticism | Feminist literary theories utilize materialistic culture to analyze how gender roles and identities are constructed and expressed through objects, clothing, and domestic spaces. |
| Ecocriticism (Green Studies) | Within ecocritical frameworks, materialistic culture is employed to study how literature reflects and influences human interactions with the environment, focusing on the material impact of culture on nature. |
Material Culture: Application in Critiques
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
- Critique: Fitzgerald’s portrayal of lavish parties, luxurious possessions, and the symbolism of items like Gatsby’s shirts reflects the material excesses of the Jazz Age. A material culture critique would analyze how these objects signify the characters’ values and contribute to the novel’s exploration of societal decadence.
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck:
- Critique: Steinbeck’s depiction of the Joad family’s possessions and their journey in search of a better life during the Dust Bowl era invites a materialistic culture critique. The analysis would focus on how objects serve as symbols of resilience, loss, and the impact of economic hardship on individuals and families.
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan:
- Critique: Tan’s novel explores the cultural and generational divide within Chinese-American families through the lens of material culture. The critique would examine how objects like the mahjong set and traditional Chinese clothing become vessels for conveying cultural heritage and communication between generations.
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy:
- Critique: McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic narrative relies heavily on material culture to convey the scarcity of resources and the struggle for survival. A material culture critique would delve into the significance of everyday objects in the characters’ lives, emphasizing their symbolic value in a desolate world.
Material Culture: Relevant Terms
| Similar Terms in Literary Critiques of Material Culture |
| 1. Artifact Analysis: Examination of physical objects’ cultural and historical significance. |
| 2. Symbolic Objects: Objects imbued with deeper meanings, often representing cultural or thematic concepts. |
| 3. Cultural Signifiers: Objects serving as markers of cultural identity or societal values. |
| 4. Tangible Imagery: Concrete and touchable elements contributing to a literary work’s visual impact. |
| 5. Object Semiotics: Study of the signs and symbols conveyed through material items in literature. |
| 6. Iconographic Elements: Literary use of recognizable symbols or images embedded in material culture. |
| 7. Material Symbols: Objects functioning as symbols within a narrative, reflecting cultural or thematic motifs. |
| 8. Everyday Life Depictions: Representation of ordinary objects and practices in daily existence. |
| 9. Physical Allegories: Objects embodying abstract concepts or narratives through their physical attributes. |
| 10. Object-Based Narratives: Stories centered around the significance and impact of specific material items. |
Material Culture: Suggested Readings
- Appadurai, Arjun. The Social Life of Things: Commodities in Cultural Perspective. Cambridge University Press, 1986.
- Baudrillard, Jean. The System of Objects. Verso, 1996.
- Hoskins, Janet. Biographical Objects: How Things Tell the Stories of People’s Lives. Routledge, 1998.
- Miller, Daniel. Stuff. Polity Press, 2010.
- Stewart, Susan. On Longing: Narratives of the Miniature, the Gigantic, the Souvenir, the Collection. Duke University Press, 1993.
- Tilley, Christopher. A Phenomenology of Landscape: Places, Paths, and Monuments. Berg, 1994.