An introduction to material culture

# Why study things?

Ever since the dawn of humankind, men and women have surrounded themselves with material objects, some of which have practical value (tools, utensils, clothing, etc.), and others for their aesthetic or decorative attributes (works of art). Today, many people, and whole societies, are said to have become obsessed with the purchase and collection of material things, so much so that some have even questioned the impact of such acquisitive habits upon the sustainability of the planet.

## Activity 1

The films below were made by three different members of the course team and provide interesting insights into why we might study objects in the first place. People acquire and collect objects for many different reasons that can include cultural, economic and personal motivations.

Watch the films now. As you watch, make some brief notes on each, suggesting what you think may have motivated each individual to focus on their chosen object. How, if at all, do they differ from each other?

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Encountering a pilgrim’s medal
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Encountering a Greek vase
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Encountering a body
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## Discussion

While all three are clearly passionate about their chosen objects, one of the three stood out for me as his choice was not made on the grounds of academic intrigue, but rather because of the highly personal nature of the choice. Piers Baker-Bates, in choosing the pilgrim’s medal, was doing what we all do in life. He was investing a material object with symbolic and personal meaning, or, to put it another way, for Piers, the object represents a crucial aspect of his very identity.

Figure 1 Pilgrim medal from Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Photo: Mark Simmons.
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Shortly, I shall ask you to think about an object in a similar way. But to get things started, and to show just how much importance we can invest in things, let me begin by showcasing an object which has personal meaning for me.

OpenLearn - An introduction to material culture
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