Survey of Multicultural Art: Week 6 - Chapter 5, Memory and Gift

The Function and Social Lives of Objects
  • Traditional Role of Objects
    • Serve practical, social, and symbolic functions.
    • Historically linked to buying and selling.
    • Value determined through negotiation between producer & consumer.
    • The marketplace sets a commonly accepted value.
Economic Exchange and Value
  • As stated by Arjun Appadurai: "Economic exchange creates value."
  • Objects function as commodities and evolve in economic worth over time.
  • Scholars study "the social life of things."
Beyond Initial Purpose: Changing Roles of Objects
  • Meaning shifts over time as objects change owners & contexts.
  • Factors influencing change:
    • New owners repurpose objects.
    • Wear & repair alter their form.
    • Different cultures interpret them differently.
  • More accurate phrase: "the social lives of an object."
Case Study: Kongo Raffia Cushion Covers
  • Originally: Created within Kongo traditions.
  • Adapted: Used in diplomacy with European powers.
  • Perceived by Europeans: Symbols of submission.
  • Later collectors: Dismissed Kongo artisanship.
  • Key Takeaway: Objects are dynamic, gaining new meanings through cultural interactions.
Case Study: The Porcelain Spouted Vessel
  • Commissioned by: Portuguese merchant Antonio Peixoto in the 1540s.
  • Created in: China amidst trade restrictions.
  • Cross-Cultural Influence: Form inspired by Iranian copper ewers.
  • Transformation Through Repair:
    • Accidental damage led to Iranian silversmith repairs.
    • Altered the object's cultural identity.
  • Shifting Uses: Reflects each culture’s interpretation (Islamic, Chinese, European).
Indigenous Objects & Changing Meanings
  • Transformations Over Time: Indigenous objects often take on new meanings outside their original context.
    • Example: Anishinaabe feast bowl with protective manitou.
  • Colonial Misunderstandings: 19th-century settlers viewed it as a primitive relic, affecting museum collection practices.
Active Agents: Beyond Human Framing
  • Objects as active participants in history, shaping meaning through inherent qualities.
  • Both Peixoto Ewer and Anishinaabe Bowl reflect decisions about materials and craftsmanship.
  • Dynamic Nature: Objects shape and are shaped by human experience.
Objects as Vessels of Memory
  • Objects function as receptacles of lived experience:
    • Samuel Griswold Goodrich: Described as "mental furniture" affecting emotion and cognition.
Memory Jugs
  • Significant in African American culture, particularly as spiritual markers.
  • Objects are both culturally significant and deeply personal.
Objects as Implicit Placeholders of Memory
  • Memory achievable through souvenirs and preserved artifacts.
  • Objects maintain associations with times and experiences.
Souvenirs & Indigenous Cultural Exchange
  • 19th–20th century: Settlers purchased Indigenous-made objects as souvenirs.
  • Indigenous artisans used crafting as a form of cultural education and resistance.
  • Exploitation and Resistance: Commodification of Indigenous objects versus preservation of traditions.
Objects as Historical & Personal Legacy
  • Objects gain value through relationships with people and events.
  • Case Studies: Preserved personal objects like Reverend Eliphalet Williams’ Tableware and Joined Oak Cradle reveal personal connections to history.
Memory Objects from Imperial Conflict
  • Objects can symbolize memory of victories in conflicts, such as Tipu Sultan's possessions after his defeat.
  • Colonial Memory: Looted objects embody the history of imperial conquests and the ethical implications surrounding them.
The Complexities of Gift-Giving
  • Marcel Mauss's philosophies highlight the obligations and expectations inherent in gift-giving.
  • Gifts create chains of obligations and can both connect and differentiate people.
Ottoman Diplomacy and Gift Exchange
  • 16th-century Ottoman rulers were skilled diplomats, using gifts to establish relations.
  • Misunderstandings arose in diplomatic exchanges due to different cultural values and meanings attached to gifts.
Conclusion: Alfred Gell's Concept of Object "Agency"
  • Alfred Gell's idea emphasizes objects as active agents with the power to influence human experience and perception.
  • The relationship between people and objects reflects a mutual entanglement of agency, where both shape each other’s significance.