Material Culture Essays Text

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Our writers can help get your essay back on track, take a look at our services to learn more about how we can help. Essay writing service essay marking service place an order 'this mode of production must not be considered simply as being the reproduction of physical existence of individuals. Rather it is a definite form of activity of these individuals, a definite form of expressing their life, a definite mode of life on their part' sahlins, 1976. Marx mode of production worked in the following way people produce commodities and sell them so that they can buy other commodities to satisfy their own needs and wants.

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For marx, production is something more than practical logic of material effectiveness, it is a cultural intention. Take for example, if you look around your home, objects are everywhere cups/mugs, computers, clothing. You know what most of these are because they are part of you familiar environment, if you have grown up with these objects they have been a part of your life. Now if a person lived in a different part of the world and from a different century, they would have a difficult time trying to understand our material culture. If material objects are been analyzed, basic facts will be recorded, a verbal description which might include measurements, material, any distinguishing features, take note of everything which will determine a clearer picture about the object.

This key information will provide material about the technology used, the economy, or social relations within the given society and how they have changed or progressed over time. The clothing can be worn to impress and make the wearer feel more confident, however this can also be taken to the extreme in that if a person's self worth and morale is low clothes are used to state falsely about the importance of the person. 'wearing certain clothing may make a person feel empowered by altering their self perception, they can assist in forming or negating interpersonal and group attachments, mediating the formation of self identity and esteem and integrating and differentiating social groups classes or tribes' woodward, 2007, p4 . Alison lurie states that in her language of clothes that clothes introduce individuals subconsciously before they even say a word lurie a. Clothes are expressions of identity, one of the permanent ways we signal to the social world who and what we are twigg, 2007. It is also an expression and fulfilment of human needs: needs of the body and mind. These expressions function within a cultural context with the purpose of passing on distinctive meanings to social forms.

Clothes have been used to identify our links, such as what school we attend, what job we have or what group we are a part of. Schools use uniforms to identify their students, although uniforms can be a really useful if the students are out on day trips, the uniform will be easily recognisable to pick out students, these students then represent the school. Occupations have informed the public of their identity and job titles throught the use of clothing, for example: gardai, nurses, surgeon, security guards, fire fighters the list is endless when you really think about it.

In most cultures gender differentiation of clothing is considered appropriate for both men and women. The masculine fabric is relatively caorse and stiff, usually heavier whereas feminine fabric is soft and fine. Masculine colours usually tend to be darker, and feminine coloured clothing is usually light or pastel. The cut in men's clothing is square with corners and angles, and womens dress lines emphasize the flow, the curve and the actual style of the dress. The sturctural lines in the cut or patterns of clothing make up analogous class of meaningful contrasts sahlins, 1976. The importance seems to be related with three characteristics of a line: direction, form and rhythm. In western societies, womens clothing usually consists of skirts, dresses and high heels, while a tie is usually seen as mens clothing.

Trousers/jeans were seen as mens clothing but nowadays they are worn by both male and female. Female clothing usually tends to be more attractive in comparison to male clothing. Who wrote this essay request removal example essays according to sahlins 1976 , american clothing amounts to a very complex scheme of cultural categories and the relations between them. The scheme operates a set of rules for declining and combining classes of the clothing which formulate the cultural categories. Each aspect consists of a range of meaningful variation, some will be present and other's will be absent sahlins, 1976.

The outfit as a whole makes a statement, developed out of the particular arrangement of garment parts and by contrasting to other outfits sahlins, 1976. Strictly speaking, clothes is not a part of your body, however, since your body is largely covered in it, your clothing will affect the way you come across. Seeing as your clothing is such a large factor, on the message your giving off, your appearence is important and will effect the view others have on you. The clothes you are wearing make a statement about your identity and your social status, the colour and style of clothes worn tell others about how you are feeling in the world. Clothes have the ability to inform publicly of one's identity, mood, generation, religion, and culture. It is a language that is constantly in communication with people introduced or not introduced. Although the language of clothes speaks, it may not be completely accurate, but it gives one an idea of an individual's identity and personality.

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The language of clothes is used daily and can be seen every day in the home, at church, out shopping and within the political world. It is a language that everyone uses as an ice breaker to open up conversation or to have common ground and value. Taking all of the above into consideration one can say that material culture can be compared to a language. This preliminary research project serves as a guide through material culture in the american household from the late eighteenth century continuing to the present. The study of material culture reveals great amounts of information into the daily lives of americans. Consumerisms influence in american culture places great significance on the individual items that occupy the american household.

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