Sociology of Material Culture

First, the problematic of categorisation of material objects (made things) is introduced (produced/partly natural, immovable/movable etc.). Then, practices dealing with objects are problematised (production; distribution; consumption along with practices of use, exchange, conservation, disposal, etc.). Different aspects of practices are further examined: utilitary vs. symbolic dimension, routine use vs. cultural meaning of practices etc. Further analysis focuses on practices where the ideological dimension of objectness is impotant (consumption in general; shopping; collecting; dominant vs. alternative uses etc.). Contemporary practices are compared with ethnological and hostorical evidence. Special emphasis is on alienating (eg. fetishism, commoditization) vs. emancipatory aspects of the mediation of social reltionships through things