Reading Matter

Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Material Culture

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Anthropology, Sociology
Cover of the book Reading Matter by Arthur Asa Berger, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Arthur Asa Berger ISBN: 9781351494731
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: July 28, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Arthur Asa Berger
ISBN: 9781351494731
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: July 28, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

To be civilized involves, among other things, making, using, and buying objects. Although speculation on the significance of objects often tends to be casual, there are professionals--anthropologists, historians, semioticians, Marxists, sociologists, and psychologists--who analyze material culture in a systematic way and attempt to elicit from it reliable information about people, societies, and cultures. One reason that analyzing objects has been problematical for scholars is the lack of a sound methodology governing multidisciplinary research. Reading Matter addresses this problem by defining a comprehensive set of methodological approaches that can be used to analyze and interpret material culture and relate it to personality and society.Berger offers discussions of the main concepts found in semiotic, historical, anthropological, psychoanalytic, Marxist, and sociological analysis. He provides practical descriptions of the working methods of each discipline and demarcates their special areas of investigation. Berger's lively discussions include a wealth of illustrative examples that help to clarify the complex and often difficult theories that underlie interpretations of material culture. In the second part of his analysis, Berger uses these disciplines to investigate one subject--fashion and an important aspect of fashion, blue jeans, and what the author calls the denimization phenomenon. Here he shows how different methods of reading material culture end up with different perspectives on things--even when they are dealing with the same topic.The author's focus is on the material culture of post-literate societies and cultures, both contemporary and historical. This comparative approach enables the reader to trace the evolution of objects from past to present or to see how American artifacts spread to different cultures, acquiring a wholly new meaning in the process. Reading Matter is an important contribution to the study of popula

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

To be civilized involves, among other things, making, using, and buying objects. Although speculation on the significance of objects often tends to be casual, there are professionals--anthropologists, historians, semioticians, Marxists, sociologists, and psychologists--who analyze material culture in a systematic way and attempt to elicit from it reliable information about people, societies, and cultures. One reason that analyzing objects has been problematical for scholars is the lack of a sound methodology governing multidisciplinary research. Reading Matter addresses this problem by defining a comprehensive set of methodological approaches that can be used to analyze and interpret material culture and relate it to personality and society.Berger offers discussions of the main concepts found in semiotic, historical, anthropological, psychoanalytic, Marxist, and sociological analysis. He provides practical descriptions of the working methods of each discipline and demarcates their special areas of investigation. Berger's lively discussions include a wealth of illustrative examples that help to clarify the complex and often difficult theories that underlie interpretations of material culture. In the second part of his analysis, Berger uses these disciplines to investigate one subject--fashion and an important aspect of fashion, blue jeans, and what the author calls the denimization phenomenon. Here he shows how different methods of reading material culture end up with different perspectives on things--even when they are dealing with the same topic.The author's focus is on the material culture of post-literate societies and cultures, both contemporary and historical. This comparative approach enables the reader to trace the evolution of objects from past to present or to see how American artifacts spread to different cultures, acquiring a wholly new meaning in the process. Reading Matter is an important contribution to the study of popula

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The Routledge Companion to the Crusades by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Experiments in Environmental Economics by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book The Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Transformations of Retailing in Europe after 1945 by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Children's Informal Ideas in Science by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Reconceptualizing STEM Education by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book The Horse in West African History by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Canadian National Cinema by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Global Business Management by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Early Intervention by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Dickens and the Myth of the Reader by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Intelligence and the Cuban Missile Crisis by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Electronic Literacies by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Sport and Adventure Tourism by Arthur Asa Berger
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy