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 Jung by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Supporting the Well Being of Girls by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book New Sociologies of Sex Work by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Science for Exercise and Sport by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book The Challenges to Library Learning by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Ageing in East Asia by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Disability and Music Performance by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Doing Events Research by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Debt and Slavery in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Worlds by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book The Psychology and Politics of the Collective by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book A History of Religion in America by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Jacob French (1754-1817): The Collected Works by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Maoist Insurgency Since Vietnam by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Teaching English as a Foreign Language by Arthur Asa Berger
Cover of the book Dividing the State 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