Crap. We all have it. Filling drawers. Overflowing bins and
baskets. Proudly displayed or stuffed in boxes in basements and
garages. Big and small. Metal, fabric, and a whole lot of plastic.
So much crap. Abundant cheap stuff is about as American as it gets.
And it turns out these seemingly unimportant consumer goods offer
unique insights into ourselves-our values and our desires. In Crap:
A History of Cheap Stuff in America, Wendy A. Woloson takes
seriously the history of objects that are often cynically-made and
easy to dismiss: things not made to last; things we don't really
need; things we often don't even really want. Woloson does not mock
these ordinary, everyday possessions but seeks to understand them
as a way to understand aspects of ourselves, socially, culturally,
and economically: Why do we-as individuals and as a culture-possess
these things? Where do they come from? Why do we want them? And
what is the true cost of owning them? Woloson tells the history of
crap from the late eighteenth century up through today, exploring
its many categories: gadgets, knickknacks, novelty goods,
mass-produced collectibles, giftware, variety store merchandise. As
Woloson shows, not all crap is crappy in the same way-bric-a-brac
is crappy in a different way from, say, advertising giveaways,
which are differently crappy from commemorative plates. Taking on
the full brilliant and depressing array of crappy material goods,
the book explores the overlooked corners of the American market and
mindset, revealing the complexity of our relationship with
commodity culture over time. By studying crap rather than finely
made material objects, Woloson shows us a new way to truly
understand ourselves, our national character, and our collective
psyche. For all its problems, and despite its disposability, our
crap is us.
General
Imprint: |
University of Chicago Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
September 2022 |
First published: |
2020 |
Authors: |
Wendy A. Woloson
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152 x 25mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
416 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-226-82407-9 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
History >
General
Books >
History >
General
|
LSN: |
0-226-82407-1 |
Barcode: |
9780226824079 |
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