Life of Things

Abstract

This paper is an inquiry into the 'life' of objects/things and is written to provoke and challenge perception about things other than humans that often are discarded or thrown away or not valued …resulting in possibly being buried in a landfill. 

When first considering objects, or things or matter, initially it is hard to imagine thinking about in any other way than the literal, perhaps obvious 'thereness'. However this often accepted as common sense philosophy may be an assumption and has prompted new thinking about materiality. 

The inquiry is a critical reflective exploration of some of the historical and contemporary perceptions/philosophies of materialism, agency and vibrancy of matter and the question of 'do objects have life…do they have a voice…do they have power?' The research sets the scene initially by a challenge to open our minds to a holistic sensorial way of perceiving, and proceeds to move from the concept of human verses object to the concept of objects and humans equally - to 'thingyhoodness'. It is written in a generic and hopefully objective and questioning approach. 

In a parallel fashion is the questioning, reflecting and examination of materiality, agency and vibrancy of objects within my own personal practice as a designer maker. As a designer maker I surround myself with things which are integral to my practice- inspiring and informing what I do. I have come to have a far deeper appreciation for 'things'. I can be enchanted and my agentic capacities become strengthened. I take often discarded things and repurpose, reinvent or upcycle them breathing a new lease of life and a new appreciation and celebration. 

The uniqueness of humanity is challenged through this research particularly by looking at the research of writer Jane Bennett - her explorations and examinations of shared affinities with other things including non-human, forces and flows etc. and suggestion of an equality between all of these things. Bennett highlights inter involvements and interdependencies and suggests a political goal of vital materialism with a polity that has more channels of communication between members' - therefore when or if equality happens things will not be simply discarded/ there will be less waste/ and maybe our world will be more friendly.