Overview

Arthur Asa Berger, author of an array of texts in communication, popular culture, and social theory, is back with the second edition of his popular, user-friendly guide for students who want to understand the social meanings of objects. In this broadly interdisciplinary text, Berger takes the reader through half a dozen theoretical models that are commonly used to analyze objects. He then describes and analyzes eleven objects, many of them new to this edition—including smartphones, Facebook, hair dye, and the American flag—showing how they demonstrate concepts like globalization, identity, and nationalism. The book includes a series of exercises that allow students to analyse objects in their own environment. Brief and inexpensive, this introductory guide will be used in courses ranging from anthropology to art history, pop culture to psychology.

Full Product Details

Author:   Arthur Asa Berger ,  Arthur Asa Berger
Publisher:   Left Coast Press Inc
Imprint:   Left Coast Press Inc
Edition:   2nd edition
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.453kg
ISBN:  

9781611329049

ISBN 10:   1611329043
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   01 June 2014
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Preface Part I: Theoretical Approaches to Material Culture Chapter 1: Making Sense of Material Culture Chapter 2: A Freudian Psychoanalytic Approach Chapter 3: Semiotic Approaches to Material Culture Chapter 4: Sociological Analysis of Material Culture Chapter 5: Economic Theory, Marxism, and Material Culture Chapter 6: Cultural Theory and Material Culture Chapter 7: Archaeological Theory and Material Culture Part II: ApplicationsChapter 8: Exchange Chapter 9: Style Chapter 10: Technology Chapter 11: Globalization Chapter 12: Identity Chapter 13: Transformations Chapter 14: Sociability Chapter 15: Shape Chapter 16: Diffusion Chapter 17: Narratives Chapter 18: Nationalism Part III: Material Culture Games The Artifacts Inventory Game The Time Capsule Game Disciplinary Perspectives on Objects The Grid-Group Theory and Objects Game The Objects and Personal Identity Game

Reviews

Comments on the first edition: Berger s book takes a complex and nuanced topicthe study of material cultureand pares it down to a manageable first approach.... Overall, the book presents a basic survey of several important theories and scholars that students should become familiar with when beginning to study material culture, and demonstrates a useful structure for a course syllabus. Journal of Folklore Research

Comments on the first edition: Berger's book takes a complex and nuanced topic--the study of material culture--and pares it down to a manageable first approach.... Overall, the book presents a basic survey of several important theories and scholars that students should become familiar with when beginning to study material culture, and demonstrates a useful structure for a course syllabus. --Journal of Folklore Research

Author Information

Authored by Asa Berger, Arthur; Berger, Arthur Asa

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