Objects Maketh Man: Are Possessions and Identity Inextricably Interlinked?

Abstract

This dissertation explores the link between possessions and one’s selfhood, examining the positives and negatives of attaching meaning to objects and where free will exists in the context of our current capitalist climate. It investigates how craft, collecting and coming-of-age experiences assist in helping us relate to our belongings and how our perception of them may change when untethered from the view of human subjectivity. Overconsumption as an economic force also impacts buyer decisions when it comes to what objects one decides to own, and this analysis highlights how one might be able to make shopping decisions based on personal needs rather than incessant advertising. Through reviewing how different artists scrutinize their own relationships with their and other’s belongings, this text highlights how self-discovery is a very important process that can be furthered by assessing one’s own relationship with possessions, and how to navigate dependency on the things that exist around us.