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Accepted Paper:

Towards a manifesto for entanglement: possession, enchantment and fetishism in the age of disposability  
Alison Hulme

Paper short abstract:

This paper attempts to scope the potential for practical change in our relationships with objects, as well as map a more politicized Material Culture studies. Taking the work of Henri Lefebvre as its inspiration, it posits entanglement as an alternative to both fetishism and asceticism.

Paper long abstract:

Far from being an out-dated form, applicable only in the era of grand narratives, the manifesto (especially one concerned with things) has renewed relevance in current recession-hit times. It presents an opportunity to scope practical change, as well as map a more politicized Material Culture studies.

The existing political angle within Material Culture tends to be that of David Harvey's call to allow the thing to uncover exploitative human relations. Thus Commodity Chain Analysis has provided some classic thing-following studies. Unfortunately, this concern has often lead to little else than the rhetoric of ethical consumption, which is all too easily hi-jacked by neo-liberal agendas in which the West buys the 'rest' out of poverty.

This paper will set out a vision for the study of material things that consciously attempts to politicize. Jane Bennet's concept of enchantment and more recent applications of Marx's fetish will be explored, alongside Henri Lefebvre's engagement with both the Surrealist and the Communist Manifestos and his thoughts on possession. Through a critique of these thinkers the beginnings of a Manifesto for Entanglement will be mapped out.

The vision is one that recognizes the false romance of 'making do', whilst acknowledging the ever-presence of new, pernicious forms of consumerism. It posits entanglement, as the lived experience of growing with things, the slow un-winding of self with object, the creeping up/rubbing off/entering in of things. As Lefebvre asserted, Entanglement is beyond ownership.

Panel S33
Manifestos for materials
  Session 1