personal-objects-blog

[personal-objects-blog]

Reflection

I didn’t receive as many submissions as I’d like, but from what I've received I've found this experience emotional in a way I did not expect. I wanted to initially ask all my friends and then strangers to submit a response to get a large collection of objects, but since finals week has dawned upon the students of the world, many simply did not have time. In the end what I have here are objects from my closest friends; people I live with, friends from high school, and some other friends from around college. I didn’t read all of the the submissions until before writing this, and I'm glad I did that. Without the context of seeing their face or just speaking to someone, reading their object posts made me feel like they were there speaking to me. I found my project’s goal changed in a way. Instead of trying to see if people feel different about objects after describing them, I found after describing an personal object, one describes themselves without even realizing it. 

Maybe this is because I'm a psych student and analyzing people is one of my favorite things to do, but I couldn’t help it when reading these submissions. I have a bias in that I already know this people, so it would be interesting to see if someone who doesn’t know them would pick up on the same things. I would like to go through each object and show how much they weirdly show the kind of person they are.

 Chris:

At first when I saw the suitcase, I was a little ticked off he would choose something so “boring”. After reading his post, I understood immediately. I think sometimes objects are screaming their meaning without words, but this one needed some explanation. I think that in itself says a lot about Chris; he’s a very nostalgic and symbolic man but you always have to pry the words out of him to know it. Chris recently has been working in Massachusetts and after connecting the suitcase to travel, I literally said “ohh” out loud. How could I have been so dumb to think this suitcase was just an easy copout to help me with my project. Because of Chris’ job as a theatre tech, he’s always on the move, jumping from job to job. He’s very sentimental and talks a lot about his travels, no matter the distance. I always imagined Chris in a past life as a small sailor man traveling along the waters, trying to find his way back home. 

Shannon:

When Shannon sent this to me, I nearly cried. We have been friends for over ten years and there’s no way we will never not be friends. Life has been tough for her recently and I know how lonely she’s been because of transferring schools and just chaos in general. I know she kept this scrapbook I made her, but I never knew how often she actually looked at it, or even that she brought it to college with her. Shannon has a hard time making friends, but when she does she puts everything into her friendships. She will stand up for you no matter what and will always be at your side. Sometimes it’s hard to comfort her when she’s sad, but I'm glad to know this book I made can be there for her when I can’t. 

 Isabella:

Me and my friend’s all call her our “vintage babe”, because she’s exactly that. She’s the kind of person to share clothes with her grandma and where a billion broaches from tag sales. For her to pick this portrait of a lady, and also be the only one to write their submission was no shock to me. Isabella really values traditions, and despite her distaste for her family, she’s all about carrying objects down through generations. I imagine Isabella to be 60 years old sitting in her house full of knick knacks and floral couches with this hanging carefully on the wall. 

Sandy:

Honestly when Sandy sent this to me, I knew there was nothing that could describe her better. She’s a huge nerd, and we’ve always made fun of her (in the nicest way possible) for it. I remember going to Comic Con together and watching her drool at the sight of Nintendo merchandise. The fact that it not only a Mario character, but also a cat is just too perfect. At home, Sandy has four cats and she loves with with all her heart. There is nothing that comes between her and her cats. Sandy also has a large attachment to home and her brothers, despite a huge age gap, have always been her best friends. Her mentioning how it reminds her of her brother, came with no shock. This object description is so Sandy, It’s honestly hilarious. 

Brendan:

When I asked Brendan to help me with this project, I knew he was going to choose a knife. It’s not because he is a violent man or scary; it’s because he is the most practical and handy person I know. Need a fork, spoon, and knife? Brendan will have the utility ware in his pocket. It probably has a lot to do with his Boy Scout training, but I also think thats just the kind of person he is. He’s always there for people and always trying to help. Naturally, he also has to make a reference to the “cracking open a cold one” meme because he can never be serious, even in the field of academia. I think the fact that he mentions he wants to hand this down within the family says a lot about the kind of person he is too. Like Isabella (who is his girlfriend), he values tradition and his family. If Brendan is not a father in 15 years, I will be shocked. 

Serena:

Serena has a huge longing for her home and the comfort of it. Whenever she’s upset or overwhelmed she goes home. I think it’s easier for her since she is an only child, but her parents are always comforting. This stuffed animal is very different than Sandy’s and I think that shows how important the context and personal background is to an object. While sandy’s stuffed animal also brings her comfort, it’s a different kind of comfort. Serena’s polar bear comes from a childhood comfort of being loved and coddled while hurt while sandy’s comes from being being reminded of home. This makes a lot of sense with Serena’s personality since she is someone who needs a lot of attention and care from those around her (not in a negative way). 

Noelle:

Noelle, the English education major, of course chose a book. I’ve never met someone who is so in love with literature.Her entire bedside is overflowing with books of every kind. In this very moment she’s actually sleeping with a book at her side. She could talk about Shakespeare or Virginia Wolf for days. It’s no surprise she’s the one who wrote the most. The fact that the book is also about race, gender, and mental illness says a lot her interests. I’ve seen her go on rants about stigmatization and inequality and she uses her words so carefully that everything flows as if she’s been planning a monologue.

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Overall I think these objects not only say a lot about the people they belong to, but it says something about me and the people I surround myself with. I have a diverse group of friends, but they all strongly value relationships. It made me really happy to read these entries and feel that I have such a great group of friends. 

[personal-objects-blog]

Noelle Anselmi 20 Rockland County New York

I think that some material items can hold importance, and that all depends on how the item makes a person feel. If an item is important, it probably holds sentimental value. Other material items are important to us because they cost a lot of money so we feel guilty if we lose or misplace them. This makes us feel like we have wasted something. But items that we really truly miss and cannot replace when they are gone are the kinds of items that are important in an emotional way. The object that I picked is sitting on the desk and is right in front of me. It is a novel by Jean Rhys entitled Wide Sargasso Sea. The cover is beige with a red border. It was published in 1966 and is 112 pages long. I rented this book from the school bookstore. This object means something to me even though I do not own it. I rented this book and I am going to have to give it back soon. I found the text incredibly moving and was interested in the author’s exploration of power dynamics in relation to race, gender and mental illness. I wish that I could keep this novel but I know that I can purchase my own copy if I would like to. I know that others have read this exact book before I have and I know that others will enjoy it after me. I love how literature can create those kinds of strange anonymous connections. Looking at this novel reminds me about how much I care about literature and how reading has had an impact on my life. I know that the contents of this novel will stick with me and has therefore had an impact on who I am and what I think. It’s amazing how literature can encourage people to think and feel in new ways.  It feels good to think about this novel that I enjoyed reading. Looking at it now makes me wonder if I will end up buying my own copy. However, if I am to think about how this specific material item holds significance, than thinking about a copy of this object is irrelevant. Although, thinking about a copy might lead me to believe that this individual material item is meaningless and importance lies in the language within that can be identically replicated on other pages or on a computer screen. I’m not really sure.

[personal-objects-blog]

Serena Hale

20

New York, NY

Material Objects are definitely very important to me because they can help preserve memories and symbolize specific moments in my life. I think that being surrounded by objects that hold emotional value can help create a healthy environment. The object I picked is my stuffed polar bear Polie. He is a pancake like stuffed animal with a scratched nose and eyes. He was once white but now is tinted bluish grey. When I was 3 years old I fell off of my friend’s bed and had to get stitches near my eyebrow. A couple of days later Polie was delivered to my door in a box. He was a gift from my friend’s mother as an apology for letting me get hurt at her house. I slept with Polie from age 3 to 14, he helped ward off nightmares and helped me get through periods of insomnia. When I was little I used to anxiously bit on his nose and eyes at night and squeeze him tightly. I feel the same after describing my object but I do feel pretty nostalgic. Thinking about Polie makes me miss home and the comfort of my bed.

[personal-objects-blog]

Brendan Roney

19 years old

New York

Material items do have a place of necessity in this world. If we are to survive, we require items such as food, clothes and shelter. In today’s modern society, however, the gap between surviving and  living comfortably are widening. To be a successful student there are items needed, for example a computer. It doesn’t provide protection or nourishment, but we “need” one. My object is a pocketknife. The blade is 2.5”, and when open the whole knife is 6” from point to hilt. It has a blade, a bottle opener, a can opener, and a fish scaler. The hilt has a keyring that is partially damaged. This was my grandfather’s pocketknife. I never knew him, but I was named after him. I received this blade while My brother, mother and I were cleaning out my grandmother’s house so it could be sold. When I first got it, it was rusted shut, none of the extensions would open. With the help of some pliers and WD-40, I got it open and cleaned it up. Whoever had shut it previously had done so in the incorrect manner, folding the knife and fish scaler over each other rather than next to one another. This item provides both function and a sense of nostalgia. Cutting packages open and opening bottles are always a breeze with this knife, and  it gladdens me to know that I am in a way carrying on the legacy of my grandfather by using it. Describing the object causes a bittersweet feeling to manifest. I am very happy I get to carry a piece of my ancestor with me, yet it saddens me to know that I never got to know someone who was so pivotal in the life of my mother. When I think of this object I think of good times, carving my initials into a picnic table or cracking open a cold one with the boys, this knife has had great use. Describing this object has definitely caused me to reconsider an object I thought to be so mundane, in the future I will consider it’s significance while I use it in the years to come, until it can be passed down to my own grandchild.

[personal-objects-blog]

Sandy Gibson

19

New York, United States 

                  I believe that material items are important due to the fact that they have various uses. Whether they are actually functional or just evoke some kind of emotion, I feel that a majority of material items have some type of purpose. The object I chose is a Super Mario stuffed animal of Toad dressed in a cat suit. It’s fairly small and its cat suit is blue and white. My brother gave it to me just over a year ago after my cat passed away. I was upset for most of the day and he happened to be in Manhattan, so he got it for me from Nintendo World.

                  The stuffed animal’s main purpose for me is nostalgia. I’ve never been one to have an attachment to stuffed animals. I’d usually lose any of the ones I had. This is the only stuffed animal that I make sure to carry with me between home and college. Not only does it remind me of my cat, but it reminds me of my brother who I’m very close to. When I’m missing home I like to look at the various things my family has given me that’s sitting around my room, including this stuffed animal.  I generally feel the same amount of nostalgia and twinge of sadness after describing my object. Although, I’m starting to realize that I also feel kind of happy. I’m happy that it’s been a full year since my cat passed, which was something that felt like the end of the world at the time. I’ve moved on and I’m experiencing new things that will help me grow. This stuffed animal is a nice token of something difficult I’ve been through.

[personal-objects-blog]

[personal-objects-blog]

Shannon O’Reilly

19 years old

New York, USA

  I think some materials items are important. To me things such as iphones, laptops, clothing and other superficial items typically have no sentimental meanings. But, material items that my friends and family have made me or gifted to me are significant to me. To me they provide comfort and make me extremely happy. I take a lot of things given to from friends and family everywhere with me. I picked a scrapbook that my friend Sarah made for me for my 16th birthday. The book has pages with collages of photos of our memories. On the front it has pictures of us and says “best friends”. The book also highlights specific memories and things we’ve been through together.It was handmade by my friend and gifted to me on my 16th birthday.For me the object provides nostalgia. I bring the book with me wherever I happen to move. I often look at it when I’m feeling sad or lonely. It reminds me I have friends who care about me and love me. After describing my object I feel happy. I’ve always had a sentimental attachment to the object. Looking through the book I was reminded of all the memories we shared together (and some really embarrassing ones). I feel the same about it but looking at it today was extremely comforting.

[personal-objects-blog]

Christopher Ricci Age: 21 United States of America, New York

I feel that material items are important when there’s sentimental value or usefulness attached to it. If someone possesses an object that neither provides assistance in their life (eg. a lamp for light, a blanket for warmth) nor provides meaningfulness, then I don’t see a point in possessing that object. It will just sit there and gather dust.The object that I picked is a suitcase. It’s fairly average in size, has some wear and tear on it from use, has a strip of orange tape around one of the handles, and is forest green in color. As for where it came from, I am unsure. It’s been used by myself and my family for as long as I can remember. I never really thought about where the suitcase came from. This object provides both function and sentimental value. As a helpful object, it provides storage for travelers, making it easy for them to bring clothes, toiletries, and other assorted items with them where they go. On an emotional level, the suitcase is a symbol for travelling, something that sits in a special place in my heart. Moving around from place to place and exploring new locations is what keeps my imagination running and keeps me happy. Some find that staying home is comforting but to me it’s leaves me feeling lonely and stuck. Now that I’ve described the suitcase, I feel as though I’ve been reminded of that how special travel is to me. I feel roughly the same about travel, but describing the suitcase amplified it in a way. Makes me think about how meaningful the simplest objects can be.