In defense of things : archaeology and the ontology of objects / Bjørnar Olsen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Olsen, Bjørnar.

Series:

Archaeology in society series.

Archaeology in society series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Archaeology--Philosophy.

Archaeology.

Material culture.

Landscapes.

Phenomenology.

Actor-network theory.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 203 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Altamira Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In much recent thinking, social and cultural realms are thought of as existing prior to-or detached from-things, materiality, and landscape. It is often assumed, for example, that things are entirely 'constructed' by social or cultural perceptions and have no existence in and of themselves. Bjornar Olsen takes a different position. Drawing on a range of theories, especially phenomenology and actor-network-theory, Olsen claims that human life is fully mixed up with things and that humanity and human history emerge from such relationships. Things, moreover, possess unique qualities that are inhe

Contents:

Contents; List of Illustrations; Chapter 01. Introduction; Chapter 02. Brothers in Arms?: Archaeology and Material Culture Studies; Chapter 03. Material Culture as Text: Scenes from a Troubled Engagement; Chapter 04. The Phenomenology of Things; Chapter 05. Tacit Matter: The Silencing of Things; Chapter 06. Temporality and Memory: How Things Remember; Chapter 07. Living with Things: Matter in Place; Chapter 08. In Defense of Things; Notes; References; Index; About the Author

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-282-71342-6

9786612713422

0-7591-1932-5

OCLC:

700699444