Why We Need ThingsMihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Major Studio 2

Viki, Carrol, Ye, Haijing, Min

[ Every American will own more than 400 electronic appliances during his/ her lifetime ]

● increasing dependence on objects for survival and comfort

● accelerate the processes of entropy that degrade the planet

● greater complexity of function

● every artifact is the product of human intentionality, but that intentionality itself is conditioned by the existence of previous objects

● sometimes they are symbiotic with humans, but other times the relationship is parasitic, and the survival of the object is at the expense of its human host

our dependence on objects is not only physical but also psychological

● stablize and order the mind

OBJECTS

- consciousness is not a stable, self-regulating entity.

- our hold over mental processes is EXTREMELY dangerous.

- most people require an external order to keep randomness from invading their mind.

---> It is so hard to keep ideas straight without the assistance of a sensory template that gives them boundaries and direction.

OBJECTS & the Organization of Experience

Eg) when we don't have things to do, we start to get worried, become anxious, feel depressed, etc; UNLESS we find something else to do: watching tv, playing games, reading books...etc. just to direct our attention to something.

A state of psychic entropy is the nomal state of consciousness.

------> Therefore keep searching for ways to reestablish a purposeful order in its stead. ----- Objects can be helpful.

Artifacts help objectify the self...

- by demonstrating the owner's power, vital erotic energy, and place in the social hierarchy.

- reveal the continuity of the self through time, by providing foci of involvement in the present, mementos and souvenirs of the past, and signposts to future goals.

- give concrete evidence of one's place in a social network as symbols of valued relationships.

- stabilize our sense of who we are;- give a permanent shape to our views of ourselves.

Artifacts...

OBJECTS of Power

- power is symbolized by kinetic objects

- today: cars, boats, tools, sports equipment, etc.

- objects still serve the same self-enhancing purpose

-the desire to display one's identity may have been a stronger impetus in the development in technology than the search for survival and comfort.

OBJECTS & the Continuity of the Self

- HOME:

contains a symbolic ecology that represents both continuity and change in the life course and thus gives permanence to our elusive selves

Different people express through different objects- young people: stereo set, tv set, musical instrument -----> all these produce ordered stimulation, either visual or auditory, to help the mind stay on track. embody their current concerns; NOW

- adults: furniture, paintings, sculpture, books---> embody the values and tastes as well as the accomplishments of the owner bring back earlier experience to life, express current stage of self development, and what they want to accomplish in the futurePAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

- older people: photographs---> icons of the past, reminders of life emphasis on the PAST; but also PRESENT and FUTURE

MEN vs. WOMENSelves of Men:

tv sets, stereos, power tools, sports equipment, vehicles, and cameras

Selves of Women:houseplants, plates, glass, photographs, textiles, and

sculptures

?

Is self of men and self of woman a quite subjective concern?

Since now we are living in a mixed-gender society that men is not a permanent icon for power, intelligence and logic, while women is not an iconic model who represent emotion, effeminacy.

Should we remove the stereotype image of gender when consider object？

OBJECTS and relationships

- give permanence to the relationships that define the individual in the social network = things that link a person to others- [ it is special because it reminds me of my family ]

- FRIENDS:objects that most often recall friends are paintings,

furniture, and sculptures ( including plastic figurines)

OBJECTS and relationships

- things people put at their homes: remind them of their pastideal of the ownerbooks ---> wisdom, creativity, courage;plants ---> nurturance, care, love for life

Ethnic origins: plateware, sculpture, paintings;

books and sculpture ---> religious identity

[ We need objects to magnify our power, enhance our beauty, and extend our memory into the future ]