Material Identities examines the way that individuals use material objects as tools for conveying certain aspects of their personalities to others. Exploring the complexity of identity through the intersecting notions of gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, and class, this book looks at the deliberate expression and manipulation of identity through the use of material goods, and how individuals single out aspects of themselves in order to project or conceal particular characteristics.
Engaging with objects from the past and present, high and low culture, and from around the globe, this volume explores the range of contrasting media from painting and print to clothing and furniture, and takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of material culture's expression, and identity's careful orchestration. Contributors include experts from various fields including architectural theory and museum studies.