On Collecting An Investigation into Collecting in the European Tradition

Many of us are involved in the activity of collecting, and many more of us are fascinated by others' collections; yet surprisingly little is known about how and why we engage in this activity. "On Collecting" is concerned with collecting itself as a process, and with the nature of collections as part of our effort to construct an intelligible world view. Susan Pearce looks at the way we collect and what this tells us about ourselves and our society. She also explores the psychology of collecting - how we bestow value on certain objects and how this adds meaning to our lives; whether men and women collect differently; and how we use objects to construct our identity. This book breaks new ground in its analysis of our relationship to the material world.

On Collecting examines the nature of collecting both in Europe and among people living within the European tradition elsewhere.Susan Pearce looks at the way we collect and what this tells us about ourselves and our society. She also explores the psychology of collecting: why do we bestow value on certain objects and how does this add meaning to our lives? Do men and women collect differently? How do we use objects to construct our identity?This book breaks new ground in its analysis of our relationship to the material world.

List of Plates List of figures Acknowledgements Preface Part One: Collecting Processes Part Two: Collecting in Practice Part Three: Collecting Poetics Part Four: The Politics of Collecting Part Five: Collecting in the European Tradition Bibliography Index

Susan Pearce