Crap: A History of Cheap Stuff in America, Woloson
By A Mystery Man Writer
Last updated 15 May 2024
Crap. We all have it. Filling drawers. Overflowing bins and baskets. Proudly displayed or stuffed in boxes in basements and garages. Big and small. Metal, fabric, and a whole lot of plastic. So much crap. Abundant cheap stuff is about as American as it gets. And it turns out these seemingly unimportant consumer goods offer unique insights into ourselves—our values and our desires. In Crap: A History of Cheap Stuff in America, Wendy A. Woloson takes seriously the history of objects that are often cynically-made and easy to dismiss: things not made to last; things we don't really need; things we often don't even really want. Woloson does not mock these ordinary, everyday possessions but seeks to understand them as a way to understand aspects of ourselves, socially, culturally, and economically: Why do we—as individuals and as a culture—possess these things? Where do they come from? Why do we want them? And what is the true cost of owning them? Woloson tells the history of crap from the late eighteenth century up through today, exploring its many categories: gadgets, knickknacks, novelty goods, mass-produced collectibles, giftware, variety store merchandise. As Woloson shows, not all crap is crappy in the same way—bric-a-brac is crappy in a different way from, say, advertising giveaways, which are differently crappy from commemorative plates. Taking on the full brilliant and depressing array of crappy material goods, the book explores the overlooked corners of the American market and mindset, revealing the complexity of our relationship with commodity culture over time. By studying crap rather than finely made material objects, Woloson shows us a new way to truly understand ourselves, our national character, and our collective psyche. For all its problems, and despite its disposability, our crap is us.
AMERICAN HYSTERIA on Instagram: Historian Wendy Woloson is the
HISTORY HANGOUT: CONVERSATION WITH WENDY WOLOSON
Why is America Awash in Crap? ❧ Current Affairs
超特価】 The Readymade Record Of Humour - Part 1
Exploring America's Historic Thirst for Crap - WDET 101.9 FM
There's a new episode of our patrons-only talk show Hysteria Home
This Year's NBCC Award Finalists: Crap by Wendy A. Woloson
There's a new episode of our patrons-only talk show Hysteria Home
Crap A History of Cheap Stuff in America 9780226824079
Why is America Awash in Crap? ❧ Current Affairs
Q&A: Wendy WolosonAntiques And The Arts Weekly
Author Talks
CRAP: HISTORY OF CHEAP STUFF IN AMERICA by Wendy Woloson
Bookworm: Roosevelt for the history buff and/or outdoorsy-type
Why Do Americans Buy So Much CRAP? (w/ Wendy Woloson)
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