Everyone plays different kinds of roles in our own life. At some point, I believe being a collector is a very important role. We love to collect our favourite things, it is just like a natural instinct. We can see lots of videos where collectors show their collections on the internet. I found a really interesting video on youtube, which shows the collection of soap powder boxes.
This lovely collector is Suzy Mason. I was amazed by her collection. Mason collects soap powder boxes from all over the world, and I can even see some vintage boxes back to 1950s in her collection. We can find those kinds of soap powder boxes all around in our daily life, even some people may regard those boxes as rubbish. But for Mason, they are her happiness and passion. There are over 100 different brands of soap powder in her collection, for those accumulations of the same brand, she gave them a lovely name, called "family". Besides, she felt relaxed and happy when she used the powder. Her love was getting further, she had the same feeling while she was just walking down in soap powder section of supermarket. As mentioned by Baudrillard(1994, p. 7), the loved object is 'Anything which is the cause or subject of a passion.' Her smile and excitement when talking about her collection show me her love for her collection.
Baudrillard(1994, p. 8) indicated that 'Once the object stops being defined by its function, its meaning is entirely up to the subject.' Mason took the normal value away from the soap powder boxes, and then gave them a new value. In some ways, she kept the diaries by collecting those boxes. She was recording her passion and feeling when she first saw each box. For example, one of soap powder box looks chemical and she thought the powder might cause pollution. She can easily read every story behind each box. What's more, it is a way to read history.
After watching this video, I also felt happy. Her smile and passion inspired me. I love the lively music and cute images on this video. I believe that collecting favourite things in life is happy. As we can see how happy Mason is, even it's not important for others, however, it's meaningful for ourselves. The main point is that we decide the value of the collection and we collect the meaning of them.
Chapter in a book
Youtube video
References
Chapter in a book
Baudrillard, J. (1994) The system of collecting. In: Cardinal ,R & Elsner, J. The Cultures of Collecting. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press
Youtube video
Leedsmuseums (2012). Contemporary collectors - soap powder boxes [internet]. Available from <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcqHqfwKFdA> [Accessed 5 November 2013]
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