Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Gong, Yidong

Area of Concentration

Anthropology, Museum Studies with Spanish

Abstract

This thesis explores the complex, reciprocal relationship between individuals and their personal objects, framed through the interdependent network of display, object agency, and memory. Grounded in ethnographic fieldwork with young adults in Florida and Virginia, the research argues that domestic objects are not passive items but active participants that space a person’s identity and physical environment. Through the practice of display, individuals exercise agency by choosing what to exhibit and how to organize their space, which in turn regulates the visibility and emotional presences of the memories tied to those objects. The study further highlights how objects serve as physical anchors for memory, providing stability even as a person’s perception of their past evolves. While memory imbues an object with value, transforming it into something that is meaningful, the materiality of the item acts as a tangible witness that preserves histories and reinforces the owner’s sense of self. This work proposes a holistic framework for understanding material culture, demonstrating that the function of an object is defined by the continuous negotiation between the physical, mental, and visual within the domestic sphere.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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