This paper examines a seemingly simple object, the Moleskine notebook. The Moleskine notebook with its simple and plain design is a tool for writing and sketching. Yet, its popularity is not to be overlooked. A simple Google search for ‘Moleskine’ reveals countless blog entries, articles, detailed images, and accounts of writers’ or artists’ uses of this object. A fan blog , Moleskinerie.com, gained such popularity that the company eventually took over and now runs the blog itself. Alexis even claims that Moleskine users “constitute a sort of cult”. Not only is the Moleskine journal a practical writing tool, but it also represents who we are and thereby supports peoples’ identity work.
American author and LGBTQ activist Garrad Conley is an adamant consumer of the Moleskine notebook.In Boy Erased, a 2016 Memoir, he openly narrates his traumatizing and psychologically harmful experiences made at Love In Action, a Christian ex-gay ministry founded in 1973, and the journey of accepting and finding his identity.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
2.1. Defining Material Culture
2.2. Objects and Identity
2.3. The Moleskine Notebook
3. The Moleskine Notebook and Identity Work in Garrard Conley’s memoir Boy Erased
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper explores the intersection of material culture and personal identity by analyzing the symbolic and functional role of Moleskine notebooks in Garrard Conley’s memoir, "Boy Erased." It investigates how an everyday object can serve as a tool for identity negotiation, emotional support, and self-reflection, particularly within the restrictive environment of conversion therapy.
- The theoretical foundations of material culture and object attachment.
- The psychological significance of items in defining and maintaining self-concept.
- The specific functionality and cultural narrative surrounding Moleskine notebooks.
- Garrard Conley’s use of his journal to navigate identity and resist harmful environmental pressures.
- The impact of object loss and the symbolic role of the notebook as a "protective shield."
Excerpt from the Book
3. The Moleskine Notebook and Identity Work in Garrard Conley’s memoir Boy Erased
To examine the impact of the Moleskine journal in Garrard Conley's identity work, his autobiographical narrative is being drawn upon, in which he references his use of the notebook.
Garrard Conley underwent ex-gay conversion therapy in the United States in the year 2004 (Conley 3). Conley grew up in a fundamental Christian environment and struggled with his sexuality (17). He internalized the beliefs of the church that being homosexual is sinful and ended up in feelings of worthlessness, self-hatred, and feelings of deep unworthiness (9). Therefore, he distanced himself from others for fear of judgment. At Love In Action, Conley is constantly made to feel dirty, disgusting, wrong, sinful, and inappropriate due to his homosexuality (15). Conley has to suppress his true identity and personality (15). He is forced to let go of personality traits that are considered feminine and has to adopt a masculine personality (15). Anything else is considered to be a ‘false personality’ (15).
On Moleskine’s official website, the notebook is said to be “celebrated in pop culture as a contemporary icon, an inviting blank space where your own words andsketches join you to an ever-evolving relay of creativity“ (The Legendary Notebook). According to Falconer, the Moleskine became synonymous with creativity because of its ‘more-than-object’ quality (14). Falconer observes that although people may not write notebooks for other people, they still carry them around in order to showcase their creativity and their passion for writing (15). For Conley, too, the Moleskine journal provides a realm for his creativity. The notebook is incorporated into Conley’s journaling practice. He uses a Moleskine notebook on a daily basis (Conley 17). Every evening, Conley likes to spend time rereading and immersing himself in his self-written short stories (17).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework regarding human-object relationships and introduces the research thesis concerning the Moleskine notebook's role in the personal development of Garrard Conley.
2. Theoretical Background: This section defines core concepts of material culture, discusses how objects intersect with self-identity and personality construction, and provides background on the Moleskine brand.
2.1. Defining Material Culture: This subsection elaborates on how objects function to facilitate social life and create symbolic meaning in human environments.
2.2. Objects and Identity: This subsection explores the psychological attachment individuals form with objects and how these items help define and maintain an individual’s self-concept.
2.3. The Moleskine Notebook: This subsection details the branding, history, and physical properties of the Moleskine notebook that contribute to its status as a desirable tool for creative expression.
3. The Moleskine Notebook and Identity Work in Garrard Conley’s memoir Boy Erased: This chapter applies the previously defined theory to Conley’s memoir, examining how his journal served as a necessary tool for survival and identity retention during conversion therapy.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the study's findings, confirming that everyday objects play a critical role in identity exploration and proposing directions for future material culture research.
Keywords
Material Culture, Moleskine, Identity Work, Garrard Conley, Boy Erased, Object Attachment, Conversion Therapy, Self-Concept, Symbolism, Personality, Consumer Research, Queer Identity, Narrative, Subjectivity, Protective Shield
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the relationship between material culture and personal identity, specifically focusing on how the Moleskine notebook acts as a tool for identity negotiation in the memoir "Boy Erased" by Garrard Conley.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include material culture theory, the psychological role of everyday objects, identity construction under duress, and the intersection of creativity, literature, and self-worth.
What is the main objective or research question?
The main objective is to argue that the Moleskine notebook is not merely a writing tool, but a significant object that performs identity work, invites attachment, provides access to a desired identity, and encourages inner reflection.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The paper employs a qualitative analysis of material culture, drawing on established theoretical definitions and applying them to a close reading of a specific autobiographical narrative.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body bridges theoretical definitions of material culture and object-identity mapping with a direct analysis of Conley’s experiences, looking at how his notebook served as a "protective shield" and a space for self-expression at the Love in Action facility.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include Material Culture, Identity Work, Object Attachment, Moleskine, Self-Concept, and "Boy Erased."
How does the author define the role of the Moleskine notebook during Conley's stay at "Love in Action"?
The paper conceptualizes the notebook as a "protective shield" that allowed Conley to maintain his sense of self and resist the psychological damage of the homophobic environment he was forced to inhabit.
In what way does the paper address the distinction between "false personality" and true self?
The paper highlights how the conversion therapy program demanded a "false personality" (masculine and conformist), while the Moleskine provided a private space where Conley could explore his "bookish" and feminine interests, thereby nurturing his true identity.
What happens when Conley is forced to relinquish his notebook?
According to the memoir and the paper's analysis, the separation from the notebook caused intense distress, leaving Conley unable to distract himself and forcing him to confront shameful parts of his psyche without the creative outlet he relied upon.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2022, Exploring Material Culture: How the Moleskine Notebook Performs Identity Work in Garrard Conley’s Memoir "Boy Erased", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1474077
