Material objects are important for peoples' sense of belonging. This paper explores, with the help of real world examples, on how important exactly. The sense of belonging is to be established in relation to place and community. In the course of the essay it also will become clear that it is not always easy to distinguish between territory as spatial entity and territory in a metaphysical community-based sense.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Material Objects, Place, and Territory
- The Importance of Emotion in Place and Territory
- Trees in Camerton and the Barrier Between Israel and the West Bank
- Community, Diaspora, and the Kente Cloth
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the significance of material objects in shaping individuals' and communities' sense of belonging to their immediate environment. It examines how these objects become imbued with emotional attachment, contribute to collective memory, and influence feelings of inclusion and exclusion. The author investigates the role of material objects in both place-based communities and diasporic communities.
- The Role of Material Objects in Creating a Sense of Belonging
- The Intersection of Materiality, Emotion, and Identity
- The Impact of Material Objects on Place, Territory, and Community Formation
- The Role of Leaders and Organizations in Shaping Community Identity
- The Significance of Material Objects in a Globalized World
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The first section of the essay introduces the concept of emotional attachment to place, arguing that it is the key distinction between "place" and "territory." It then explores how material objects like trees in Camerton can become imbued with emotional significance, leading to a sense of belonging and resistance to change.
- The second section expands on the theme of materiality and belonging by examining the barrier between Israel and the West Bank. It explores how the barrier, for both Israelis and Palestinians, symbolizes both security and oppression, illustrating the power of material objects to shape identity and conflict.
- The third section shifts focus to diaspora communities, specifically the Ghanaian diaspora. The essay highlights the role of the Kente cloth as a symbol of shared cultural identity, demonstrating how material objects can maintain a sense of belonging across geographical distances. This section also explores the importance of leaders and organizations in sustaining cultural practices and fostering community connections in the diaspora.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this essay are: material objects, sense of belonging, place, territory, community, diaspora, emotion, identity, cultural practices, leaders, organizations, globalized world, Kente cloth, Camerton trees, Israel-Palestine conflict, inclusion, exclusion. This essay explores how material objects and cultural practices contribute to the construction and maintenance of identity within both place-based and diaspora communities.
- Quote paper
- Christian Scheinpflug (Author), 2011, Where We Belong To, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/176789
