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China Sets and Crystal Cups: Material Traces of the Communist Past in Romanian Homes
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China Sets and Crystal Cups: Material Traces of the Communist Past in Romanian Homes
Annotation
PII
S0869-54150000392-4-1
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Maria Kristake 
Edition
Issue 3
Pages
71-87
Abstract
Taking on the perspective of "biography of things" among others anthropological concepts, the author looks at the material objects of the socialist era, namely, crystal cups and china sets, in post-socialist Romania, focusing on their appearance in households, past and current use, as well as on the shifts in their meanings and significance. The study draws on ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews conducted in the city of Targoviste in 2012. It was found that these material objects were signs of social capital, prestige and distinctions in rather standardized environment of Romanian homes. The author also discovered that the china sets and crystal cups turned out to be the most long-lasting among socialist things and explore the reasons behind their longevity.
Keywords
consumption, material culture, everyday life, socialism, postsocialism, Romania, Targoviste
Number of purchasers
1
Views
456
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0.0 (0 votes)
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