Psci 2701 - Textual Analysis - Essay
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Carleton University
Added on 2020-02-24
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In this essay, we will discuss the interplay between ideas of the ordinary and extraordinary in the photograph. Consider issues such as composition, subject, salience and setting will also discuss.
Psci 2701 - Textual Analysis - Essay
Carleton University
Added on 2020-02-24
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SURNAME1NameCourseInstitutionLecturerDateChallenging Lefebvre’s Assessment of our Relationship to Objects and Things in the ModernEra using “A Christmas Memory”Most time, individuals tend to be overly materialistic. This is reflected in Lefebvre essay,“Everyday and Everydayness” where he argues that in the modern era, (i.e., via modernity),our relationship to objects has become instrumental (“functional”) and materialistic(Lefebvre, 8). However, Lefebvre’s evaluation is not entirely true. The present paper analysesCapote’s story, A Christmas Memory, to challenge Lefebvre’s assessment of the relationshipof human beings to objects and things in the modern era. The paper seeks to prove that ourrelationship to things and objects has remained relatively the same even with modernity.The story starts with winter’s onset, prompting Buddy’s cousin to announce that “it’sfruitcake weather.”(Capote,1). They collect all the materials to make thirty-holiday fruitcakestogether and venture deep into the woods to fetch a unique Christmas shrub. Theannouncement and the repetition of the process shows that Christmas is a ritual in thisparticular society. Unlike Lefebvre (p.11), who argues that repetition of events has createdboredom in the modern era, Olson (10) argues that there should be a new comprehension ofmythical modernism, utility instead of operational power and repetition instead ofuniqueness. He therefore supports the repetition of Christmas each year as depicted in “AChristmas Memory”. The repetition of Christmas seems to bridge the gap between the poor
SURNAME2and the rich and serves as a constant reminder of our immaterial relationship to things andobjects. On Christmas Eve, they beautify the tree with homemade adornments and create giftsfor their relatives. Though they would wish to buy each other expensive gifts, they arepoverty stricken and end up making each other kites instead. The simplicity of fruitcakes andthe fact that Buddy and his cousin were willing to save money throughout the year in order toafford the ingredients symbolizes the value attached to Christmas. The fruitcakes are alsosymbolic of the priceless friendship that Buddy’s cousin shared with the strangers. This act initself challenges the notion that our relationship to things and objects has becomematerialistic and functional as suggested by Lefebvre.From the story, Buddy’s revulsion for materialistic things is evident. On Christmas Day, hereceives a Sunday school shirt, handkerchiefs, a second-hand sweater and a subscription to areligious children’s magazine. He is however not excited about the gifts which are evident inthe statement; “Well, I’m disappointed. Who wouldn’t be?” (Capote, 9). Buddy’s cousin is abit more enthusiastic with the gift she receives from her married sister, a woollen sweater.However, it is their cheap gifts towards each other, the fruitcakes and the handmade kites thatmake them happy. The kites and fruitcakes are a symbol of the friendship bond and love thatthese two characters shared. Though their economic condition does not allow them to buyeach other expensive gifts, they are content and appreciate what they can afford. In modernlife, though material possessions such as wealth are important, individuals cannot draw fullutility from these possessions. Love and friendship are still important even in the modernworld and define our existence as human beings. Further, Buddy’s cousin’s distaste for materialism is apparent when she refuses to exchangethe Christmas tree for money. The mill owner’s wife offers Buddy’s cousin money for thetree, suggesting that they could get another one. However, she responds by saying that “thereis never two of anything.” (Capote,7).From her response, it is clear that she has extraordinary
SURNAME3respect for the exceptionality of “things” and that she has a spiritual indebtedness for both thetree and other “things” in life. Her reaction also contradicts the evident affluence of the millowner’s wife, proposing that she would rather gain the reward of their efforts in finding theimpeccable Christmas tree than being compensated with money. This contradicts Lefebvre’sstatement; “our relationship to things has become materialistic and instrumental due tomodernity” (p.8) since it is clear that materialism does not affect individual decisions in allsituations. The notion by Lefebvre, that modernism has brought in materialism is drawn fromthe Marxist Framework, i.e. individuals are alienated from themselves and from each otherunder conditions of capitalist production (Olson, 14). However, if this were the case, Buddy’scousin would have accepted the mill owner’s wife money offer, especially owing to theirfinancial situation at the moment. In his essay, Lefebvre suggests that due to the materialistic and instrumental value that hasbeen attached to things and objects, the relationship between human beings and God(divinity) has eroded. He states that; “The every day is, therefore, a concept. For it to haveever been engaged as a concept, the reality is designated had to become dominated, and oldobsessions about shortages- “give us our daily bread...” had to disappear” (Lefebvre, 9). Hefurther argues that in the pre modern era, buildings and furniture were constructed one byone, and each existed in relation to symbols, to social and moral reference, a concept that hassince disappeared (p.9). However, the concept of religion is still evident in the modern era,and certain things symbolize religion as seen in “A Christmas Memory.” When flying thekites, Buddy’s cousin suddenly declares, “My, how foolish I am” (Capote, 10). Theexperience gives her a new understanding of the presence of God in ordinary things. Sheremembers how she always assumed that “a body would have to be sick and dying beforethey saw the Lord” (Capote, 10). Buddy’s cousin compared her experience to the “BaptistWindow” (10) and confesses that she had believed that the shine clears the scary feeling. She
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