The Negro Artist And The Racial Mountain - 878 Words

Although Langston Hughes’ stories and essays were written almost 100 years ago, their messages are still relevant today. In his short pieces, â€Å"Who’s Passing for Who?† and â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,† he describes the social and economic disconnect between white and black Americans that he observed and experienced throughout his life. Both essays highlight the strong feeling of â€Å"otherness† that black culture felt—there is a clear divide between black and white cultures. â€Å"Who’s Passing for Who?† tells the story of a white couple who are pretending to be part black in an attempt to experience an authentic night out in Harlem. â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain† illuminates the internalized racism black people experience as a result of their pressure to conform to the standards of a white-driven culture. Both â€Å"Who’s Passing for Who?† and â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain† reflect white culture’s continuous appropriation of black culture and the effects this has on the black community. Both pieces emphasize the social hierarchy in place in America that historically and presently continues to keep black people at the bottom and white people in control. White people believe they are the norm and treat the black community as â€Å"others†Ã¢â‚¬â€which then creates feelings of internalized racism in the black community. In â€Å"Who’s Passing†, the white couple’s treatment towards the black artists highlights this mentality. Upon meeting them, they act as though theyShow MoreRelatedThe Negro Artist And The Racial Mountain873 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain† (1926) The article â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain† by Hughes (1926), the author shows a situation that the African Americans felt underestimated for being black and attempted to embrace whites’ culture. This was because white people looked down on them during that era. He shows this by expressing his disappointment with a statement made by one of the most promising of the young Negro poets who says that, â€Å"I want to be a poet not a Negro poet,†Read MoreThe Negro Artist And The Racial Mountain : The Manifesto For Artists Of The Harlem Renaissance1787 Words   |  8 PagesBowen 7 Sunteasja Bowen Harlem Renaissance Dr. Bracks 2 March 2017 The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain: The Manifesto for Artists of the Harlem Renaissance ​The Norton Anthology of African American Literature suggests that the Harlem Renaissance was the â€Å"irresistible impulse of blacks to create boldly expressive art of a high quality as a primary response to their social conditions, as an affirmation of their dignity and humanity in the face of poverty and racism† (953). The Harlem RenaissanceRead MoreChallenges in The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain by Langston Hughes2027 Words   |  8 Pages In the words taken from the essay â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,† Langston Hughes offers insightful statements that verge on the boundary of being, in a sense, challenges. He is directly confronting the implicit wariness of social stratification in that he dismisses the societal need for humans to conform and to adopt personalities and views for themselves that are significantly molded by the outside world. Langston Hughes is saying that humans, no matter their circumstance or originRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes s The Negro Artist And The Racial Mountain ``1075 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the Harlem Renaissance emerging artists sought to redefine the image of African Americans through their works to counter misconceived stigma which included perhaps most importantly, the ill-founded scientific belief that they were incapable of creative expression. Consequently, the space of Harlem invited opportunity for collaboration and publishing while simultan eously establishing the ideal era for artists to fight for the unification and acceptance of black identity. Therefore, in thisRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes Poem, The Negro Artist And The Racial Mountain Essay1402 Words   |  6 Pagescanon of poetry, especially those influenced by different racial and ethnic backgrounds. To demonstrate my point, in this essay I shall be discussing in detail Langston Hughes and his piece Poem and why it should be included in the Norton Anthology of Poetry. I will contrast and compare it with Christina Rossetti’s Remember, and back up my arguments with selected quotes from Langston Hughes’ essay ‘The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain’. To begin, Langston Hughes’ ‘Poem’ is an example of howRead MoreThe Negro And The Racial Mountain976 Words   |  4 Pagesnotable poems, plays, and novels, Hughes also wrote essays such as The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain which Hughes gives insight into the minds of middle-class and upper-class Negroes. Prior to reading this essay, I never heard of, nor did I know, Langston Hughes composed essays, much less an essay that outwardly depicts aspects of life that most are accustomed to and see nothing wrong with. The Negro and the Racial Mountain formulated this view that Langston Hughes was more than a poet who wroteRead MoreThe Negro Speaks Of Rivers1548 Words   |  7 Pagesintroduced him to the poetry of Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman, both whom Hughes would later cite as primary influences. By the time Hughes was enrolled at Columbia University in New York, he had already launched his literary career with his poem â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers† in the Crisis, edited by W.E.B. DuBois. He also committed himself to writing mainly about African Americans. Leaving Columbia in 1922, Hughes spent the next three years in a succession of menial jobs and traveling abroad. He returnedRead MoreWhat Is The Negro s Racial Identity?940 Words   |  4 PagesNegro’s Racial Identity? Racial identity growth has speedily increased and reshaped during the Harlem Renaissance as some blacks writers were coming to terms with the fact that there some differences among the black community. Two writers created their own personal translation concerning the Negro in the course of these years. In Alain Locke’s essay, The New Negro, he presents the variation of the â€Å"new† and â€Å"old† Negro. On the other hand Langston Hughes essay, The Negro Artist and the Racial MountainRead MoreLangston Hughes : The Face Of Harlem Literacy1147 Words   |  5 Pagesthe time. However, Hughes has been recorded stating that the inability of black artist or artistry from black Americans were never popular because of the lack of originality the artwork had (Leach 36). He believed black art was so unsuccessful in America because of its lack of originality and distance from the artist. In his essay â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain† he expresses his ideas on the black artist. Langston Hughes was brought up by his grandmother, Mary Langston, in Joplin, MissouriRead MoreContributions Of Langston Hughes948 Words   |  4 Pageschance to show what they can do, and many were interested in art music, and literature. African-Americans had amazing talents in all fields: composers, poets, journalists and artists. This gave Africa-Americans the opportunity to express themselves, their thoughts, and their talents. Langston Hughes used his talent to change the racial boundaries of the American society, and he became an important figure in the fight for equal rights. Langston Hughes wanted African- Americans to have pride in being black

Essay on Music in the Sixties - 1140 Words

Music in the Sixties My topic is Music in the Sixties. In my essay I would like to determine that events that occurred during the 1960’s had a significant effect on some of the music that was produced. I believe that certain music and musical events derived from peoples feelings and views on things that occurred during the 60’s. Some of these events include the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, politics, and society as a whole. There were many different stereotypes and prejudices. There was war going on, and there were many people who were trying to focus on peace. My main goal is to show how these events may have influenced people’s music, and also to emphasize how music was used to unify people despite all of the negativity that†¦show more content†¦Woodstock was a huge music and art fair that lasted 3 days in the summer of 1969. The site tells who sponsored Woodstock, what different people’s opinions were on the purpose of the festival, and what occurred over the course of the planning and duration of the concert. The promoters wanted to link the theme of the concert to the anti-war sentiment. Many people who were involved were stereotyped as drug users or left -wing politicians because of their appearances. These events, although intended to send a message of peace, also caused a great deal of conflict. In addition to this information we are given the names of the performers who participated in the concert. This site also has information of other events that took place during the 60’s, such as The Monterey International Pop Festival, which took place in order to show that pop music should be accepted as a serious art form, as jazz was. This event first took place in the summer of 1967. This site also includes additional links, but these are the ones that I felt were useful. The second source that I used is titled Colored Reflections lt;http://net4tv.com/color/index.htm. This site has information on the 1950’s through the 1990’s. In the 1960’s section, it starts off by telling us that the 60’s was considered the New Frontier since we had a young president, John f. Kennedy, in office. It says that he was †¦the inspiration for this new decade. (par.1) ThisShow MoreRelated Music and the Sixties Essays909 Words   |  4 PagesMusic and the Sixties What the music of the late 1960s and early 1970 are attempting to achieve is a protest to the U.S. government. From the lyrics of Neil Youngs Ohio performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, the vocalists are memorializing the incident that occurred during a protest about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in Kent State University where nine students were injured and four students were killed by the Ohio National Guardsmen who opened fire on unarmed students: Read MoreMusic of the Sixties Essay1105 Words   |  5 PagesMusic in the Sixties The music of the sixties went through tremendous change. It shaped mush of the music we hear today. From New Orleans came Jazz, from the East Coast came rock, from the West Coast came Psychedelic rock, and from England came the Invasion. In 1963 the Beatles shattered the dreariness of the music business. And with them came rock, the music of the sixties, and a music quite different from rock’n’roll. The jazz era had slowly faded away and in came the Beatles, possiblyRead MoreMusic, Culture And Ideology Of The Sixties Post War Generation1184 Words   |  5 PagesFrom the early basement concerts at the Cavern Club to the impromptu roof-top session atop Apple Studios, The Beatles were a phenomenon that influenced the music, culture and ideology of the Sixties’ post-war generation. With the spectre of their parents’ war behind them, British teens of the early 1960s ushered in a hitherto-unknown youth culture into a society ready for positive change. Paul McCartney said in conversation with biographer Barry Miles. â€Å"This working-class explosion was all happeningRead MoreSixties Music and How it Reflected the Changing Times Essay1715 Words   |  7 PagesSixties Music and How it Reflecte d the Changing Times The 1960’s in the United States was a decade marred by social unrest, civil rights injustice, and violence both home and abroad. These were some of the factors that lead to a cultural revolution. The revolution attempted to diverge the fabric of American society. Teenagers were living dangerously and breaking away from the ideals that their parents held. In the process they created their own society (Burns 1990). They were young andRead MoreThe Sixties Between The Microgrooves : Using Folk And Protest Music1766 Words   |  8 Pageswent from outspoken newspaper articles to large rallies, and during the Vietnam War, music was a prevalent tool in aiding the protests. Allowing political messages to be shared nationally, the music had touched the lives of the younger generation. Author Jerome L. Rodnitzky explains in his journal, â€Å"The Sixties between the Microgrooves: Using Folk and Protest Music to Understand American History, 1963-1973†, how music was â€Å" trying to be all things to all people†, which created a way for Americans toRead More Pop Culture in 1960s and 1990s Essay802 Words   |  4 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In comparing the sixties and the nineties, my first thought was how much popular culture has changed since then and how different society is today. The strange thing is, the more I tried to differentiate between them, the more similarities I found. Both the sixties and the nineties were about youth, creativity, free-thinking, and expression. With the nineties coming to a close and the popularity of anything ?retro, I decided to compare the fashions, people, music, and issues that definedRead More Changes Since The Sixties Essay878 Words   |  4 Pagestime guzzling metal detectors at the airports... or the schools. There were no grouchy warning labels on the records and no ratings necessary on the movies. And TV shows were acceptable to the whole family. Those were the sixties or at least part of it. Some of the 52 million sixties’ boomers called it the decade of peace, harmony and love mainly for the movement for peace and the â€Å"flower power† attitude. Others, a little more pessimistic, called it the decade of dissatisfaction because of the protestsRead MoreChanges Since the Sixties916 Words   |  4 Pagestime guzzling metal detectors at the airports... or the schools. There were no grouchy warning labels on the records and no ratings necessary on the movies. And TV shows were acceptable to the whole family. Those were the sixties or at least part of it. Some of the 52 million sixties boomers called it the decade of peace, harmony and love mainly for the movement for peace and the flower power attitude. Others, a little more pessimistic, called it the decade of dissatisfaction because of the protestsRead MoreChicanos And The Liberal Agenda1075 Words   |  5 PagesChicanos and the Liberal Agenda In the early sixties, when times were of segregation, racism and discrimination, Chicanos often suffered the most. It was a dark time for Mexican-Americans, who were negatively referred as ‘Chicanos’. Chicanos did not always have the empowered meaning it has today. In the early sixties, ‘Chicano’ was often used to refer to Mexican-Americans’ as lower class, ignorant and as a derogatory racial identification. Furthermore, racism, exploitation, inequality, conformityRead MoreHow 1960s Has Impacted And Influenced Today s Society1396 Words   |  6 Pages The sixties was one of the most impactful decades pertaining to culture revolutions; it is the decade that brought into play some of the problems and privileges that the present is dealing with now. The sixties brought the gay movement, women’s rights, the drug revolution, and has also impacted music as well. One of the most well-known things about the sixties is its music. Bands in the sixties started to break the conservative boundaries by talking about drugs and sex in their music; the drugs

Capitalism Essay Example For Students

Capitalism Essay By definition, Capitalism is an economic system controlled chiefly by individuals and private companies instead of by the government. In this system, individuals and companies own and direct most of the resources used to produce goods and services, including land and other natural resources labor, and capital. Capital includes factories and equipment and sometimes the money used in businesses (Friedman, 5). Capitalism stresses private economic decisions. People are free to decide how they will earn and spend their income. Companies may choose which goods and services to produce and how much to charge for them. They also compete with one another to sell products. Nations whose economies are based on capitalism include the United States, Germany, Canada, and Japan. Although a private individual or group of individuals may control their income and a large section of an economy, the government can control some aspects of the economy in every nation. Capitalism is some times called Free enterprise, despite its limits established by the government. Many organizations and businesses flourish from the existence of capitalism. Non-profit organizations prosper from capitalism such as: The Roman Catholic Church. As one of the largest and most common religions in the world, the Roman Catholic faith is sustained through capitalism, for it is a capitalist organization. It can be considered a Capitalist organization in the fact that income is freely given in return for nothing. Ones religion can definitely influence their economic decisions, lifestyle and social status. The Roman Catholic Church believes that capitalism can become a type of injustice. For example, some people in capitalist nations can afford many luxuries. But at the same time, others lack adequate food, housing, and other needs. This unequal distribution of wealth results largely from capitalisms emphasis on individuality. The Catholic Church cites examples of inequality as incorrect. However, the church and other religious denominations thrive from others prosperity and income. Capitalism is a definite social justice issue. One reason why people do not necessarily feel obligated to help others less fortunate than him or hersel f is because the economy focuses on individualism, which leads to greed and hoarding. Another reason why capitalism is a social justice issue is that it deprives certain people of their human rights as well as the dignity and respect that all humans deserve. As a result, we can ask ourselves, are we truly free?On Independence Day we commemorate the birth of America as a free nation. But even more than that, we commemorate the birth of Americans as free men. At a single stroke, the Declaration of Independence and its ideas set America free from England, and set Americans free from their own government. The Founding Fathers instituted Americas government to protect the freedom of its citizens, and to secure their rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.These rights were created to secure freedom of thought and action for all Americans. Freedom of thought is the freedom of an individual to use his mind: to educate and inform himself; to make his own judgments; to reach his own conclusions; to set his decisions; to hold his beliefs; to choose the whole course of his life. Freedom of action is the freedom of an individual to act on his own judgment: to pursue his/her values; to strive for his/her goals; to work and to keep the product of his/her work; to associate and trade with others; to act for the attainment of his/her inner happiness. The implementation of individual rights had revolutionary effects. The freedom and progress that followed were unprecedented. Individuals, free from government interference, pursued their happiness restlessly and produced tremendous amounts of wealth in the process. Individuals took responsibility for their lives: for their education, their health care, their jobs, their retirement, and their money. While individuals acted by right, government acted by permission. In 150 years America became the greatest nation on Earth (Kronen, 72). .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc , .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .postImageUrl , .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc , .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc:hover , .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc:visited , .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc:active { border:0!important; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc:active , .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc6c2511d2ae1548e201b84c4e71f71cc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Joan Of Arc By Jules Bastien Le Page Persuasive EssayBefore the turn of the century, however, while America still prospered from its founding ideals, a set of opposite ideals surged and gradually took over the old ones. In 1863, the institution of the military draft set the principle that individuals did no longer have a right to their own lives: the state did. From that day on every American no longer owned his life, but held it by permission. In 1913, the federal income tax was created and set the principle that individuals did not have a right to their productive efforttheir earnings. Governments role reversed from protector to usurper of our rights. From that day on every American no longer owned his income, but held it by permission (Pasley, 10,11)Along with peoples money, government took responsibility for their lives. Government assumed the task of providing the people with education, health care, housing, employment, and much more. The greater the share of peoples lives the government undertook to provide for, the more it taxed the people. To appease the masses, the richest were taxed the hardest. But all paid the price in the loss of our rights. Government became a devouring beast, and most of the American people approved of it. Regrettably, individual rights have been eroded to a point where we already lost much of the freedom they once secured us. The American people, once independent and free from government control, are now subject to all kinds of taxation and regulation. Today in our society, we need governments permission to drive, to work, to open and to run a business, and even to own and hold property. The government is no longer our servant; it became our master. The government, once established to ban the use of force among men, now is the greatest aggressor of all. In the name of helping the needy, it assaults the productive and strips them of their rights and property. But if productive Americans have no rights then no American has them either. America, born as a free country, has been transfigured into a welfare state, where the needs of some became a blank check on the fortunes of others (Tate, 44,45). But we are still in time to regain our rights if only we understand better their meaning, their value and their power. If Americans are to be the free again, and America is to remain the greatest nation on Earth, we must hold sacred our individual rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.America was founded on the noblest of ideals: the right of every individual to his life. America will only live as long as its ideals live in our hearts and in our minds (kronen, 102).

Understanding Material Culture by Ian Woodward

Introduction Things we possess and own form part of our culture. These things shape our identity as they have a direct influence on us. In this article, I undertake a review of the book Understanding Material Culture authored by Ian Woodward. This book basically explains what material culture entails in a manner that is easily understood. The book specifically shows that consumption is an act of culture creation.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Understanding Material Culture by Ian Woodward specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Preview Ian Woodward makes a very comprehensive and yet simple to understand approach in discussing material culture. He organizes his ideas in a pragmatic manner making it a very useful starter text for students as well as an accompaniment for even the experts in this field. Using illustrations, the author discusses various aspects of material culture in manner that does not deviate from the main objective of the book which is to show the reader that consumption is part of culture creation and not slavery to culture industries. Understanding Material Culture The book is divided into four parts with a total of nine chapters taking up to 201 pages. The chapters in each of the four parts are structured well. Each chapter starts with a summary of the main points covered and at the end the author makes a short but detailed suggestion for further reading. The parts support each other and going through each is necessary in order to have a good understanding of the part that will follow. These parts are reviewed below and their significance is highlighted. Locating Material Culture This part discusses material culture in an introductory manner. This is done by examining the main concepts and terms common to material culture studies. A few case studies are highlighted to show the significance of understanding material culture in everyday life. As illustrated in the case of Helen, materials have aesthetic value (Woodward 6). Materials can also act as identifiers – people identify with different objects and the value attached to different objects differs from one person to another.Advertising Looking for book review on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Remark This part is important in showing that people do not just buy objects without a reason or because of being compelled by some forces but rather that consumption is made to fulfill some need. Indeed the author argues that industries in the process of production aspire to find out what people need and produce goods that satisfy that need. Theoretical Approaches to Studying Material Culture This part examines the ideas of significant authors who made remarkable contribution to the field of material culture. Marx’s views are first to be analyzed. The author points out weaknesses in Marx’s views on objects that people own. Marx observed that capitalism advanced exploitation of some classes of people and predicted that there was no possibility that it would keep on progressing. On the other hand, Lukacs’ views tried to address the weak sections in Marx’s observations. Lukacs tried to explain why men cannot rebel against abusive systems: he argued that products are deceptive and they blind people from seeing that the process of production is oppressive. This part also examines the Critical Theory as discussed by the Frankfurt School scholars. The author observes that the views and observations presented through the Critical Theory are relevant today and actually explain the production of commodities on large scale. He also examines the role of tastes and preferences in material culture. Remark This part is used wisely to bring out the views of previous authors who view the act of consumption as one that progresses enslavement of some class of people. The views that objects are deceptive and are symbols of enslavement best described as â€Å"crystallizations of the sweat, blood and energy of workers† (Woodward 38) are discussed. Objects in Action The third part examines the process through which objects turn from being just objects into acquiring status, aesthetic value and personal taste. It also looks at the correlation between material culture and identity. It shows how objects help in the formation of social identities and collective identities. This part shows that objects acquire cultural significance through narratives and performances. The manner in which an object is talked about shows how it is valued. An object which is not valued is usually ignored and the role it plays is often not recognized. A narrative brings a social life into an object and makes it a social object.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Understanding Material Culture by Ian Woodward specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Objects are also said to have â€Å"performative capacity† (Woodward 152). This happens when an object and a person become symbolic and complement each other. For instance, a bus conductor and a mobile ticket machines complement each other. Remark This part best brings out the argument that consumption is an act of creating culture and that it is made consciously without any form of enforcement. This part shows how objects make who we are. It is shown that the objects a person buys are for specific needs which are unique to the buyer. This is actually why the author considers consumption an art that requires skills. Part four makes the concluding remarks. The author recounts the significant ideas covered in the previous chapters and makes important remarks about them. The author has included a list of reference used in the book after the conclusion. Critical Remarks This book helps to create a new understanding of material culture. In a comprehensive mann er, it refutes bourgeoisie ideologies on consumption as proposed by Marx and chooses to view consumers as conscious beings who make deliberate choices of objects. The book views acts of consumption as emanating from the artistic nature of consumers as opposed to being due to manipulation. This book helps us to understand that acts of consumption are meant to bring out personality. In regard to consumption, the author claims that it is â€Å"merely one part of the process of building culture, through continuously expending, rebuilding and expending bits of it† (Woodward 97). It shows that objects have some influence on us though that does not mean that objects control us. The illustration of a home used in the book is best in understanding the argument of the author that consumption is an artistic act by the consumer. The home is used as a showroom by the owners for self expression. The organization of a home and the furnishing made speaks much about the material culture of th e owner. It is easy to learn a lot about the material culture of a person by examining his or her home. In reviewing Woodward’s book, Ossewaarde is in agreement that consumers create culture through consumption. He argues that consumptions should not be regarded as an act of slavery to capitalist systems but rather an act of culture creation (Ossewaarde 783).Advertising Looking for book review on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the process of consumption, Woodward views choice and taste as key components, he says, â€Å"making choices is a fundamental skill, perhaps a duty, required for people who live in a consumer society†¦taste is a core component of this† (Woodward 6). Conclusion Understanding Material Culture is a text which attempts to show the significance of consumption in creation of a culture. The author refutes that consumption originates from manipulation by capitalistic systems and culture industries. He instead views consumption as an art which requires the skills of choice and taste. Works Cited Ossewaarde, Marinus. â€Å"Joint Reviews.† Sociology 43.4 (2009): 782-785. Print. Woodward, Ian. Understanding Material Culture. London: Sage Publications, 2007. Print. This book review on Understanding Material Culture by Ian Woodward was written and submitted by user Eileen Obrien to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.