To a large extent, yeah. Every object tells a story. The way we look at it, the way we use it, the way we stereotype it and even the way we reject it, sends a strong communicative signal between the object itself, its user and the people around us. It is ingrained into our nature to personalize our belongings; the driven need to make things specially ours so that one day even when we're gone, we won't be forgotten - not completely at least.
Personalization
We've all had the habit of personalization. Adding that sticker to your guitar, keeping that trophy up that shelf, these actions are backed up with stories behind them; reasons why we treasure them so much. You might have a teddy bear you've kept since your childhood. Or that precious gift from your first love. Or maybe the family heirloom your mother left you before she passed away. Objects tell a story. It's up to us how we interpret them.
Read up on this tear-jerker. If you don't, then well, too bad.
Sentimental Belongings: The Stories Behind the Objects
Archaeology
The hunger for truth often involves a lot of hard work, research, blood, sweat and tears. Archaeologists who study human activities in the past, work hard to figure out what happened million of years ago or before human evolution dig hard at many objects such as old fossils and rocks that non-experts like us would never imagine these objects to be anything more than, well, rocks. Or dirt.
An archaeologist carefully extracting the artifacts from the ground.
These objects however, are capable of telling a story, revealing information into its origin, species and more. Each artifact has had a place in its time and they give an insight to how the world was like before modernisation and urban development. The saying that the dead would never speak is proven otherwise by objects such as these.
Tools of the trade
All throughout history, objects have been used as a communicative tool, even til today.
The painting of Mona Lisa for example. A simple portrait of a lady sparked intense interest in the drawing. It led to the obsession of the mystery woman in the painting and the painter Leonardo da Vinci himself. People have objectified the Mona Lisa painting as an aesthetic, philosophical and advertising symbol, entering eventually into the irreverent parodies of the Dada and Surrealist artists. Numerous theories have surfaced, debating from when Da Vinci painted the portrait to the extent of whom the lady in the painting truly is. Even more, tyhe obsession of some who've analysed the painting to the point of developing meanings to the painting, for instance, the reason why Mona Lisa's right hand is resting on her left!
Look at me. Yeah, I'm smiling. Or am I? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Another example; a condom. To a conservative individual or society, even the mere mention of it is TABOO. But it's function was never to incite casual sex. It was the protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
There are many benefits of having regular sex. We're not kidding. It says so right here. But in the pre-condoms era, people tend to worry about that. The chances of unwanted pregnancy or the possibility of contracting STDs are too high for people to be practicing that on a regular basis.
Here comes the invention of condoms. People become obsessed with sex because they know they are safe from the above negative scenarios. Once again, condom sends a strong message in telling us it’s safe to enjoy the benefits of sex.
All around the world armies would distribute condoms to their soldiers. From one of our own experience in the army in Singapore, whenever they're sent on overseas missions, they will be issued condoms. Nobody will or need to brief them on why they are issued such items. It’s quite clear in the message they will not stop us from such activities, but to practice it safely. For more information, check this out.
As long as there is the demand, there will always be the supply. People will always try to enhance or try to extend the product to a greater use for a greater effect. Glow in the dark or battery operated vibrating condoms were some of the examples of a jump in technologies. Manufacturers upgrade their products to tell the masses that condom is not an obstacle in sex, but it excites the process through their product. Just like a cell phone, it is constantly upgraded to improve people's lives.
Every object is made with a purpose. Every object is created to lay a message. No object would be created without any meaning behind it, although it’s through individual’s eyes to perceive the meaning behind the object. The creator may build it with a logical rationale behind it, but the real meaning that gets sent to every one else differs, or distorted in a way, thus creating conflicts or debates. But that’s just us. Like they said, to each their own.
"It's an indication of how cynical our society has become that any kind of love story with a sad theme is automatically ridiculed as sentimental junk."
- Winona Ryder
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