Material Culture & Emotions
A BSA Regional Postgraduate Day Event
10 June 2025 (10:00-18:00 BST)
The Oculus, University of Warwick, University Road, CV4 7AL
About the Event
The field of material culture reveals the active role of objects and spaces in shaping identities, relationships, and power dynamics. By examining material forms—whether everyday items, architecture, or technology—sociologists can begin to uncover how values, collective memories, social norms, and forms of dissent are inscribed in the physical world, demonstrating how materiality both reflects and constitutes our social worlds.
This one-day conference on ‘Material Culture and Emotions’ will delve into the complex relationship between objects and the emotional lives they both influence and embody. Our focus is on how material objects and forms hold emotional resonance, not only reflecting personal or collective sentiments but also shaping them. By examining these tangible elements of culture, we want to encourage research that uncovers how objects and spaces inform experiences, create social bonds, and evoke memories.
This theme aims to illuminate the powerful role of materiality in crafting the emotional contours of social existence, inviting diverse perspectives on the interplay between the material and affective realms. By examining the affective dimensions of materiality, our focus on material culture and emotions deepens our understanding of how relationships, memories, and meanings are negotiated and maintained in everyday life, shaping broader social dynamics and cultural belonging.
Food will be provided at the event. We kindly request that you inform us of any dietary restrictions or preferences when submitting your abstracts to ensure your needs are accommodated.
Funding
Reasonable funding will be available for participants to cover transport expenses. Priority will be given to participants who have already secured partial funding from other sources or who do not have access to institutional or UKRI funding.
Key Dates
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 25 March 2025
- Abstract Decisions sent out: 15 April 2025
- Presenter Booking Deadline: 1 May 2025
Contact Information
This event is organised by the convenors of Warwick University’s Material Culture Network. For any queries about the event please contact the organisers: Vicky Panossian and Puja-Arti Patel.