Clifford

I found Clifford’s essay very interesting, as it can be related to each reader’s life, and thus interpreted differently thousands of times. American culture is undoubtedly very possession-oriented. We measure people often in terms of value/wealth, by the size of their house, the car they choose to/can afford to drive… but I find Clifford’s essay interesting because it cuts down to the pathos: why do we find a need to collect these objects? And especially from nature. Clifford mentions the child and family keeping relics from family vacations. The fact that they were removed from nature sparks a significant debate over the true need to collect such an object; to admire it in its natural state and the remove it from that natural state. The similar happened all the time, not more than 100 years ago, when wealthy millionaires would travel the world, gathering, collecting and buying up whatever “proof” they could obtain from the lands they travelled to. It gave them credibility, and most importantly, validation.

As I mentioned before how we can all relate it to our lives, it left me thinking, How many artifacts have I collected selfishly? ...just to look at once or twice a year, and throw back in my drawer. Did I collect something just to show to or prove to a friend? Would I feel better today if I had left this artifact in its natural state, and instead, had taken a picture of it, or had drawn it, or simply felt content with the positive image it left in my memory? This way others could have enjoyed it after me… to experience its/their culture or natural state. And where did this need to collect come from?