Arts & Culture
The Agency of Material Culture in Shaping Family Rituals
Quick fact
In many families, the placement of a deceased relative's portrait or the use of a specific set of china during holidays is not just decorative—it physically coaxes family members to recall shared histories and behave in expected ways, demonstrating that objects themselves possess a form of agency in ritual settings.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever felt that a wedding ring or a grandmother's bracelet 'holds' the family's history? Could these objects be silently directing how your family celebrates, mourns, and connects?