How can material culture enrich the history of the emotions?

Introduction

Section 1: Theorectical Framework

Objective

Introduce aim of essay, examine how objects related to death in the early modern period provide insights into historical emotions

Background

Provide a brief context on the early modern period, focusing on its socio-cultural and religious changes impacting views on mortality and death

Statement

Argue that material culture related to death offers a unique lens for understanding the complex emotional landscapes of the early modern era

Definition of key terms

Define “material culture” and “history of emotions”

Importance of material culture in historical research

Interdisciplinary approaches

Discuss how objects can serve as primary sources that offer tangible evidence of past beliefs, practices and emotions

Outline the methodological approaches from anthropology, history, and psychology that support the analysis of emotions through objects

Section 2: overview of death-related material culture in early modern period

Section 3: Case Studies

Categories of objects

Symbolic meanings

Discuss the symbolic meanings attributed to these objects and how they reflect societal attitudes towards death and the afterlife

Contextual influences

Identify and describe key types of objects related to death such as tombstones, mourning, clothing, jewellery, effigies, and funeral paraphernalia

Explore how the Reformation, Counter-Reformation, plagues and wars influenced perceptions of death and the emotional responses captured in these objects

Detailed examination

Provide a deeper analysis of selected objects

Emotional insights

Discuss what these objects reveal about personal and communal responses to death, grief, memory and hope for an afterlife

Documentary corroboration

Correlate findings with contemporary written records to enhance the interpretation of these emotional responses

Section 4: Comparative Analysis

Temporal Comparison

Compare the emotional expressions related to death found in the early modern period with those from the late medieval or Enlightenment periods to track changes over time

Geographical variation

Highlight differences in the material culture of death across different European regions or between urban and rural settings

Social and economic factors

Analyse how social status, economic conditions and gender influenced the expression of emotions and the accessibility to certain death-related objects

Section 5: Impact on the history of emotions

Conclusion

Broader implications

Discuss how understanding the emotional lives of early modern individuals through material culture expands our historical narratives about death

Contribution to emotional history

Reflect on how these findings challenge or enrich existing theories of emotional expression and regulation in historical contexts

Summary

Recapitulate the key points discussed and how they support the thesis

Significance

Emphasise the importance of studying material culture in enriching the history of emotions