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How can material culture enrich the history of the emotions? - Coggle…
How can material culture enrich the history of the emotions?
Introduction
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
Section 1: Theorectical Framework
Definition of key terms
Define “material culture” and “history of emotions”
Importance of material culture in historical research
Discuss how objects can serve as primary sources that offer tangible evidence of past beliefs, practices and emotions
Interdisciplinary approaches
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
Categories of objects
Identify and describe key types of objects related to death such as tombstones, mourning, clothing, jewellery, effigies, and funeral paraphernalia
Symbolic meanings
Discuss the symbolic meanings attributed to these objects and how they reflect societal attitudes towards death and the afterlife
Contextual influences
Explore how the Reformation, Counter-Reformation, plagues and wars influenced perceptions of death and the emotional responses captured in these objects
Section 3: Case Studies
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
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
Conclusion
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