Abstract
Our study contributes to understanding the role of material culture in families. Findings from a longitudinal case study extend Kopytoff's theory of singularization by explaining what occurs between the singularization of a focal object and its recommodification. We uncover processes that move an already singularized object in and out of a network of practices, objects, and spaces; identify forces that constrain and empower a singularized object's agency within that network; and demonstrate network transformations that result from the focal object's movement. This extension explains some paradoxical findings in consumer research: how objects are granted agency even while displaced, when irreplaceable objects can be replaced, and why families sometimes displace central identity practices.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 820-837 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Journal of Consumer Research |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2010 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Business and International Management
- Economics and Econometrics
- Marketing
Cite this
The storied life of singularized objects : Forces of agency and network transformation. / Epp, Amber M.; Price, Linda L.
In: Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 36, No. 5, 02.2010, p. 820-837.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The storied life of singularized objects
T2 - Forces of agency and network transformation
AU - Epp, Amber M.
AU - Price, Linda L
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - Our study contributes to understanding the role of material culture in families. Findings from a longitudinal case study extend Kopytoff's theory of singularization by explaining what occurs between the singularization of a focal object and its recommodification. We uncover processes that move an already singularized object in and out of a network of practices, objects, and spaces; identify forces that constrain and empower a singularized object's agency within that network; and demonstrate network transformations that result from the focal object's movement. This extension explains some paradoxical findings in consumer research: how objects are granted agency even while displaced, when irreplaceable objects can be replaced, and why families sometimes displace central identity practices.
AB - Our study contributes to understanding the role of material culture in families. Findings from a longitudinal case study extend Kopytoff's theory of singularization by explaining what occurs between the singularization of a focal object and its recommodification. We uncover processes that move an already singularized object in and out of a network of practices, objects, and spaces; identify forces that constrain and empower a singularized object's agency within that network; and demonstrate network transformations that result from the focal object's movement. This extension explains some paradoxical findings in consumer research: how objects are granted agency even while displaced, when irreplaceable objects can be replaced, and why families sometimes displace central identity practices.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950276065&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77950276065&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/603547
DO - 10.1086/603547
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77950276065
VL - 36
SP - 820
EP - 837
JO - Journal of Consumer Research
JF - Journal of Consumer Research
SN - 0093-5301
IS - 5
ER -