I like to collect various things, so I tend to have large amounts of the same thing within my spaces. One of the things I collect are rocks, which can be found on my window and in various unused flower pots. I also collect coins, which I keep in collector books and a jar. Besides the things I choose to collect, I do not have large amounts of other things. I don’t think anyone could make the argument that this is a form of hoarding because not only are the quantities within my collections controlled, but they also do not significantly impact my life. When I find I have too many rocks, I choose some to put back outside/in the garden, and my coin collection is limited to the space within the collection books. I do not keep duplicate coins, nor do I keep any that are not within a collector’s series, I instead put them in a jar until I have enough to bring to the bank, and they are put back into circulation. I also don’t really have an excess of any other items, like receipts, boxes, etc, because I regularly clean my space and remove anything that isn’t necessary to keep.
Author Archives: Anais Grace
Matter Out of Place – Jar of Loose Change
The object I chose for this prompt is a plastic jar I got in my second year of high school. I got it after buying some overpriced popcorn from a school club fundraiser, and after finishing the popcorn, I decided to hold on to the jar since it looked useful. I cleaned it completely, as I did not want to attract insects to my room or allow mold to grow from the food residue. This jar that once held food would be seen as completely out of place in my bedroom, a location that is in no way associated with food storage, making this jar, in the eyes of Mary Douglas, waste. Not only is this matter out of place, but the container was also intended to have the lifespan of the food within it. Once the food inside had been consumed, it was meant to be thrown away, just like any other container. This knowledge makes the container out of place no matter where you decide to keep it. Once the food that lives in the container is gone, the container is meant to be out of sight, an idea we use for most of the waste in our lives.
