The Uncommon Life of Common Objects

In her essay, The Uncommon Life of Common Objects, Akiko Busch questions why people often give such great value to ordinary objects, and subsequently provides her own answer. She explains that people make intimate connections with objects due to the human story that an object can tell. Busch point's out that valued objects can be loved mainly due to their design, historic significance, their symbolic/sentimental value, the narratives they provide, and the personal interactions and experiences we can often share with them. I think Busch has very expertly represented all of the collective relationships people have with their objects by elaborating on points that so broadly cover the spectrum of personal experience. As someone deeply invested in the study of artistic values, I can understand her viewpoint. As a storyteller, you have to play with this idea quite frequently. The most effective way to tell a lasting story, is to interweave it with purpose. The best way to do that is to connect the themes and messages behind your story to some greater truth, something that the average person thinks about or deals with on a regular basis. This way your story reaches beyond the confines of your own personal indulgences and tells something about human life. Honestly, this is just a principle that is applied to all art forms.