thingsmatters
Thingsmatters is a concept and, in some contexts, a project or discourse that highlights the significance of material objects in human life. It treats things not merely as tools but as carriers of value, memory, and social meaning that shape behavior, identity, and relationships. In philosophy, anthropology, design, and cultural studies, the idea emphasizes how people relate to objects through use, care, display, and exchange, and how objects participate in social practices.
Origins and scope vary by context, but the central claim is consistent: objects are active elements in
Applications of the thingsmatters perspective appear in education, curatorial work, design research, and public discourse. Museums
Reception is mixed: supporters view it as a necessary expansion of value beyond price and utility, whereas