A Victim's Shoe, a Broken Watch, and Marbles: Desire Objects and Human Rights - Paperback
$62.94 USD
Skip to product information
A Victim's Shoe, a Broken Watch, and Marbles: Desire Objects and Human Rights - Paperback
$62.94 USD
Shipping calculated at checkout.
by Lea David (Author)
Everyday items found at the sites of atrocities possess a striking emotional force. Victims' garments, broken glasses, wallets, shoes, and other such personal property that are recovered from places of death including concentration camps, mass graves, and prisons have become staples of memorial museums, exhibited to the public as material testimony in order to evoke sympathy and promote human rights. How do these objects take on such power, and what are the benefits and pitfalls of deploying them for political purposes?
A Victim's Shoe, a Broken Watch, and Marbles examines how artifacts of atrocities circulate and, in so doing, sheds new light on the institutions and social processes that shape collective memory of human rights abuses. Lea David traces the journeys of what she terms "desire objects" their rediscovery at the locations of mass atrocities, their use in forensic and legal procedures, their return to the homes of grieving families, their appearance in public spaces such as museums and exhibitions, and their role in political protests. She critically investigates the logic that shapes why and how desire objects gain symbolic power and political significance, showing when and under what circumstances they are used to promote particular worldviews and narratives. Featuring both novel theoretical methods and keen empirical analysis, this book offers important insights into the shortcomings of common assumptions about human rights.Author Biography
Lea David is an assistant professor in the School of Sociology, University College Dublin. She is the author of The Past Can't Heal Us: The Dangers of Mandating Memory in the Name of Human Rights (2020).
Number of Pages: 344
Dimensions: 0.77 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN
Publication Date: December 31, 2024
Details
This product is crafted with quality materials to ensure durability and performance. Designed with your convenience in mind, it seamlessly fits into your everyday life.
Shipping & Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.
We are committed to ensuring a positive shopping experience for all our customers. If for any reason you wish to return an item, we invite you to reach out to our team for assistance, and we will evaluate every return request with care and consideration.
Shop The Full Collection
