Some Context

The original owner of my object was woman from a middle class background, who purchased it in 1955 while on a trip. Recently, she passed on it on to her daughter. The original owner is still alive and passed on the shawl, not because she lost interest in it, but as a part of the philosophy of managing Parkinson’s disease (those with the disease are encouraged to give their items away and tie up loose ends). The daughter does not use it or wear it, preferring to keep it safe and to protect the memories associated with it.

Shawls are not a rare item or necessarily unique, and while this particular one is a handmade one it still served the typical functions associated with it. Many people throughout the world own shawls and even though this is a handmade Mexican shawl worn by an American, it still has a generic quality. That is not to say it does not have unique features, simply that there are similar objects like it in the world. While its current use is containing memories, not long ago it was used as a traditional shawl. It was both a functional part of an outfit and symbolic adornment. The owner used it to make her feel worldly as though it was an accessory. However, it still served its traditional purpose of keeping someone warm as an article of clothing. Traditionally in Mexico, a shawl served several functions: a piece of clothing, a baby sling, and a carrier for market goods. To the original owner, she used it within one of its traditional functions; to its new owner, she has shifted its function away from its traditional uses to a sentimental purpose.

With seeing the shawl and reading the story associated with it, it made the story it real and tangible. The shawl shifted from a mere object to something of value; a story from words on a page to a physical representation of them. The wear and dullness in color show repeated use, but the story gives the context for how that shawl was worn and loved. The stains are not just evidence that it was worn or used in daily interactions but that it was important to hold onto even when some would consider it ruined. They transform a general object into something unique. It is no longer just a shawl but something personal with its own history.

In my situation and the way things were scheduled, I was first exposed to the shawl from the personal story attached to it. When I actually had the opportunity to see and feel the shawl, there was a dual reaction: it made the story real but also allowed the shawl to speak for itself, a little more objective manner. However, when words and thoughts become too challenging and insufficient in describing it, I tend to fall back on the story for guidance and “evidence” of the “real” story. Objectivity can never be fully achieved but that goal is always present, while also noting the instances of subjectivity.