Episodes

TitleFirst
Broadcast
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Dream Catcher20161011

This is the story of how the things we accumulate around us say more than we might imagine about who we are.

"The fate of the object," said the French thinker Jean Baudrillard, "has been claimed by no-one." Unless, of course, the object in question is the Mona Lisa or the Alfred Jewel. In these programmes, Matthew Sweet will be looking at the other stuff. The cups. The spoons. The knick-knacks. The things we might keep, even if we don't quite have the room for them.

Through the prism of what people have in their homes, Objects of Desire explores the work of sociologists and anthropologists like Pierre Bourdieu and Mary Douglas, and philosopher Gaston Bachelard, in order to understand the curious mixture of display, memory, emotion and chance that informs the objects we surround ourselves with.

Episode Two - Dream Catcher. In which Jane, Debo and Peggy share with Matthew objects that connect them to particular people and memories, and the anthropologist Daniel Miller reflects on the way we use the things in our homes to represent aspects of our lives and selves.

Matthew Sweet explores how objects connect us to particular people and memories.

Matthew Sweet explores how the things people accumulate reflect who they are.

Order and Territory20161012

This is the story of how the things we accumulate around us say more than we might imagine about who we are.

"The fate of the object," said the French thinker Jean Baudrillard, "has been claimed by no-one." Unless, of course, the object in question is the Mona Lisa or the Alfred Jewel. In these programmes, Matthew Sweet will be looking at the other stuff. The cups. The spoons. The knick-knacks. The things we might keep, even if we don't quite have the room for them.

Through the prism of what people have in their homes, Objects of Desire explores the work of sociologists and anthropologists like Pierre Bourdieu and Mary Douglas, and philosopher Gaston Bachelard, in order to understand the curious mixture of display, memory, emotion and chance that informs the objects we surround ourselves with.

Episode Three - Order and Territory. In which Julie reflects on some seriously tidy cupboards; Gerry and Jan consider the presence of her mother's ashes in the conservatory; and Matthew invites the sociologist Rachel Hurdley and the writer and researcher Ed Attlee to reflect on our need to order our homes and carve out personal space within them.

Matthew Sweet and guests reflect on our need to order our homes and create personal space.

Matthew Sweet explores how the things people accumulate reflect who they are.

Such Stuff20161010

This is the story of how the things we accumulate around us say more than we might imagine about who we are.

"The fate of the object," said the French thinker Jean Baudrillard, "has been claimed by no-one." Unless, of course, the object in question is the Mona Lisa or the Alfred Jewel. In these programmes, Matthew Sweet will be looking at the other stuff. The cups. The spoons. The knick-knacks. The things we might keep, even if we don't quite have the room for them.

Through the prism of what people have in their homes, Objects of Desire explores the work of sociologists and anthropologists like Pierre Bourdieu and Mary Douglas, and philosopher Gaston Bachelard, in order to understand the curious mixture of display, memory, emotion and chance that informs the objects we surround ourselves with.

Episode One: Such Stuff. In which Matthew Sweet talks to Sioned (who has lots of stuff) and to Jordan (who has much less) and explores the philosophical and anthropological background to our relationship with things with academics Bill Brown and Daniel Miller.

Matthew Sweet explores the philosophical background to our relationship with things.

Matthew Sweet explores how the things people accumulate reflect who they are.

The Nest20161014

This is the story of how the things we accumulate around us say more than we might imagine about who we are.

"The fate of the object," said the French thinker Jean Baudrillard, "has been claimed by no-one." Unless, of course, the object in question is the Mona Lisa or the Alfred Jewel. In these programmes, Matthew Sweet will be looking at the other stuff. The cups. The spoons. The knick-knacks. The things we might keep, even if we don't quite have the room for them.

Through the prism of what people have in their homes, Objects of Desire explores the work of sociologists and anthropologists like Pierre Bourdieu and Mary Douglas, and philosopher Gaston Bachelard, in order to understand the curious mixture of display, memory, emotion and chance that informs the objects we surround ourselves with.

Episode Five: The Nest. In which Matthew explores the relationships we have with our childhood homes, and the ways in which we use our homes and possessions as a refuge. Mike has vivid and treasured memories of the pubs his parents ran across the North East, and now has a lounge with a bar in it. Meanwhile, in Cardiff, Ailsa reflects on how serious illness has changed her approach to her surroundings. Also in the programme, the writer and researcher Edwina Attlee discusses French philosopher Gaston Bachelard's ideas about home.

Matthew Sweet explores the relationships we have with our childhood homes.

Matthew Sweet explores how the things people accumulate reflect who they are.

The Unlovely20161013

This is the story of how the things we accumulate around us say more than we might imagine about who we are.

"The fate of the object," said the French thinker Jean Baudrillard, "has been claimed by no-one." Unless, of course, the object in question is the Mona Lisa or the Albert Jewel. In these programmes, Matthew Sweet will be looking at the other stuff. The cups. The spoons. The knick-knacks. The things we might keep, even if we don't quite have the room for them.

Through the prism of what people have in their homes, Objects of Desire explores the work of sociologists and anthropologists like Pierre Bourdieu and Mary Douglas, and philosopher Gaston Bachelard, in order to understand the curious mixture of display, memory, emotion and chance that informs the objects we surround ourselves with.

Episode Four - The Unlovely. In which Suzanne, Debo, Sioned and Ailsa reveal to Matthew unwanted gifts, things they bought for reasons that now seem obscure, and stuff they just plain hate; and sociologist Rachel Hurdley reflects on the moral economy at the heart of sending unwanted objects to the charity shop.

Matthew Sweet explores how we make space for unwanted gifts and stuff we just plain hate.

Matthew Sweet explores how the things people accumulate reflect who they are.