Rubbish Theory

Michael Thompson ist Professor für Philosophie an der Universität Pittsburgh. Er war unter anderem Rockefeller Fellow am University Center for Human Values in Princeton und Burkhardt Fellow am Institute for Advanced Study ebendort.

Rubbish is something we ignore. By definition we discard it, from our lives and our minds, and it remains outside the concerns of conventional economics. However, this book explores the dynamics through which rubbish can re-enter circulation as a prized commodity, in many cases far exceeding its original value. Antiques, vintage cars and period homes, after being discarded as valueless, can, even after many years, become priceless. First published in 1979, Rubbish Theory has become foundational in its field. Today, it is as relevant as ever. This edition includes a new afterword revealing how the consequences of our compulsion to discard are far from inevitable, and going on to explore how we can transform our troublesome wastes into valuable resources.

How do objects that are of little worth become valuable? In Rubbish Theory, Michael Thompson argues that there are two mutually exclusive cultural categories that are socially imposed on the world of objects: a transient category and a durable category. However, he identifies a 'region of flexibility', where a transient object, which declines in value and life span, can in fact linger on in a valueless and timeless limbo of 'rubbish', until it is discovered by a creative individual and transferred across into the durable category. Who are the people who are able to affect this value-creating transfer, and which types of people feel at home with transient objects, durable objects and rubbish objects? Thompson links stability and change on the one hand, with materiality on the other, providing a rich analysis of social and cultural dynamics. First published in 1979, this book has become a classic in its field. This second edition includes a new introduction, afterword, and a foreword which describes the book's huge influence across the arts and social sciences - from cultural studies to anthropology - over the four decades since it was first published, placing it in a contemporary context that shines light on the relevance of the book today.