11 July 2022
Curating Ephemera
Ephemera /Iˈfɛm(ə)rə/
Late 16th century plural of ephemeron, from Greek, neuter of ephēmeros ‘lasting only a day’. […] Current use has been influenced by plurals such as trivia and memorabilia.
Hoarding and collecting are so different
Space. If you’ve ever collected anything you know how precious space is.
Space. If you’ve ever collected anything you know how precious space is. And I’ve seen the YouTube videos – minimalism is where it’s at. I quite fancied my hand at it, and then I found myself telling Mr Veronica’s Vinyl that there’s like “max 1000” LPs, no biggie, they’ll fit in the cubby. We both know they won’t fit into that cubby, and even though I haven’t actually counted them (yet) I’m pretty confident we both know it’s more than 1000 LPs.
I’ve collected popular culture my entire life. I’ve had the conversations my entire life:
No, there’s not that much really
Yes, I really need that
I use that all the time
I knew that was there
No, I’m not a hoarder
No, I’m not a hoarder
No, I’m not a hoarder
No, I’m not a hoarder
All those statements are really true. Hoarding and collecting are so different – watching an episode of Hoarders does not make you an expert. If I’m collecting, I’ve collected it for a reason, I know where my stuff is, and that knowledge equals use. But it’s a constant battle – we, as a society, treat collectors with suspicion, and every time I’ve had to justify my stuff it’s surrounded by a cloud of anxiety of why am I being questioned about something that brings me joy as if I have a clinical disease.
Evan Eisenberg (2005), The Recording Angel: Music, Records and Culture from Aristotle to Zappa
“Why pin and press these specimens when others, alive and just as lovely, will surely flutter by?”
Full disclosure: Mr Veronica’s Vinyl knows the LPs are here to stay, and that’s cool. But I’m reminded by these conversations again because I’m changing jobs at the end of the month, and that means going through 10 years worth of stuff. It’s stuff that most people don’t value – LPs included – but means a lot to me and means a lot to my work. That’s the point I wanted to get to – popular culture is still seen as ephemera, and many people question the validity of curating and collecting something that is seen as fleeting, and not meant to last. But the beauty of popular culture is that it does last. In one way or another it lingers on (… your pale blue eyes). Sometimes it makes an impact because you don’t expect it to.
Velvet Underground: Pale Blue Eyes
Neil Young: Heart Of Gold
So, to summarise:
Hoarding and collecting are not the same
If someone is questioning your collection, question their problem with it
You cannot define consumption by (mass) production, popular culture is consumed against the grain
I came across a cover of ‘Heart of Gold’, and it was awesome – you should listen to it, and Lou Reed, if you’re packing up your office
