For The Culture Chapter #4

The four ritualized practices of possession, exchange, grooming, and divergence are ways individuals rework meanings into their identities.

As I have grown and percieved the world, one thing i decided a very long time ago was the accessories and jewelry were important. For no specific reason other then when girls and guys had jewelry that mad noise and worked to elevate their outfits I would just notice them. Those were the people that I thought stood out, and I wanted to be like them. I quickly learned that not just any jewelry achieved this. Careful selection of unique pieces or being passed down quality pieces is what gave those people I observed that cool flavor. The possession and how i have come to have the jewelry I wear is apart of my identity. If I leave my house for the day with out my rings and bracelets I feel lost for the rest of the day. I am antsy and feel like i am missing a part of myself. I put so much value into rocks and metals that I dont feel like myself because I know people will not perceive me the same if I dont have my clanging bangles and rings to ground myself. This is a sketch of two bracelets I wear almost every day. They werent expensive and there is nothing quite special about them but I bought them on my study abroad, they remind me of a special time and place so therefor they have a lot of value to me.

The connection to the things I buy and how I feel I am missing a part of myself without them, and that I am not alone in this experience. I decide how much something is apart of me and I consume whether or not I can attach my identity to said item.

I am getting confused with my words but I think that this suggests that not just myself but everyone goes through process of consumption that is surrounded by identity and how we consume is reflected in how we perceive ourselves.