Each Wednesday, I write a post that is from my dissertation.
Though plenty of people scrapbook because it is relaxing and fun, most scrapbookers also have the future in mind when they decide to scrapbook. For some, a primary goal of scrapbooking is so they will not forget what happened in their lives as they grow older. They want to remember the good times, their family, and what’s important.
The future is also thought of in terms of future generations. Many scrapbookers want to leave a legacy and want to pass down their stories. Part of this legacy involves learning about one’s own family history, so genealogical research often occurs. The industry workers in my sample were especially likely to emphasize that scrapbooks are for the future (their future selves and family members). If they are only for the scrapbooker’s present use, then there is little reason to make sure to use archival materials. Today, the emphasis on using archival materials seems to be weakening since most people have transitioned from film to digital cameras.
Scrapbooks may memorialize the past but they are for the future.
Related posts:
- Why Scrapbooking
- Scrapbooking Has No Rules. Yes, But Scrapbooking Does Have Norms.
- Scrapbooking is Relaxing and Fun (Purpose of Scrapbooking)
Stephanie
Stephanie Medley-Rath is a sociologist and scrapbooker who studies scrapbooking and memory keeping. Scrapworthy Lives is a blog focused on her sociological analysis of scrapbooking, with a sprinkling of posts about Stephanie's own scrapbooking projects.
