Journal of Dali University ›› 2026, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (7): 1-9.DOI: 10. 3969 / j. issn. 2096-2266. 2026. 07. 001

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A Critical Review of Theories in Material Culture Studies

  

  1. Institute of National Culture Research, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671003, China
  • Received:2026-01-14 Online:2026-07-15 Published:2026-07-17

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Abstract:  Since the 1970s and 1980s, the study of material culture has evolved into an interdisciplinary field, with its scope
expanding from man-made objects to natural and virtual entities. In the ontological turn, it has highlighted the agency of "things",
thereby forming an object-centred cognitive framework. The theoretical framework encompasses both diachronic and synchronic
dimensions: the diachronic dimension examines the evolution from artifacts and commodities to technological objects; the synchronic
dimension encompasses multiple perspectives, including the objects themselves, exchange, symbolism and social mentality.
Perspectives from political economy, symbolic theory and ontology are integrated within the framework of the social life of things,
deepening our understanding of the relationship between humans and objects. Methodologically, the research is grounded in
anthropological fieldwork and ethnography, combined with multidisciplinary approaches from history, archaeology and other fields to
construct multiple chains of evidence. Looking ahead, this field will continue to leverage its interdisciplinary strengths, expanding into
emerging topics such as artificial intelligence and digital materiality, deepening the exploration of non-human actors, and continuously
advancing our understanding of a world interwoven with objects and humans.

Key words:  , material culture, theory, methodology, multidisciplinary

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