Significant Objects
January 15th, 2010
About the Significant Objects project : Here’s an experiment where little trinkets (used crap, essentially) are embellished with stories, and the selling prices with or without the stories are compared. It hints that humans like narrative, and we’ll pay more for something that comes with a good story.
The project’s curators purchase objects — for no more than a few dollars — from thrift stores and garage sales.
A participating writer is paired with an object. He or she then writes a fictional story, in any style or voice, about the object. Voila! An unremarkable, castoff thingamajig has suddenly become a “significant” object!
Each significant object is listed for sale on eBay. The s.o. is pictured, but instead of a factual description the s.o.’s newly written fictional story is used. However, care is taken to avoid the impression that the story is a true one; the intent of the project is not to hoax eBay customers. (Doing so would void our test.) The author’s byline will appear with his or her story.