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Humanities and Arts

Objects of Affection- Materialising Courtship Love and Sex in Ireland C.1800-1830

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Leanne Calvert

Leanne Calvert

School of Humanities, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB UK

l.calvert@herts.ac.uk


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© attribution CC-BY

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2022-08-22

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780038.2022.2065720

Related Subjects
History
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Language
Philosophy
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Abstract

This article uses a collection of mementos curated by Robert James Tennent, a middle-class man to interrogate how objects materialised love and sex in Ireland. It problematises readings of courtship tokens as simple objects of affection, and considers how individuals engaged in culturally-sanctioned courtship practices in extra-licit ways. Gifts and tokens took on new meanings when they were accessioned into the personal archives of their owners and catalogued as mementos of past relationships. Read as a collection of courtship mementos and a homemade pornographic archive, this article argues that the collection provides an unique insight into the curation of sexual memory.

Key Questions

What is the central focus of the study on courtship mementos in Ireland?

The study focuses on a collection of courtship mementos curated by Robert James Tennent, a middle-class man in early 19th-century Ireland. It examines how these objects materialized love, sex, and courtship, challenging simplistic interpretations of such tokens as mere symbols of affection.

How does the study reinterpret courtship tokens and gifts?

The study argues that courtship tokens and gifts took on new meanings when they were incorporated into personal archives. These objects were not just symbols of affection but also served as curated mementos of past relationships, reflecting the complex interplay between culturally-sanctioned courtship practices and extra-licit behaviors.

What unique insights does Robert James Tennent’s collection provide?

Tennent’s collection offers a unique window into the curation of sexual memory and the material culture of courtship. The study interprets the collection as both a set of courtship mementos and a homemade pornographic archive, revealing how individuals navigated and documented their intimate lives in early 19th-century Ireland.

How does the study address the concept of "extra-licit" courtship practices?

The study explores how individuals engaged in courtship practices that went beyond socially accepted norms. By analyzing Tennent’s collection, it highlights how gifts and tokens could be used to express desires and behaviors that were not fully sanctioned by the cultural and moral frameworks of the time.

What role does the curation of sexual memory play in the study?

The study emphasizes the importance of sexual memory in understanding intimate relationships. Tennent’s collection is seen as a deliberate effort to curate and preserve memories of past romantic and sexual encounters, offering insights into how individuals constructed and remembered their personal histories.

What are the broader implications of the study for understanding 19th-century Irish society?

The study sheds light on the complexities of courtship, love, and sexuality in early 19th-century Ireland. By examining the material culture of courtship, it reveals how individuals negotiated societal norms and expressed intimacy, providing a richer understanding of the private lives and emotional landscapes of the time.

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ARTICLE USAGE


Article usage: Aug-2022 to May-2025
Show by month Manuscript Video Summary
2025 May 127 127
2025 April 76 76
2025 March 83 83
2025 February 57 57
2025 January 93 93
2024 December 51 51
2024 November 66 66
2024 October 65 65
2024 September 57 57
2024 August 42 42
2024 July 62 62
2024 June 40 40
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2024 April 46 46
2024 March 33 33
2024 February 14 14
2024 January 15 15
2023 December 15 15
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2023 October 12 12
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2023 July 19 19
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2023 May 16 16
2023 April 14 14
2023 March 18 18
2023 January 2 2
2022 December 19 19
2022 November 11 11
Total 1135 1135
Show by month Manuscript Video Summary
2025 May 127 127
2025 April 76 76
2025 March 83 83
2025 February 57 57
2025 January 93 93
2024 December 51 51
2024 November 66 66
2024 October 65 65
2024 September 57 57
2024 August 42 42
2024 July 62 62
2024 June 40 40
2024 May 26 26
2024 April 46 46
2024 March 33 33
2024 February 14 14
2024 January 15 15
2023 December 15 15
2023 November 18 18
2023 October 12 12
2023 September 16 16
2023 August 6 6
2023 July 19 19
2023 June 16 16
2023 May 16 16
2023 April 14 14
2023 March 18 18
2023 January 2 2
2022 December 19 19
2022 November 11 11
Total 1135 1135
Related Subjects
History
Music
Language
Philosophy
Classics
Art
copyright icon

© attribution CC-BY

  • 0

rating
1135 Views

Added on

2022-08-22

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780038.2022.2065720

Related Subjects
History
Music
Language
Philosophy
Classics
Art

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