The Week in Review: On Tangibility

 

Don't you just love the smell of an old book?

 
Secondhand shopping means hunting down treasures of yesteryear, sniffing out bargains and unearthing cultural oddities.  But it also means saving an item from certain death at the local landfill.

And this got me thinking of aesthetics. What visual and physical features must an an item have to appeal to you as a buyer? What deciding factors qualify a must-buy purchase?

And when it comes to thrifting records, CDs, tapes, books, DVDs, videos and media that could otherwise be downloaded, how does tangibility affect your decision? Do you only own the item if you can physically prove your rights to possession tangibly?

Not so long ago, I half-considered buying a Nook for quick and easy downloads of all my leisurely reads. But I just can’t reconcile my love for books, actual books. The texture of the paper, the smell of a vintage read, the scintillating cover of a good pulp. I guess I’m for the tangible.



Welcome to the virtual exhibition.



But that doesn't mean I hold contempt for the available technology. After all, where would I be without this blog? I welcome the exploration of techy aids to creative aspirations.

Right now, for instance, I'm in love with virtually cataloging my collections of thrifted finds with The My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software. It’s nice to organize photos and other spiffy ideas with a little help from the technology. And I plan to experiment with digital scrapbooking even more in the future.

With any luck, I’ll find some sweet secondhand fashion to model, photograph and later scrapbook in this upcoming thrift-week. Oh the possibilities!

If you’re looking to balance your beloved tangible thrifted finds with your love for technology, enter  The Let's Go Thrifting! My Memories Suite Giveaway It’s much more than digital scrapbooking. It’s a way to preserve and share the past, even if it’s just a pile of dusty ol' vintage books.

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What's your take on the tangibility factor?