Introduction
It is a fundamental axiom of Material Culture Studies that every object reflects and embodies the values and principles of the culture in which it was produced. Therefore, we may argue, these cultural values and principles can in turn be 'read' from the objects through artifactual analysis. By corollary, it is also asserted that in this respect no object is more privileged than another - all participate equally in the cultural environment that generated them. Despite this latter claim, it is demonstrably true that most of the work done in the field to date has concentrated on artifactual material belonging to a) pre-consumer society, and b) elite or fashionable items. The purpose of the present study is to challenge the precepts of Material Culture Studies by focussing oon a class of objects which is widely used ('democratic'), mass-produced, of no substantial intrinsic value, and which finally remains in common use today. Specifically, I will examine the constellation of 20th century razors. If the theories outlined above are robust, I hope first to demonstrate that razors, considered as artifacts, do in fact reflect specific and identifiable cultural values pertaining to gender, and second to examine the implications of this phenomenon in the broader social context.
A note on navigating these pages
The material presented in this electronic essay has been divided into several major sections according to the theoretical constructs which support each part of the discussion. To review this presentation in traditional order, the viewer can either proceed from one section to the next using the button bar provided at the end of each page, or by selecting each of the index entries shown on the left in the sequence provided. Conversely, it is possible to jump around the various 'chapters' at random. It is not, however, recommended that the last two sections on "Shaving and Gender" and "Conclusions" be read before all other material has been reviewed. Otherwise, I have made every effort to ensure that each section is complete and comprehensible on its own.
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The following are some of the questions I first asked in contemplating this course of research in the fall of 1996. Some of these have now hopefully been at least partially answered: others remain unaddressed, but perhaps still warrant further investigation:
- what is/was the full range of objects associated with shaving?
- how has technology affected the design and production of these items?
- how have men's attitudes to shaving changed? Why? When?
- how are these changes reflected in the evolution of razors?
- how is all this reflected in ancillary areas, such as advertising or barbershops?
- what is/was the impact of production of 'ladies razors'?
- to what extent are/were razors 'class-oriented'? Is there a difference in quality/cost/marketing? Is there a perceived distinction between modern use of electric vs. manual razors?
- how has changing fashion in hair impacted razor design/production?
The main component of this study would focus on design and construction of the razors themselves over a period of time, with an attempt to relate these changes to the full panoply of cultural and technological changes which they (presumably) reflect. A fertile side investigation into the role and appearance of the barber shop might also be worth pursuing, but may be too large in its own right to investigate fully. Another interesting avenue might involve a detailed review of the images of masculinity presented in shaving advertising over the period in question. Again, that might be a complete study in its own right.
Last updated: 29 December 1997
