 Our business faculty members are well-respected scholars whose research is sought by others. Dr. Susan Kleine, marketing professor and associate dean of curriculum development, was interviewed by writer Jacquie Moore of the Calgary Herald regarding a story she was publishing about the meaning of items we collect and what to do with these collectibles when cleaning out our houses, basements, closets, and garages.
The article entitled “You Can't Take It With You” was published on October 23. Moore states in the article that Dr. Kleine specializes in “our culture's attachment to material possessions” and quotes the marketing professor regarding those “collectibles.” "Our things connect us to other people; they tell our narrative and give our lives a sense of continuity and sanity." She goes on to quote Dr. Kleine that "not everything has to be functional--sometimes possessions serve as important physical anchors outside ourselves."
Moore talks about why we hang onto those trophies we won many years ago. "Something like a trophy helps us feel unique--it makes us stand out, it's a way of telling our life story," says Kleine. "You don't need a lot of repetitive evidence of the same thing, but it's perfectly normal and functional to hang on to certain items."
Dr. Kleine also discusses how “guilt” is part of why we hang onto to certain items. She advises us all to let go of the guilt part, so it doesn’t matter whether we keep the item or not.
To read the whole article, go to: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Take+With/2134699/story.html.
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