Revolting Things: An Archaeology of Shameful Histories and Repulsive Realities examines a host of material things that induce anxiety, provoke unpleasantness, or simply revolt us. The book is a study of the contemporary world and its recent dark history that wrestles with how and why certain material things provoke strong and predominately negative feelings that are firmly rooted in contemporary political concerns. This book interrogates the physical and emotional experience of abhorrent things ranging from Confederate heritage to landscapes of racial violence and confirms the emotional, physi ... More

Revolting Things: An Archaeology of Shameful Histories and Repulsive Realities examines a host of material things that induce anxiety, provoke unpleasantness, or simply revolt us. The book is a study of the contemporary world and its recent dark history that wrestles with how and why certain material things provoke strong and predominately negative feelings that are firmly rooted in contemporary political concerns. This book interrogates the physical and emotional experience of abhorrent things ranging from Confederate heritage to landscapes of racial violence and confirms the emotional, physical, and social power of material things. The book argues that our experience of difficult material heritage is emotionally rich, shaped by social circumstances, and reflective of deep-seated social and historical anxieties.