My first impression revealled a few details about this ordinary bookbag. Zack's typically sized bookbag is black and grey with red trim. It has a lot of straps and at least three pockets so he must like to be organized. The straps are torn from what must be years of use. I also inferred the bookbag's long use because of the Timberland brand which usually isn't cheap.
I immediately made a few basic assumptions. I assumed that he bought it at a store so he could more easily carry his books as he goes to class and maybe to use when he takes a trip or other activities. Bookbags must seem appropriate to Zack and his means of travelling to and from class. I don't like bookbags because I have to walk a lot to and from campus and it makes my back hot. I carry a bag on my shoulder instead. However, Zack might drive to class or maybe bookbags don't affect his travel to. Also because of its wear and tear I assumed that he uses the bookbag for other activities. In fact, he does carry it on trips (to Germany) and to the shooting range. Finally, I guessed that he had carried the bookbag for a long time; otherwise it would look new.
When Zack told me his bookbag once belonged to his brother who had left for the Navy, I assumed it had sentimental value. This is not really the case. There are several other practical reasons he chooses this bag. First you should know that Zack owns several bookbags. He apparently forgets them at various places, such as his home. So when Zack couldn't find one of his unnumbered quantity of bookbags, he stole his brother's. The torn straps and missing handle were actions of his brother and the bag has remained in the exact same condition since his junior year of high school. The bag is only important because it has carried his books, pens, cough drops, and whatever else for so long. Zack even purchased a new bookbag, but his old one already houses his things and he doesn't want to switch.
If you own a newer version of an object, why would you use the older one? The answer could be the association of the older version to a part in a person's life. The ordinary bookbag I first noticed is a one-of-a-kind bookbag (figuratively) to Zack because it is the one he doesn't lose and it doesn't fall apart. It could also literally be one-of-a-kind because I looked up Timberland bookbags online and did not find Zack's bookbag listed. Maybe its not important that his brother owned it or that it probably costed between $40 and $180 (this was the range on the Timberland website), but the fact that he will carry this bag throughout his college career and whatever else.
I'm not sure that my bookbag was the best cultural artifact, but you did a good job making a blog post out of it.
ReplyDeleteIf I was someone else reading this post, I would probably think this guy Zach owns a closet full of stolen backpacks because he forgets his own backpacks everywhere. I feel a little bit misrepresented, but it makes the story a more fun to read.
I didn't really give you a lot of material to work with, but you did a good job of using your observations to shape your post and you're very articulate. The concluding paragraph wraps up the post well.