Significant Objects

Significant Objects, a literary and anthropological experiment whose first two phases ran from July 2009 through October 2010, demonstrated that the effect of narrative on any given object’s subjective value can be measured objectively. The project auctioned off thrift-store objects via eBay; for item descriptions, short stories purpose-written by over 200 contributing writers, including Meg Cabot, William Gibson, Ben Greenman, Sheila Heti, Neil LaBute, Jonathan Lethem, Tom McCarthy, Lydia Millet, Jenny Offill, Bruce Sterling, Scarlett Thomas, and Colson Whitehead, were substituted. The objects, purchased for $1.25 apiece on average, sold for nearly $8,000.00 in total. (Proceeds were distributed to the contributors, and to nonprofit creative writing organizations.) The project’s organizers, Rob Walker and Joshua Glenn, are currently working on the third phase: a collection of stories, which will be published by Fantagraphics in April 2012. Phase four will be announced at that time. Enjoy the stories here, and stay tuned!

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Popsicle-stick Construction by Sara Ryan

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Horse Bust by Beth Lisick

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Pink Horse by Kate Bernheimer

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Toy Toaster by Jonathan Goldstein

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Toy Bronco, part 3 by Dan Klein

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Fortune-Telling Device by Rachel Axler

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Harvard Reunion Dish by Paul Jaskunas

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Chrome Turtle by Bob Powers

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Unicorn Figurine by Sarah Weinman

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Dolphins Box by Jenny Hayes

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Star Wars Cards by Jim Shepard

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Shark and Seal Pens by Susanna Daniel

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Metal Flowers by Justin Taylor

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Toy Airplane by Robert Lopez

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Cat Mug by Thomas McNeely

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Windsurfing Trophy/Statue by Naomi Novik

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Monster Toy by Rob Baedeker

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Kitty Saucer by James Parker

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