Humanities and Arts
Leanne Calvert
Leanne Calvert
School of Humanities, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB UK
This article uses a collection of mementos curated by Robert James Tennent, a middle-class man to interrogate how objects materialised love and sex in Ireland. It problematises readings of courtship tokens as simple objects of affection, and considers how individuals engaged in culturally-sanctioned courtship practices in extra-licit ways. Gifts and tokens took on new meanings when they were accessioned into the personal archives of their owners and catalogued as mementos of past relationships. Read as a collection of courtship mementos and a homemade pornographic archive, this article argues that the collection provides an unique insight into the curation of sexual memory.
The study focuses on a collection of courtship mementos curated by Robert James Tennent, a middle-class man in early 19th-century Ireland. It examines how these objects materialized love, sex, and courtship, challenging simplistic interpretations of such tokens as mere symbols of affection.
The study argues that courtship tokens and gifts took on new meanings when they were incorporated into personal archives. These objects were not just symbols of affection but also served as curated mementos of past relationships, reflecting the complex interplay between culturally-sanctioned courtship practices and extra-licit behaviors.
Tennent’s collection offers a unique window into the curation of sexual memory and the material culture of courtship. The study interprets the collection as both a set of courtship mementos and a homemade pornographic archive, revealing how individuals navigated and documented their intimate lives in early 19th-century Ireland.
The study explores how individuals engaged in courtship practices that went beyond socially accepted norms. By analyzing Tennent’s collection, it highlights how gifts and tokens could be used to express desires and behaviors that were not fully sanctioned by the cultural and moral frameworks of the time.
The study emphasizes the importance of sexual memory in understanding intimate relationships. Tennent’s collection is seen as a deliberate effort to curate and preserve memories of past romantic and sexual encounters, offering insights into how individuals constructed and remembered their personal histories.
The study sheds light on the complexities of courtship, love, and sexuality in early 19th-century Ireland. By examining the material culture of courtship, it reveals how individuals negotiated societal norms and expressed intimacy, providing a richer understanding of the private lives and emotional landscapes of the time.
Show by month | Manuscript | Video Summary |
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2025 April | 6 | 6 |
2025 March | 83 | 83 |
2025 February | 57 | 57 |
2025 January | 93 | 93 |
2024 December | 51 | 51 |
2024 November | 66 | 66 |
2024 October | 65 | 65 |
2024 September | 57 | 57 |
2024 August | 42 | 42 |
2024 July | 62 | 62 |
2024 June | 40 | 40 |
2024 May | 26 | 26 |
2024 April | 46 | 46 |
2024 March | 33 | 33 |
2024 February | 14 | 14 |
2024 January | 15 | 15 |
2023 December | 15 | 15 |
2023 November | 18 | 18 |
2023 October | 12 | 12 |
2023 September | 16 | 16 |
2023 August | 6 | 6 |
2023 July | 19 | 19 |
2023 June | 16 | 16 |
2023 May | 16 | 16 |
2023 April | 14 | 14 |
2023 March | 18 | 18 |
2023 January | 2 | 2 |
2022 December | 19 | 19 |
2022 November | 11 | 11 |
Total | 938 | 938 |
Show by month | Manuscript | Video Summary |
---|---|---|
2025 April | 6 | 6 |
2025 March | 83 | 83 |
2025 February | 57 | 57 |
2025 January | 93 | 93 |
2024 December | 51 | 51 |
2024 November | 66 | 66 |
2024 October | 65 | 65 |
2024 September | 57 | 57 |
2024 August | 42 | 42 |
2024 July | 62 | 62 |
2024 June | 40 | 40 |
2024 May | 26 | 26 |
2024 April | 46 | 46 |
2024 March | 33 | 33 |
2024 February | 14 | 14 |
2024 January | 15 | 15 |
2023 December | 15 | 15 |
2023 November | 18 | 18 |
2023 October | 12 | 12 |
2023 September | 16 | 16 |
2023 August | 6 | 6 |
2023 July | 19 | 19 |
2023 June | 16 | 16 |
2023 May | 16 | 16 |
2023 April | 14 | 14 |
2023 March | 18 | 18 |
2023 January | 2 | 2 |
2022 December | 19 | 19 |
2022 November | 11 | 11 |
Total | 938 | 938 |