The Care of Things

Ethics and Politics of Maintenance

Jerome Denis (Mines Paris-PSL, France), David Pontille (CNRS, France), Andrew Brown

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English

Polity Press
07 February 2025

Sociology & anthropology

What does a coffee machine, a car, road signs, a smartphone, a cathedral, a work of art, a satellite, a bicycle, a washing machine, a bridge, a watch, a computer, the body of a prominent politician and a tractor have in common? Pretty much nothing – except for the fact that, no matter how small, large, important or insignificant something is, it rarely survives without being cared for. Every object eventually experiences wear and tear, it deteriorates, stops working or breaks down. But are we giving the care of things the recognition it deserves? A counterpoint to our modern obsession with innovation but less striking than the one-off act of restoration, the delicate act of making things last rarely attracts our attention.

This book disrupts our dominant narratives by putting those individuals skilled in the art of maintenance front and centre. Jérôme Denis and David Pontille shine a spotlight on the subtle aspects of caring for things, tracing the stories of those involved and, with them, the ethical challenges raised and political lessons learned. These people demonstrate a sensitivity and attentiveness to fragility; they encourage us to cultivate a material diplomacy in which wear is accepted and our relation to things becomes a matter of negotiation and compromise – a far cry from the frenetic rhythm of planned obsolescence inherent in hyper-consumerism. Maintenance demarcates the contours of a world in which we have relinquished the human longing for unlimited power and technological autonomy, a world where our attachment to things is more profound than we ever imagined.

By: Jerome Denis (Mines Paris-PSL France), David Pontille (CNRS, France)
Translated by: Andrew Brown
Imprint: Polity Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 231mm, Width: 160mm, Spine: 36mm
Weight: 590g
ISBN: 9781509562381
ISBN 10: 1509562389
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 07 February 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Acknowledgements Introduction The art of making things last A transfer of attention The vocabulary of humans and things Pathways Chapter 1: Maintaining Beyond innovation Repair and breakdown A daily pulsation Neither heroes nor heroines Reassigning attention Chapter 2: Fragilities Societies repopulated with objects The diplomacy of wear and tear Care and things Chapter 3: Attention Displacements Multisensoriality Expertise Vigilance Attachments Chapter 4: Encounters Recalcitrance Disassembly Transformations Worries The dance of maintenance Chapter 5: Time Prolongation Permanence Slowing down Stubbornness From time to thing Chapter 6: Tact Adjustments Surprises Heritage diplomacies Pathways inspired by environmental ethics Ethics and the care of things Chapter 7: Conflicts Shortening the life of goods The values of duration The emancipation of use Redistributed knowledge The people of things Responsibilities Conclusion Notes Index

Jérôme Denis is Professor of Sociology at Mines Paris-PSL. David Pontille is Director of Research at CNRS.

Reviews for The Care of Things: Ethics and Politics of Maintenance

“For years, the dynamic duo of Denis and Pontille have been producing some of the best work on maintenance and repair out there (full stop). This new translation is a landmark contribution, and one we’ll be reading and learning from for years to come.” Steven J. Jackson, Professor of Information Science and Science and Technology Studies, Cornell University