Why we collect is often as interesting as what we collect. A collection can offer life-support over time, a means of trading, a basis for community and communication, a stockpile of wealth, and a mechanism of self-identity.

The gathering of resources for survival, health, comfort, or economy is a defining characteristic of life. Collecting is a rather curious behavior that seems to defy easy explanation or analysis. In the popular mind, collectors are often viewed as individuals with more money than sense. They drop huge sums on rare artifacts while displacing them from their supposed rightful locations. They are often seen as mildly disturbed cranks who have an inexplicable need to gather large numbers of items few others deem interesting, invariably cluttering their lives or minds in ways that are unhealthy.

The paradox of collecting. It serves multiple purposes, from the deceptive to the inspirational. Collecting is viewed in many different and often competing ways depending on the position of the viewer. And collecting can involve more than the accumulation of significant cultural resources, there can be personal, familial, and regional connections that motivate a collector to gather and curate certain works or objects. Why we collect is a huge topic.

This week's podcast promo: Modern Musicology