Interpreting postcard research about the contents of our bags and the types of bags we carry with us everyday.
From 150 postcards received between February and March 2008.
I identified 21 different types of bag:
1 basket
4 satchels
1 pouch
14 backpacks or rucksacks
15 bags with the brand name described: “from Tescos it’s dirty and muddy” (6) or “My lovely Cath Kidson red mini dot book bag! Very tough, hold everything!” (i).
12 with some of their history described. This is perhaps one of the most interesting parts of my research as it gives clues as to why some things are treasured -often it’s the stories behind them. One person wrote: “My bag came from a house clearance. The woman who previously owned it had died. It is actually a knitting bag, which has embroidered flowers stitched on either side. It must have taken weeks! I collect rubbish in my bag like most people… I use this bag everyday because I love it so much. It is weird though that another lady had it before me.”(i). This is the story of a bag loaded with history and mystery, which makes it unique and gives it value. Other postcards described bags with a long personal history: “my bag is a record bag I’ve had since year 8. I recovered the font myself with comics, pictures, pirate gold and patches.” (i) – A bag entwined with an individuals life, something remaining constant as time passes by. Some postcards described bags that bear traces of where they have been and what they have done: “bag borrowed from my friend Catherine. It’s a bit mud stained from walk and climbing trees!” (i). In contrast to bags that have history, one person says “it is a kind of a leathery satchel – looks too new at the moment” (o) – the idea that it will look better when it’s slightly old, scuffed and worn.
3 shopping bags
12 shoulder bags
22 just described as bags
12 handbags
1 drawer string bag
23 were described as coloured
15 black bags
15 brown bags
26 bags described as large or big, with lots of references to bags containing everything, or lots of rubbish: “A Mary Poppins bag, its massive!” (i) Or “My bag is big – like a sack” (f) or “It’s like the Tardis!” (f) Or “A big black bag to fit everything I own in” (e
7 small or little bags e.g. “a little brown bag” (l),
6 medium bags.
(There were none of the descriptions or metaphors for the small or medium bags that were noted with the large bags. Does this suggest that the larger bags embodied something more personal? Perhaps a personal space when away from home where we can carry everything we own or might possibly need?)
31 leather or fake leather bags
11 fabric bags
(The remaining 108 postcard respondents had not specified the material their bag was made from)
9 with decoration or pattern
5 old, dirty or second hand bags
Contents of bags:
I identified 9 categories
Clothing, pens/pencils, electrical items, food/drink, paper, keys, toiletries, containers, and miscellaneous
178 electrical items:
1 battery
11 laptops
7 cd’s
1 clock
85 mobile phones
3 calculators
4 Nintendo’s
3 DVD’s
33 ipods or headphones
3 mp3 players
16 cameras
18 memory sticks
2 torches
363 paper items:
1 piece of plain paper
3 birthday cards
41 banking related items
3 address books
11 tickets
1 Tate modern brochure
25 receipts
1 post it note
8 leaflets/catalogues
67 sketchbooks/notebooks
1 paper needing to be marked
5 flyers
9 newspapers
19 lists
47 diary’s
18 id’s/pass cards
2 family photos
5 business cards
41 tissues
1 folded brown paper
12 scraps of paper
32 books
1 paper flower
1 magazine
2 maps
5 folders
5 vouchers
13 letters/post
114 pens/pencils:
81 pens
9 pencils
4 broken pens or pencils
89 Keys:
16 house keys
13 car keys
5 work keys
301 toiletry items:
9 inhalers
6 plasters
15 perfumes
7 wet wipes
39 make-up items
2 dentil floss
1 soap
34 painkillers
63 lip balm/gloss
11 items for nail care
29 moisturisers
1 razor
1 toothbrush
5 deodorants
3 eye drops
12 tampons/sanitary towels
11 mirrors
49 hair items
3 condoms
176 containers:
141 wallets/purses
7 plastic bags
4 shopping bags
11 pencil cases
11 make-up/wash bags
1 bag of badges
49 clothing items:
4 tops
2 pairs of socks
23 gloves
9 hats
7 scarves
3 pairs of pants
1 pair of trainers
146 Miscellaneous items:
2 sewing kits
1 crumbs
2 fluff
2 sand
1 grit
1 dirt
2 rubbish
1 mask
37 glasses (inc sunglasses)
3 pritt sticks
2 rescue remedies
7 loose coins
1 piece of amethyst
1 piece of brass
1 watch
1 block of wood
4 shells/pebbles from the beach
3 buttons
3 knitting
1 tape
9 lighters
9 tobacco/cigarettes
6 rizla
7 jewellery
1 tools
12 umbrellas
3 stanely knives
6 tape measures
1 masking tape
1 metal file
1 nappy
2 spoons
7 sweet wrappers
1 art piece made from tea bags
1 toy soldier
1 pedometer
1 cable tie
1 key ring
103 food/drink items:
1 yogurt
15 chewing gum
3 sandwiches
17 pieces of fruit
26 sweets
8 tea bags
1 sugar sachet
26 bottles of water
4 flasks
1 crisps
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