Unlocking the Love-Lock

The History and Heritage of a Contemporary Custom

Unlocking the Love-Lock
Ceri Houlbrook
RRP:
NZ$ 79.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 73.99
Paperback
h229 x 152mm - 260pg
1 Jan 2021 UK
International import eta 10-19 days
9781789209853
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
A padlock is a mundane object, designed to fulfil a specific - and secular - purpose. A contemporary custom has given padlocks new significance. This custom is ' love-locking' , where padlocks are engraved with names and attached to bridges in declaration of romantic commitment. This custom became popular in the 2000s, and its dissemination was rapid, geographically unbound, and highly divisive, with love-locks emerging in locations as diverse as Paris and Taiwan; New York and Seoul; Melbourne and Moscow. This book explores the worldwide popularity of the love-lock as a ritual token of love and commitment by considering its history, symbolism, and heritage.
"This is a well-researched and thoughtful assessment of a fascinating topic. " Sarah Randles, University of Melbourne". . . this is an eminently enjoyable and thorough investigation of a popular phenomenon through the lens of heritage and folk tradition. " Sara De Nardi, Western Sydney University
Ceri Houlbrook attained her doctorate in Archaeology from the University of Manchester, and is a lecturer in Folklore and History at the University of Hertfordshire. Her primary research interests are contemporary folklore and the material culture of popular customs and beliefs. She has published previously on the British phenomenon of coin-trees and the history and folklore of concealed objects.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9781789209853
Published: 1 Jan 2021
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Berghahn Books
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Format: Paperback
Height: 229mm
Width: 152mm
Pages: 260

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