I found the topic of "object language" to be interesting. Object language is defined as "all intentional and nonintentional displays of material things, such as implements, machines, art objects, architectural structures, [as well as] the human body, and whatever clothes covers it." (Trenholm 133)
Our communication is affected by our environment. The book discusses that size, temperature, lighting, and noise (to name a few) are important communication factors.
For instance, if an instructor were to walk into the room wearing all "bright" yellow, he/she would be a distraction to the class. The outfit is considered to be too "loud." It's simply noisy.
On another note, when I read about object language, I thought about people themselves. When the statement said, ". . . our possessions act as public symbols of our values, status, and financial success, informing others of our identity and reinforcing our own sense of self." I didn't agree with this statement entirely.
Many people walk around with the cross on their necklace or an "I love Jesus" sticker on their car bumper. However, their lifestyles beg the differ. This is when the contradiction on verbal and nonverbal behavior comes into play.
I'm not even going to get started on people who fixate on dressing up the outside and are still "lacking a lot of things" on the inside, not to mention financial stability.
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I do agree with your final statement about someone wearing alot, or expensive, things on the inside, but lacking the stability for such purchases. I can't count the number of times that I have seen a Cadillac Escalade parked in a low-income apartment building. Sure, some of the cars may just be visiting, however, I am sure there are some that are residents of the complex. Just think if the $500 plus car payment each month was toward rent, a homeless person who makes even less money would have a place to call home, besides the bank of a nearby creek. However, the American culture is that of a consumer, so we cannot fault that of the purchaser who is rewarded by such purchases.
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