History of Your Life in 4 Objects

Childhood: Traditionally not the music you would associate with many childhoods, Cher’s ‘Believe’ CD is the object I have chosen to represent my younger years. ‘Believe’ was manufactured in Germany and released on 13^th October 1998 by Warner Music UK Ltd, the CD featured ‘Believe’ which became number one on 2^nd March 1998 making Cher the oldest female artist to top the charts. In the United Kingdom ‘Believe’ spent seven weeks at number one and became the biggest-selling single of 1998, selling in total 1,672,000 copies to date contributing to the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 42^nd Grammy awards, where it also received a nomination for Record of the Year. The CD featured ten songs written by a collaboration of individuals including Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennen, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Matthew Gray, and Timothy Powell and produced by Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling.

‘Believe’ is a dance-pop song that incorporates elements of techno and house music and samples the songs ‘Prologue’ and ‘Epilogue’ by British Rock group Electric Light Orchestra from their 1981 concept album Time. It also uses heavy amounts of Auto-Tune which has since become one of the song’s most notable features.

Looking back the music of Cher was not life changing in any sense but is just a simple reminder of the things I have in common with my mother and the things we equally enjoy. At a younger age the lyrics meant very little but the significance of just general pleasure singing along with my mother is what makes this particular CD special to me. 

History of Your Life in 4 Objects

Present: “Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary”

The passport to me is symbolic of the potential an individual has to change there lives with great significance whether offering the opportunity to temporarily experience new cultures or permanently change the environment in which we live in.

The passport is an official document issued by the national government which certifies the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. A passport does not entitle the passport holder to entry into another country however it does normally entitle the passport holder to return to the country that issued the passport. It is thought King Henry V of England invented what some would consider the first true passport, however the rapid expansion of rail travel in Europe during the mid-19^th century led to a breakdown in the European passport system due to the number of passengers that crossed borders during this time. Up until the First World War passports were not required for travel within Europe. However the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire maintained passport requirements for international travel, in addition to an internal passport system to control travel within there own borders. During the First World War European governments introduced border passport requirements for security reasons and to control emigration of citizen with useful skills, retaining potential manpower. These controls remained in place after the war and became standard procedure.

This particular passport which is now out of date was issued on the 24^th June 2004 and expired on 24^th June 2009 and contains documentation of various international countries in which I have travelled.

Singapore: 9^th April 2005 to 14^th April 2005

Australia: 26^th March 2005 to 9^th April 2005

Canada: 25^th August 2006

New Zealand: 25^th December 2006

USA: 27^th August 2006

Australia: 4^th January 2007 to 6^th January 2007

Hong Kong: 6^th January 2007 to 10^th January 2007

Peru: 3^rd April 2007 to 10^th April 2007

Ecuador: 10^th April 2007 to 15^th April 2007

Bonaire: 15^th April 2007 to 17^th April 2007

USA: 27^th October 2007

USA: 20^th March 2008

Canada: 25^th July 2008

Republic of South Africa: 15^th December 2008

USA: 30^th December 2008

Republic of South Africa: 1^stJanuary 2009 & 15^th March 2009

History of Your Life in 4 Objects

Early Teenage: South African Ndebele Dolls

The Ndebele tribe of South Africa are known for there extraordinary vibrantly painted homes which dominate the vacant surrounding. The object shown on the left in an example of an Ndebele doll which despite being associated with children’s toys is in fact a tribal tool laden with ritual and religious associations within the community. They are used to teach, and entertain, they are supernatural intermediaries, and they are manipulated for ritual purposes. Traditionally during courtship a suitor will place a doll outside a young woman’s hut indicating his intention to propose marriage to her, if accepted the doll is then named and cared for, the name in which is later chosen for the first born child. However in today modern society in order to strength and maintain cultural identify the delicately beaded dolls are exported in order to provide a source of income for the Ndebele women. The Ndebele dolls range from various sizes and detail most of which have intricate beading symbolic of there native clothing.

Throughout my early teenage years we as a family frequently visited South Africa’s coastal town of Cape Town and surrounding areas which over time became a huge part of my childhood. This particular Ndebele doll was the first of many which I bought on my first visit in a small craft market situated a short walk away from Hout Bays Waterfront.