The Privilege of Clutter

I read the text Marie Kondo and the Privilege of Clutter written by Arielle Bernstein. She

talked about how the KonMari method is fascinating to Americans because we’re so used to

giving things away without a care. Right now minimalism is at the peak of what's popular.

Everyone wasn't to cut back on all the clutter they have and bring a more 'simple' and 'fulfilling'

life. Whereas her parents, who were stripped of what they had, want to hold onto things as tightly

as they can. Through their experiences they find objects as simple as the last few drops in a

toothpaste tube valuable. The author wanted to give a different view of the KonMari method and

how not everyone sees it as a joyful experience, but as a struggle. I believe that the author was

successful in explaining this alternate viewpoint, from her parents and how they view the thought

of ‘decluttering’ and how it differs from her own. What we need to think about it; does it really

matter if we save or give up our possessions in the end?

Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up came out in 2014 and was quick

to becoming a New York Times bestseller. In our American culture we are the embodiment of

excess everything. We are quick to dispose of the old to buy what is shiny and new. We are

surrounded by commercial after commercial of the "New Best Thing". She explains, “A

recurring emphasis on self-improvement and an obsession with restriction can be found in

everything from diet trends (where we learn to cut calories in order to be smaller and less

encumbered by literal weight), to the consumer culture fixation with replacing old things that no

longer provide joy with new, “improved” things that will.” With the countless commercials and

ads, we're constantly surrounded by this in our everyday lives. So when Marie Kondo’s came

forward with a ‘new’ way to become more disciplined and happy, we were quick to jump on
board. We are always searching for new this and that, and Kondo is giving us just that. She

shows us the perfect way to scale down when simplicity is a hot trend. But what about everyone

else?

The author brought up a different point of view; her family. She talked about her

grandparents and how they moved from Poland to Cuba preceding the Holocaust. But in Cuba it

wasn’t much better, they had a store which was closed by the government and graffitied by

others with swastikas. Explaining, “As the revolution began, material comforts began to

disappear.” They weren't able to escape their past as they had hopes, so instead they decided to

move again. Hoping the United States would bring that sweet bliss of escape. Which it luckily

did, they were able to be what they wanted but instead of following with the Marie Kondo

method, they began to hold onto things. They had lost so much in their previous homes and now

in America they were able to hold onto what they loved for once. But when they think about her

method of a 'declutter' they didn't find it a joyful experience, but a cold one. It is hard for them to

let go of things from their past as it is all they have to hold onto. Or in other words, “Everything

is confirmation they survived.”

This text was effective in showing just how different people can be. The author was able

to explain the different view with great detail to really make you feel like you were with her. We

got a sense of the difference between her and her parents when it comes to possessions in a way

we might not have thought before. Growing up in America the author has caught on to the

disposing ways Americans have. Leaving her parents ever so stressed about the things she

discards. Right now minimalism is popular but we don’t have to give away things just as Kondo

says. If we want to be like the author's parents and hold onto possessions that are important to us
then we can, as well as give away things we don’t want. At the end of the day, it’s your choice.

They are your possessions.