Emotion, attachment, representation, and loss: a comparative study on what it means for objects to “spark joy”

ABSTRACT

The concept spark joy has a long history in Japan but only a brief one in the U.S. This study involved interviews with 25 Japanese and 25 U.S. nationals to capture their knowledge of and interpretation for the popular concept of spark joy. We also looked for what objects brought out the emotion and the occurrence of particular meanings given to and characteristics of objects that spark joy in our participants. To spark joy generally referenced a positive emotion, though it was more specific for, lyrical, and ingrained in daily life for those from Japan, and it was tied more often to past memories for those from the U.S. For both groups, but particularly for those from the U.S., objects that sparked joy were likely to be seen as indispensable and, to a lesser extent, irreplaceable, reflecting an attachment to such objects. The objects that sparked joy typically had relational and/or self-expression meanings. Overall, the semiotic value of objects that spark joy has two sides: a combination of positive feeling and connection to self and/or other; given the owner’s belief that the objects are indispensable, however, they may also fear their loss.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).