Abstract:
National symbols are part of a country's historical material culture. They
are an indication of how those in power within the country wish the
nation to be represented on the global stage. Intersecting with such
cultural and political factors are the ways in which economic enterprises
construct objects or artifacts that over time assume the status of national
icons. The focus in this article is on two examples of Malaysian
material culture that are accepted by visitors and promoted by the
government as national symbols - batik and pewter. The making of
these national material cultural identities provides a window to broader
sociological dynamics. These can be viewed as a manifestation of a
process where the government negotiates a softly articulated balance
between the interests and concerns of its political constituency and the
rigorous demands of the market - a Malaysian pianissimo.
