Speaking of words, what word best describes the modern wash-of-multicoloured-stuff?

[Donnadogsoth]

You know what I mean, the variegated hodgepodge of accumulated crap that surrounds the modern individual in his home, things out of place, out of context, rearranged into familiar but irregular piles and clusters, dog toys and toothpicks and DVDs and a soother and a stack of bulk sticky notes and on and on and on.

Anyone have a name for this? One that distinguishes it from the bric-a-brac of yesteryear, by virtue of the former's bright and multihued coloured and sheer variety of manufactured goods?

[Blackhawk748]

You know what I mean, the variegated hodgepodge of accumulated crap that surrounds the modern individual in his home, things out of place, out of context, rearranged into familiar but irregular piles and clusters, dog toys and toothpicks and DVDs and a soother and a stack of bulk sticky notes and on and on and on.

Anyone have a name for this? One that distinguishes it from the bric-a-brac of yesteryear, by virtue of the former's bright and multihued coloured and sheer variety of manufactured goods?

Vast quantities of crap?

[Donnadogsoth]

Spectacular accrual?

[Grinner]

The term "cruft" fits.

There's a scene in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which discusses a similar term. Can't remember it, though. Should be in chapter 2.

Edit: Detritus? Maybe.

[DataNinja]

Clutter? Or perhaps, if you're feeling generous, a hoard?

[Scarlet Knight]

Stuff; as in: "A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff." - George Carlin.

[Tokay]

If you have piles of toothpicks surrounding you in your home it's probably time to do some cleaning.

[Ninja_Prawn]

Clutter?

That's what my mother calls it.

If you have piles of toothpicks surrounding you in your home it's probably time to do some cleaning.

When life gives you piles of multicoloured toothpicks, play some kerplunk!

[AMFV]

You know what I mean, the variegated hodgepodge of accumulated crap that surrounds the modern individual in his home, things out of place, out of context, rearranged into familiar but irregular piles and clusters, dog toys and toothpicks and DVDs and a soother and a stack of bulk sticky notes and on and on and on.

Anyone have a name for this? One that distinguishes it from the bric-a-brac of yesteryear, by virtue of the former's bright and multihued coloured and sheer variety of manufactured goods?

I've known plenty of non-modern individuals... their homes are similar. Clutter isn't really a modern invention, if it was archaeologists would really have a rough time. Although if you have piles of toothpicks, you might want to consider moving them outside, since wood piles can spontaneously combust, same with the sticky notes.

[Flickerdart]

Stuff; as in: "A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff." - George Carlin.

But remember that it's only your stuff that's stuff - other people's stuff is 💩.

[Scarlet Knight]

Anyone have a name for this? One that distinguishes it from the bric-a-brac of yesteryear, by virtue of the former's bright and multihued coloured and sheer variety of manufactured goods?

Are you thinking of knick knacks? Or tchotchkes?

[Donnadogsoth]

Are you thinking of knick knacks? Or tchotchkes?

Bric-a-brac, really. But spectacular, eye-catching bric-a-brac by virtue of its bright colours and endless variety of forms. I suppose premoderns had varieties of forms; any child could collect that from the woods, but it is the colouration that arrests my mind the most, wedded to the greater novelty of form, including more layering of artefacts from different historical periods: e.g., pencils and USB ports. Spectacular bric-a-brac.

[Knaight]

Bric-a-brac, really. But spectacular, eye-catching bric-a-brac by virtue of its bright colours and endless variety of forms. I suppose premoderns had varieties of forms; any child could collect that from the woods, but it is the colouration that arrests my mind the most, wedded to the greater novelty of form, including more layering of artefacts from different historical periods: e.g., pencils and USB ports. Spectacular bric-a-brac.

Colors fade. Bright colors are not even remotely a new thing, and while the extent of the clutter might be worse now, it's not all that meaningfully different.

With that said, I'm fond of the terms miscellany and detritus for the stuff; which depends on the subtext being conveyed.

[Elderand]

An accretion of clutter. A byzantine bric-à-brac. Don't deny the added alliterative appeal of assorted appurtenance.

[Donnadogsoth]

Colors fade. Bright colors are not even remotely a new thing, and while the extent of the clutter might be worse now, it's not all that meaningfully different.

With that said, I'm fond of the terms miscellany and detritus for the stuff; which depends on the subtext being conveyed.

Not bright colours, but mass-produced, popularly available bright colours. Anyone today can own a red coat if they desire. Could anyone 300 years ago? 100 years ago?

[Frozen_Feet]

Kitschy junk.

[Brother Oni]

Not bright colours, but mass-produced, popularly available bright colours. Anyone today can own a red coat if they desire. Could anyone 300 years ago? 100 years ago?

Yes.

Spoiler: British redcoat, 53rd Regiment of Foote, 1845

Show

Spoiler: Portrait of a Cardinal in his Study, circa 1510-1520

Show

Spoiler: Reconstruction of a Roman Legionary's uniform with cloak and lorica hamata

Show

On retrospect, a red coat specifically might have been a bad example to use.

[Flickerdart]

Yes.

A British soldier, a Cardinal, and a Roman soldier are not examples of anyone.

Besides which, neither the Roman nor the Cardinal are actually wearing coats.

[goto124]

Misunderstanding of the meaning of 'anyone'