Are you one of the millions inspired by Marie Kondo and her KonMari Method to get rid of your clutter? Kondo's books, such as The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, have sparked an intense and prolonged fervor where other self-help gurus have failed. What is it about this phenom who advocates tidying as the path to the self-actualization? Is it her respect for our stuff as animated and alive? Is it because she doesn't shame us for our consumption, even as she encourages us to consider why we consume? Do our things 'spark joy' or hold us back?

Yet, she's not without her critics. The backlash has been fierce, and occasionally misconstrued  Kondo's words. What's so threatening about questioning what we value? 

<p>Are you one of the millions inspired by&nbsp;<a href="https://konmari.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marie Kondo</a>&nbsp;and her KonMari Method to get rid of your clutter? Kondo's books, such as&nbsp;<em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/ref=asc_df_1607747308/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=312057361370&amp;hvpos=1o1&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=17481406310074885196&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9003232&amp;hvtargid=aud-836408683912:pla-406163962033&amp;psc=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up</a>,</em>&nbsp;and Netflix series,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80209379" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tidying Up with Marie Kondo</a>,&nbsp;have sparked an intense and prolonged fervor where other self-help gurus have failed.&nbsp;</p>
<div id="div-gpt-ad-medium_2" class="ad ad-medium" data-google-query-id="CMXMq6HZ_-ACFU8xaQodz3MHCg">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/132595048/wnprnews_medium_3_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none;">What is it about this phenom who advocates tidying as the path to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-actualization</a>? Is it her respect for our stuff as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">animated and alive</a>? Is it because she doesn't shame us for our consumption, even as she encourages us to consider why we consume? Do our things 'spark joy' or hold us back?</div>
</div>
<p>Yet, she's not without her <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/marie-kondo-books-tidying-up-netflix-1202036091/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">critics.</a> The <a href="https://medium.com/@AestheticDistance/the-backlash-against-marie-kondo-is-so-stupid-and-racist-6def7fbd78b2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backlash</a> has been <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2016/01/marie-kondos-life-changing-magic-and-death.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fierce</a>, and occasionally misconstrued&nbsp; Kondo's words. What's so threatening about questioning what we value?&nbsp;</p>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<p><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.</p>

Advertisement