Material Artifacts as Competence Markers

Materiality is often taken for granted or given little attention as an aspect of social interaction. The great importance attributed to dealing with material artefacts in the sport climbing scene is the subject of this paper. Using lifeworld-analytical ethnography, the degree of difficulty, the rock and the route in particular were reconstructed as the most important competence markers, on the basis of which field participants locate themselves and others in three different competence levels. Thus, individuals are assigned interaction options and positions according to how competently they recognise and use material artefacts to perform choreography that is recognised as “beautiful” despite difficult routes. Although differentiation according to movement competence (usually) takes precedence, individuals are also differentiated—and with evaluative effect—according to (presumed) gender presentation.