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So, I realize this is potentially delving into the trivial, but is there any explanation given anywhere -- in the film, the comics, or any commentary by the production staff -- which explains why

Thanos' snap of the fingers after assembling all the Infinity Stones and disintegrating half of the people in the universe

should affect people's clothing and other personal effects?

Is it because this is just what Thanos chose to do? Or is it built into the power? Does the magic involved have some notion of what constitutes a person which includes their nearby stuff? What?

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    @Adamant: Well, why should it? The simplest interpretation of the act disintegrates the people. The clothes aren't part of the person. Why should it disintegrate their stuff? It doesn't disintegrate their vehicles, but it does disintegrate their weapons (I think). So it's not obvious what should happen. Is it up to Thanos' intent?
    – ThePopMachine
    May 7, 2018 at 17:54
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    Magic always has to make choices. Does it want to destroy a person’s hair? Their nails? Their bionic arm? Their last meal? Thanos might have made that choice, or the gauntlet might have made it for him, but the choice was made.
    – Adamant
    May 7, 2018 at 18:03
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    @Mithoron: Not necessarily
    – ThePopMachine
    May 7, 2018 at 18:27
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    To the two people who VTC for "unclear what you're asking": What is unclear about it? I've stated plainly in the question as well as in the comments that I'm asking whether the determination of what disintegrates or doesn't is based on something about the power itself, some intelligence in the stones, the will of Thanos or merely suspension of disbelief? What?
    – ThePopMachine
    May 7, 2018 at 20:01
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    To hand-wavers and "why should we care about this" commenters: have you considered which website you're currently browsing? The whole raison d'etre of scifi.se is to ask and answer these questions :P
    – Andres F.
    May 9, 2018 at 17:24

1 Answer 1

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From my own answer on M&TV

According to the directors it's because...

Those items are part of their identity

Avengers: Infinity War's directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (who also directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers 4) revealed why objects like Spider-Man's suit, Star-Lord's clothing, and other material or weapons being carried or worn by heroes disappeared with them after Thanos snapped his fingers. According to Joe Russo, the objects faded with the heroes and other victims of Thanos erasure because they are "part of their identity."

Anthony Russo chimed in: "Whatever was elemental to somebody’s presence went with them."

Source

Whether this is logical in-universe is open to debate but out-of-universe it make sense.

Firstly this would have involved another round of complicated SFX in a movie already packed with fiddly technical requirements.

Secondly it would have looked a little messy, and possibly a little silly, on screen if leather and spandex suits, helmets, clever gadgets and all that lovely Wakandan metalwork all clanked down.

The Russo brothers do not really make a compelling argument for their vision in these scenes, but they definitely made the correct stylistic choice.

Source

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