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Consumer Culture

16 important questions on Consumer Culture

What is consumer culture?

A term you might have heard used to discribe contemporary (western) society, often negatively
A term often used in academic work on consumption

Consumer culture: "The organized interpenetration of economic and everyday life" (Lury)
All areas of everyday life are in some way related to consumption

Which of the following acts as an intermediary between work and consumption?

The sphere of exchange

Acting as an intermediary between these two moments of our existence, work and consumption, is the sphere of exchange p. 3 alinea 2

Four key characteristics with consumer culture (Sassatelli p.2)

Daily desires are satisfied through the acquisition and use of 'commodities' - goods produced for exchange and sale on the market
We conceptualize the purchase and use goods as acts of 'concumption'
We are accustomed to being addressed as 'consumers'
Consumption = leisure

For Sassatelli (2007), consumer society is not a naturally occurring phenomenon. Its development relies in part on a process of learning. What does that process of learning involve?

People are trained to perform and enjoy their role as consumers

The particular cultural politics of value which underpins the development of 'consumer society' is thus not a natural one, it is one which requires a process of learning whereby social actors are practically trained to perform (and enjoy) their roles as consumers.

Daily desires are satisfied through the acquisition and use of ‘commodities’ – goods produced for exchange and for sale on the market

Aspects of capitalism and 'cultures of consumption' found in earlier historical periods
However, only modern capitalist societies – roughly 1850 onwards – in which “daily desires are satisfied through the acquisition and use of commodities” (Sassatelli, following Weber)
Very difficult to think of anything that doesn't involve the consumption of commodities. Can you think of anything?

Sassatelli (2007) argues that the notion of ‘the consumer’ is now “a major social identity in contemporary societies”. What is the reason for this?

all of the below

Increasing numbers of people are addressed as consumers
As a result of social and historical processes, ‘the consumer’ has become a central figure
Increasing numbers of people think of themselves as consumers

We conceptualise the purchase and use of goods as acts of ‘consumption’

This is culturally and historically specific

Pre-16th century - luxury regarded with some suspicion
16th century - idea of luxury and refinement; sumtuary laws
17th - 19th century - development of consumption as a meaningful catogory

Consumption in general as a good thing
The increasing privatization of consumption

20th century - lifestyles and identity

According to Sassatelli (2007), which of the following characterizes ‘consumer society’?

all of the below:

We consider the purchase and use of goods as acts of ‘consumption’
Our desires and needs are satisfied through acquiring and using goods
We are used to being addressed as ‘consumers’, not just by companies but also by social institutions, scientific dicourses and other areas

Sassatelli (2007) describes a paradox at work in contemporary society. Which of the following best describes it?

We depend on commodities in our daily lives, but we also find it necessary to de-commoditize goods and services

Which of the following is a characteristic of liquid modernity?

Individuals must be flexible and adaptable

Which of the following is not a defining characteristic of liquid consumption?

Material

Bardhi & Eckhardt (2017) suggest that liquid consumption may be ‘resolidified’. What does this mean?

Consumption becomes oriented towards long-term identity projects

From solid to liquid consumption

Bauman's work is social theory - it tries to diagnose how contemporary society works
For Bauman, more or less everything is 'consumption'
More recent work (Bardhi & Eckhardt, 2017) takes Bauman's solid/liquid metaphor and applies it to understanding the changing nature of consumption

Which of the following is potentially a negative aspect of liquid consumption?

Instability/Uncertainty

Liquid and solid consumption

Liquid consumption

Ephemeral (kortstondig)
Access-based
Dematerialized

Solid consumption

Enduring (langdurig)
Ownership-based
Material

Liquid modernity / consumption

Liquid modernity theorises the increasing fluidity/precarity/insecurity in modern (Western) society
Liquid consumption theorises how consumption itself is changing under these conditions
Please note that 'consumptions of liquids' is not the same as 'liquid consumption'!

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Principles of consumer studies

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Consumer Culture

16 important questions on Consumer Culture

What is consumer culture?

Which of the following acts as an intermediary between work and consumption?

Four key characteristics with consumer culture (Sassatelli p.2)

For Sassatelli (2007), consumer society is not a naturally occurring phenomenon. Its development relies in part on a process of learning. What does that process of learning involve?

Daily desires are satisfied through the acquisition and use of ‘commodities’ – goods produced for exchange and for sale on the market

Sassatelli (2007) argues that the notion of ‘the consumer’ is now “a major social identity in contemporary societies”. What is the reason for this?

We conceptualise the purchase and use of goods as acts of ‘consumption’

According to Sassatelli (2007), which of the following characterizes ‘consumer society’?

Sassatelli (2007) describes a paradox at work in contemporary society. Which of the following best describes it?

Which of the following is a characteristic of liquid modernity?

Which of the following is not a defining characteristic of liquid consumption?

Bardhi & Eckhardt (2017) suggest that liquid consumption may be ‘resolidified’. What does this mean?

From solid to liquid consumption

Which of the following is potentially a negative aspect of liquid consumption?

Liquid and solid consumption

Liquid modernity / consumption

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