Consumption, Culture, and Identity Study Notes

The idea that people use consumption to gain social standing and differentiate themselves from others. For example, buying expensive cars or designer clothes to show off wealth and status.

Instead of just accepting the meaning of products as defined by companies, consumers actively create new meanings and experiences through their own choices and uses.

The study of consumer culture through firsthand observation and interviews, focusing on the meanings people attach to the things they buy.

The process of understanding consumption not just as a product of corporate strategies, but also as a reflection of social and cultural relationships.

The act of buying gifts as a form of love and devotion, often associated with rituals and celebrations.

The process of acquiring, using, and disposing of goods and services. It is a fundamental aspect of human life and plays a significant role in social and cultural interactions.

A set of beliefs, values, practices, and objects that are associated with consumption. It often emphasizes individual choice, material possessions, and the pursuit of happiness through buying goods and services.

The impact of economic forces on individual and societal behaviors. It suggests that consumption is driven by market mechanisms and can lead to the commodification of cultural values and experiences.

A critical perspective that views consumers as passive recipients of messages and influences. It emphasizes how advertising, marketing, and media create artificial needs and induce excessive consumption.

A perspective that emphasizes the active role of consumers in utilizing things for their own purposes. It suggests that individuals interpret and shape the meaning of consumption based on their own needs, values, and experiences.

A perspective that highlights the importance of culture in shaping economic processes and institutions. It suggests that consumption represents the point where culture and economy intersect and influence each other.

The view that modern market societies are organized around individual choice in the marketplace. This view suggests that consumer choices are central to economic activity and social organization.

The creation and manufacture of needs and wants that are not essential for survival. This process often involves the use of advertising and marketing to stimulate demand for products.