Podcast
Questions and Answers
Thorstein Veblen's notion of 'conspicuous ______' highlights consumption as a source of social status.
Thorstein Veblen's notion of 'conspicuous ______' highlights consumption as a source of social status.
consumption
Contemporary studies stress how consumers creatively rework the products they ______, generating new meanings.
Contemporary studies stress how consumers creatively rework the products they ______, generating new meanings.
buy
According to Danny Miller, consumption is based on acts of love and devotion, rather than individual ______.
According to Danny Miller, consumption is based on acts of love and devotion, rather than individual ______.
greed
Gift-buying is particularly significant during rituals such as Christmas and ______.
Gift-buying is particularly significant during rituals such as Christmas and ______.
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Ethnographic work on active and creative consumption involves detailed fieldwork and ______ to understand its meanings.
Ethnographic work on active and creative consumption involves detailed fieldwork and ______ to understand its meanings.
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Consumption has become a major focus of interest for __________ and other social scientists.
Consumption has become a major focus of interest for __________ and other social scientists.
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Modern market societies are characterized by a '__________ culture' organized around individual choice.
Modern market societies are characterized by a '__________ culture' organized around individual choice.
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A number of influential social critics, including Karl __________, have critiqued consumption as a sign of market dominance.
A number of influential social critics, including Karl __________, have critiqued consumption as a sign of market dominance.
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In capitalist societies, needs and wants are artificially created and __________, inducing excessive consumption.
In capitalist societies, needs and wants are artificially created and __________, inducing excessive consumption.
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The role of __________ in stimulating demand for products has been a focus of numerous studies.
The role of __________ in stimulating demand for products has been a focus of numerous studies.
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Critics argue that the consumer is often cast in a __________ role, manipulated by corporate interests.
Critics argue that the consumer is often cast in a __________ role, manipulated by corporate interests.
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A second view on consumption emphasizes the __________ role of consumers in utilizing goods for their own purposes.
A second view on consumption emphasizes the __________ role of consumers in utilizing goods for their own purposes.
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The convergence of culture and economy is represented as consumption becomes a site where __________ influences are felt.
The convergence of culture and economy is represented as consumption becomes a site where __________ influences are felt.
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Study Notes
Consumption as a Focus of Study
- Consumption is a key area of interest for social scientists, previously often overlooked in favor of production.
- Three main premises underpin the study of consumption:
- It's vital for social and cultural reproduction (daily life needs)
- Modern societies are consumer-driven (individual choice)
- Consumption reveals the interplay between culture and economy.
Two Perspectives on Consumption
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First Perspective (Critical/Marxist):
- Consumption is seen as a tool of market power, colonizing culture.
- Capitalism creates artificial needs to drive consumption exceeding real needs.
- Advertising plays a significant role in manipulating consumer demand.
- Consumers are passive and easily manipulated. This view is echoed in postmodernism's emphasis on consumer powerlessness.
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Second Perspective (Active/Creative Consumption):
- Consumers actively shape the meaning and purpose of goods they consume. Consumption choices are entwined with relationships.
- Status and distinction previously held center stage, though contemporary studies focus more on the creative expressions that consumers generate through consumed products.
- Consumption is more than just economic transactions; it's a social and cultural expression.
- Consumption is connected to social relationships (e.g., family, friends), driving gifts and purchases based on acts of love, as highlighted in work by Danny Miller.
Ethnographic Approach to Consumption
- Ethnographic studies highlight the personal meaning attached to consumption.
- Observational/detailed fieldwork methods are key in understanding consumption's meaning and impact.
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Description
Explore the multifaceted study of consumption, a crucial aspect often overshadowed by production in social sciences. This quiz delves into two contrasting perspectives on consumer behavior: the Critical/Marxist view that critiques the market's influence versus the Active/Creative stance highlighting consumer agency and cultural dynamics. Test your understanding of these concepts and their relevance in modern society.
