The Sociology of Consumption

From the sociological perspective, consumption is central  to daily life, identity, and social order in contemporary societies in ways that far exceed rational economic principles of supply and demand. Sociologists who study consumption address questions such as how consumption patterns are related to our identities, the values that are reflected in advertisements, and ethical issues related to consumer behavior. Key Takeaways: The Sociology of Consumption Sociologists who study consumption look at how what we buy relates to our values, emotions, and identities.This area of study has its theoretical roots in the ideas of Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber.The sociology of consumption is an active area of research studied by sociologists around the world. Modern Context The sociology of consumption is about far more than a simple act of purchase. It includes the range of emotions, values, thoughts, identities, and behaviors that circulate the purchase of goods and services, and how we use them by ourselves and with others. Due to its centrality to social life, sociologists recognize fundamental and consequential relationships between consumption and economic and political systems. Sociologists also study the relationship between consumption and social categorization, group membership, identity, stratification, and social status. Consumption is thus intersected with issues of power and inequality, is central to social processes of meaning-making, situated within the sociological debate surrounding structure and agency, and a phenomenon that connects the micro-interactions of everyday life to larger-scale social patterns and trends. The sociology of consumption is a subfield of sociology formally recognized by the American Sociological Association as the Section on Consumers and Consumption. This subfield of sociology is active throughout North America, Latin America, Britain and the European continent, Australia, and Israel, and is growing in China and India. Research Topics How people interact at sites of consumption, like shopping malls, streets, and downtown districtsThe relationship between individual and group identities and consumer goods and spacesHow lifestyles are composed, expressed, and slotted into hierarchies through consumer practices and identitiesProcesses of gentrification, in which consumer values, practices, and spaces play a central role in reconfiguring the racial and class demographics of neighborhoods, towns, and citiesThe values and ideas embedded in advertising, marketing, and product packagingIndividual and group relationships to brandsEthical issues tied to and often expressed through consumption, including environmental sustainability, the rights and dignity of workers, and economic inequalityConsumer activism and citizenship, as well as anti-consumer activism and lifestyles Theoretical Influences The three â€Å"founding fathers† of modern sociology laid the theoretical foundation for the sociology of consumption. Karl Marx provided the still widely and effectively used concept of â€Å"commodity fetishism,† which suggests that the social relations of labor are obscured by consumer goods that carry other kinds of symbolic value for their users. This concept is often used in studies of consumer consciousness and identity. Émile Durkheim’s writings on the symbolic, cultural meaning of material objects in a religious context have proved valuable to the sociology of consumption, as it informs studies of how identity is connected to consumption, and how consumer goods play an important role in traditions and rituals around the world. Max Weber pointed to the centrality of consumer goods when he wrote about the growing importance of them to social life in the 19th century, and provided what would become a useful comparison to today’s society of consumers, in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. A contemporary of the founding fathers, Thorstein Veblen’s discussion of â€Å"conspicuous consumption† has been greatly influential to how sociologists study the display of wealth and status. European critical theorists active in the mid-twentieth century also provided valuable perspectives to the sociology of consumption. Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno’s essay on â€Å"The Culture Industry† offered an important theoretical lens for understanding the ideological, political, and economic implications of mass production and mass consumption. Herbert Marcuse delved deeply into this in his book One-Dimensional Man, in which he describes Western societies as awash in consumer solutions that are meant to solve one’s problems, and as such, provide market solutions for what are actually political, cultural, and social problems. Additionally, American sociologist David Riesman’s landmark book, The Lonely Crowd, set the foundation for how sociologists would study how people seek validation and community through consumption, by looking to and molding themselves in the image of those immediately around them. More recently, sociologists have embraced French social theorist Jean Baudrillard’s ideas about the symbolic currency of consumer goods and his claim that seeing consumption as a universal of the human condition obscures the class politics behind it. Similarly, Pierre Bourdieu’s research and theorizing of the differentiation between consumer goods, and how these both reflect and reproduce cultural, class, and educational differences and hierarchies, is a cornerstone of today’s sociology of consumption. Notable Contemporary Scholars and Their Work Zygmunt Bauman: Polish sociologist who has written prolifically about consumerism and the society of consumers, including the books Consuming Life; Work, Consumerism and the New Poor; and Does Ethics Have a Chance in a World of Consumers?Robert G. Dunn: American social theorist who has written an important book of consumer theory titled Identifying Consumption: Subjects and Objects in Consumer Society.Mike Featherstone: British sociologist who wrote the influential Consumer Culture and Postmodernism, and who writes prolifically about lifestyle, globalization, and aesthetics.Laura T. Raynolds: Professor of sociology and director of the Center for Fair and Alternative Trade at Colorado State University. She has published numerous articles and books about fair trade systems and practices, including the volume Fair Trade: The Challenges of Transforming Globalization.George Ritzer: Author of widely influential books, The McDonaldization of Society and Enchanting a Disenchanted World: Cont inuity and Change in the Cathedrals of Consumption.Juliet Schor: Economist and sociologist who has written a series of widely cited books on the cycle of working and spending in American society, including The Overspent American, The Overworked American, and Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth.Sharon Zukin: Urban and public sociologist who is widely published, and author of Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Spaces, and the important journal article, â€Å"Consuming Authenticity: From Outposts of Difference to Means of Exclusion.† New research findings from the sociology of consumption are regularly published in the  Journal of Consumer Culture  and the  Journal of Consumer Research.

An Analysis Of Rick Moody s Boys - 1153 Words

Each story makes use of a very unique tone and form of narration yet these same qualities can be compared to some extent across these essays. The authors utilize different forms of writing to convey their intended focus to the audience. I found each story relative to one another in that they all seemed to touch of the subject of the roles of different genders in our contemporary society maybe even across different cultures. Rick Moody s short story Boys is written with a distinct style. The author uses a form of a stream of consciousness to convey the purpose at hand, which encompasses writing as if without hesitation or editing - whatever came to Moody’s thoughts, he transferred to text. There was also a substantial use of the word â€Å"boys†, placing emphasis on the central meaning of the story. The style is thoroughly descriptive and fails to leave any details of the boys lives out. This quality donates a sense of reality and creates a bond between the reader and the characters. The tone of the story comes of as particularly unbiased and serious, as if the author were just stating purely factual information. As events become more somber in the boys lives, the author approaches a more sympathetic tone. The boys were supposed to be kids, fooling around playing games and living a care-free childhood, but these boys found themselves in scenarios no boy or child should ever encompass. In the story â€Å"Boys† by Rick Moody from the book Literature To Go, The narrator writesShow MoreRelatedProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 PagesCanada 118 Riverview Children s Hospital 124 The Evolution of Project Management at Quixtar 145 3 PROJECT MANAGEMENT CULTURES 151 Como Tool and Die (A) 153 Como Tool and Die (B) 157 Apache Metals, Inc. 160 Haller Specialty Manufacturing 162 The NF3 Project: Managing Cultural Differences 163 An International Project Manager s Day (A) 172 An International Project Manager s Day (B) (see handout provided by instructor) An International Project Manager s Day (C) (see handout provided byRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesand permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations b y manufacturers

Mainstreaming Special Needs - 884 Words

Mainstreaming special needs The soaring cost of special education for disabled students has been appropriately integrated into public schools for the common good of all students from various social classes. Special education has had a deep histroy that has been characterized by a score of legislations that has set this form of education and how it is administered to assimilate students with learning disabilities into standard classrooms. In both the United Kingdom and the United States, the first account of special education recognizes the deaf and blind students. In England the first school to cater for special education was the Liverpool Blind School in the year 1791. In the United States, the first ever special education school was†¦show more content†¦In spite of these legislations, the law was not acted upon or rather implemented immediately. Still, it took time for compulsory education for all to be actualized (Kesha 120). The next stage in the development of special education was segregatioin th at sought to iinvolve student with disabilities in the same learning instutions as all other students, but in in isolate classrooms. However, this changed upon the enactment of the all handicapped Children Act of 1975, which introduced mainstreaming. This had a postive implication in that handicapped chidren were included and encouregaed to particpate in regualr classrooms hence the period of integration dawned. This was a remarkable achievement and the Act pertaining to education for the handicapped was amended to include six new critical elements in fostering special education. These elements were: parental participation in the special education process, legititmate process to enforece accountability, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to formulate a custom program for each student, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) that allowed the disabled children in regular classrooms as much as possible, A program to find and assess disabled children in a fair manner, free and approp rioate public education (FAPE) for all children. In the 20th century the law regarding special education (IDEA) Individuals with DisabilitiesShow MoreRelatedMainstreaming Special Needs Children1627 Words   |  7 PagesThe Positive Advantages to Mainstreaming Special Needs Children In an ideal world all children would be born without disabilities. This idea is not possible though and sometimes children are born with special needs. The child could have only one disability or several. 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Most children that have physical disabilities, learning difficulties, orRead MoreEssay on Special Education Becoming Less Special?1212 Words   |  5 Pages it is just Toby, the special needs child. This class encounters outbursts like this from Toby nearly everyday. The mainstreaming of special education students is the main reason behind these disruptions. Some of these pupils spend up to 80 percent of their day in a standard classroom setting. Inclusion of disabled students into a customary classroom has become a growing trend in many public schools throughout America in the past few decades. Because of this, mainstreaming is affecting the studentsRead MoreMainstreaming : The Pros And Cons Of Inclusion Based Education1452 Words   |  6 PagesMainstreaming: The Pros and Cons of Inclusion-Based Education Picture this: a special education student is placed into a general education classroom because of a new bill the district has passed recently. They are forced to adapt to the new, more arduous curriculum that they have never been exposed to before. They have to make new friends, new study habits, new choices. Would you want your child’s education to be jeopardized because a set of impractical politicians think they know what is bestRead MoreEducating Students With Children With Disabilities969 Words   |  4 PagesMainstreaming in Education â€Å"We must understand that inclusion is first and foremost a philosophy. It is a mindset and a belief that everyone has value and something to contribute. It is a willingness to see the ability in everyone and match skill with challenge. It is an understanding that what our programs really provide at their heart is the opportunity to build relationships, learn who we are, and develop skills†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Friedman, 2014) Mainstreaming, one of the most controversial topics in the education

Analysing Willfred Owens Dulce Et Decorum Est. - 1377 Words

Analysing Willfred Owens Dulce Et Decorum Est. ‘Dulce ET Decorum Est’ is an anti-war poem, which emphasizes the intensity of war. The meaning of the ironic title roughly translated into ‘it is good and honourable’ but is not fully established until you examine the poem. The full title ‘Dulce ET Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori’ means ‘it is good and honourable to die for your country’. However the main aspect of this poem is paradoxical to its title. This demonstrates the message Wilfred Owen’s is insinuating and his attitude towards war. The poem is regarding Wilfred Owen and his troop of exhausted soldiers making their way back to base after combat at the front line until a gas shell is fired at them. A soldier is fatally†¦show more content†¦When the protection of the soldiers’ lives had been compromised, it was every man for himself. The persistent dangers the troop were in never rested, like a sleepless monster permanently looming over them ready to strike at any time. The psychological image that appears is of a huge rush to do something so simple as to live on. The form of the poem also manages to reflect Owens feelings of hatred and disgust at the war. There are three stanzas, three separate parts of the tale, all with their individual tones. The first uses the attitude of defeat, â€Å"Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs.† The second uses a hasty tone, â€Å"Gas! GAS! Quick boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling.† The third and final stanza is bitter, â€Å"Of vile incurable sores on innocent tongues.† This has the effect of taking the reader through different emotions the writer was feeling while writing the poem, a roller coaster ride of susceptibilities and resentfulness. This poem has a regular rhyme scheme, which is highlighted in the next section, â€Å"Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And floundering like a man in fire or lime.† The ABAB rhyme scheme sounds like marching or the steady tattoo of a drum beating, reminding us of the subject of the poem and the consistent hammering of the angry tone. The simplicity of it reminds me of a children’s poem or a nursery rhyme. The pace of the poem

Influence of Role Models on Children Free Essays

A role model is someone looked up to and held in high esteem. They are often emulated and referred to for guidance. Children being very influential can be heavily affected by their role models. We will write a custom essay sample on Influence of Role Models on Children or any similar topic only for you Order Now A role model for a child is someone seen as big and great in their eyes. Whoever the role model may be, children will pick up actions, words and mannerisms from them. It affects them in every way, how they deal with people, their dress, and vocabulary and how they aspire to be. Role models can have positive or negative effect on children depending upon the role model and others’ definition of what is good and what isn’t. * Where do children get their role models from? Depending upon the environment, personality of and upbringing of the child, their role models can differ greatly. Some children’s role models are pop singers and actors, they are often ones that are popular in media culture and invariably the children’s friends would have had an additional effect in affirming the role models. Some role models are noble, in that they are healthy to be role models for the child; uch noble role models include parents, family members, people who do a lot of charity work or work with animals and people who help communities. These role models are formed from knowledge about them, from the child’s environment or from hearing stories about them from others. Children learn from their environment and are well-known to be like sponges that soak up all what they see and hear. How role models affect children Vocabulary Some negative role models that often swear or use derogatory words can affect the children who take them as role models by influencing them to start swearing and use ad language or curse words. Alternatively positive role models can help in teaching children to be polite in speech. Dress Children can seek to copy the fashion of their role models; this is usually the case for role models obtained from the media, cartoons, TV presenters, movies or pop singers. These role models are also affirmed by other children at school, often making it fashionable and cool to be like a certain singer. This can cause children to dress inappropriately for their age and cause temper tantrums. Again it does depend who he role model is, therefore it could be a positive change or modest way of dress which does not seek to harm the child in anyway. Behaviour Popular role models popularized by the media today such as various pop singers do not always have the best of ethics or values that parents wish their children to have. A child can start to emulate the behaviour and attitude of the role model influencing what the child does and if they get into trouble or not. On the other hand, if the role model is one which parents consider positive, this can have positive effects on raising he child with good mannerisms and encouraging them to do well. Role models can greatly affect children from their dress, way of thinking, speech and behavior. A role model can have a positive or negative effect upon the child. Popular role models taken by many children today are often those publicized by the media such as various pop singers, sports stars or actors. Children can be deeply influenced by role models, so it is important that parents try to otter positive role models which will benefit their children in all ways possible. How to cite Influence of Role Models on Children, Papers

Analyzing of Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet free essay sample

One character seen guiding them in most of these scenes is Friar Laurence. He is a very important character that helps many other characters out with their problems. Even though he is a Friar, his main role in the play is acting as a mentor for Romeo and Juliet. He is favored by all the other characters as a holy man. He is also well liked by the audience because secretly helps Romeo and Juliet when their parents won’t even pay attention to them. Friar Laurence has two main roles in the play. One is serving as the holy man of Verona. He is viewed as a holy man by most characters in the play. For Romeo and Juliet however, he is viewed as a mentor and someone they can trust and go to for help. â€Å"So smile the heavens upon this holy act of that after-hours with sorrow chide us not. We will write a custom essay sample on Analyzing of Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page †(II. iv. 1-2) This is the only time that Friar Laurence is really seen doing something holy. Most of the rest of the scenes he is in just show him giving Romeo and Juliet advice and finding ways for them to be together, like when he gives Juliet the sleeping potion. Friar Laurence serves as the backbone of the book in a sense. His plans are very well-planned and have good intention. They are the gears that turn the ill-fated tragedy of the play which is the death of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare intended Friar Laurence’s main purpose to be the person who translates Romeo and Juliet‘s fate from the stars, to them. One of the most obvious examples of this is when Romeo kills himself. The friar comes into the tomb about five minutes after. â€Å" Romeo! O, Pale! Who else? What, Paris too? And steeped in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour is guilty of this lamentable chance! †(V. iii. 149-151) If he only came in a little bit earlier, he could have told Romeo that Juliet is not dead. He also could have saved Juliet if he had not left her alone in the tomb. These are two examples of how Friar Laurence delivers Romeo and Juliet’s fate. Shakespeare created Friar Laurence mainly to just deliver Romeo and Juliet’s fate and act as the stars in the book. Romeo and Juliet would be a very different play without Friar Laurence. At first, he seems like a minor character. However, once you look back on the book when you have finished it, you realize Friar Laurence was the foundation of the book, causing many of the important and life changing events that Romeo and Juliet had to face. If there was no Friar Laurence, there would almost be no fate since he is the character delivers Romeo and Juliet to their fate, â€Å" I met the youthful lord at Laurence’s cell, and gave him what becomed love I might not stopping o’er the bounds of modesty. †(IV. ii. 6-28) If Friar Laurence had not been around to help Juliet and give her the sleeping potion, Juliet could have been serious about marrying Paris. Luckily, the Friar was there. The play would most likely be very boring without Friar Laurence because there would be no character that helps Romeo and Juliet with there problems and helps them make decisions on their life changing events. After reading Romeo and Juliet I found there is more than meet s the eye, especially on Friar Laurence’s part. He seems deceiving in the way that he is a Friar, but does things for Romeo and Juliet against their parents’ will. This makes it seem almost like he is doing something illegal. He helps them through the play, but ends up being a main factor in each of their suicides. Shakespeare definitely created the Friar as someone Romeo and Juliet could go to for help and advice, and as someone that can deliver to them their fate. To sum everything up, Friar Laurence both helped, and destroyed Romeo and Juliet. He helped them by marrying them and giving Juliet the sleeping potion, but all of this ultimately lead to their suicides in the Capulet’s tomb at the end of the book.