Discuss the Role of the Concepts of the Seduced and the Repressed for Understanding the Place of Consumption in Contemporary Consumer Society + Essay Plan
1. Short introduction to the essay.
2. Definition of consumption. a) Historical background
3. Definition of concept of seduced and repressed society.
4. Place of consumption in contemporary consumer society.
5. Examples how both seduced and repressed lives interlink with consumption.
6. Different motives for shopping. a) Everyday shopping for essentials b) Non-essential shopping: i) Luxurious or upgraded products, like expensive food ii) Luxurious goods and services like holidays, boats, and private jets.
7. Concepts of lifestyle and status.
8. Conspicuous consumption and how it relates to people’s lives and vice versa.
9. It’s not what it looks like: different approaches to consumption among individuals
10. Strengths and weaknesses of Bauman’s model.
11. How exactly does Bauman’s model help to understand consumption?
12. Limitations of Bauman’s theory. a) What can be done differently? b) Are any other theories helpful to make this analysis complete?
13. Summary.
Ever since people discovered trade and moved away from self-sufficient model of household, consumption was taking place. Starting as a barter economy of exchanged goods, it changed through years to consumption that no longer concerns only bare necessities of life.
Consumption in its simplest meaning is process of obtaining, in most cases by purchasing, products or services. However, the whole process of consumption concerns stage of choosing which product and where to purchase as well as the usage of the product/service like wearing an item on clothing.
Since consumption process varies from being essential to provide us with means to live to spectacular shopping sprees of the rich and famous, sociologist were investigating the subject with great interest. There are many theories offering explanations of why and how consumption works for individuals.
One of those theories is concept of Zygmunt Bauman. His model of the seduced and the repressed divides the society into two
2. Definition of consumption. a) Historical background
3. Definition of concept of seduced and repressed society.
4. Place of consumption in contemporary consumer society.
5. Examples how both seduced and repressed lives interlink with consumption.
6. Different motives for shopping. a) Everyday shopping for essentials b) Non-essential shopping: i) Luxurious or upgraded products, like expensive food ii) Luxurious goods and services like holidays, boats, and private jets.
7. Concepts of lifestyle and status.
8. Conspicuous consumption and how it relates to people’s lives and vice versa.
9. It’s not what it looks like: different approaches to consumption among individuals
10. Strengths and weaknesses of Bauman’s model.
11. How exactly does Bauman’s model help to understand consumption?
12. Limitations of Bauman’s theory. a) What can be done differently? b) Are any other theories helpful to make this analysis complete?
13. Summary.
Ever since people discovered trade and moved away from self-sufficient model of household, consumption was taking place. Starting as a barter economy of exchanged goods, it changed through years to consumption that no longer concerns only bare necessities of life.
Consumption in its simplest meaning is process of obtaining, in most cases by purchasing, products or services. However, the whole process of consumption concerns stage of choosing which product and where to purchase as well as the usage of the product/service like wearing an item on clothing.
Since consumption process varies from being essential to provide us with means to live to spectacular shopping sprees of the rich and famous, sociologist were investigating the subject with great interest. There are many theories offering explanations of why and how consumption works for individuals.
One of those theories is concept of Zygmunt Bauman. His model of the seduced and the repressed divides the society into two
Bibliography: Allen, J., 2009. One-stop shopping: The power of supermarkets. In Taylor, S., Hinchliffe, S., Clarke, J., Bromley, S., Introducing the social sciences. Making Material Lives. Milton Keynes: The Open University Brown, V., 2009. Rubbish society: affluence, waste and values. In Taylor, S., Hinchliffe, S., Clarke, J., Bromley, S., Introducing the social sciences. Making Material Lives. Milton Keynes: The Open University Hetherington, K., 2009. Consumer society? Shopping, consumption and social science. In Taylor, S., Hinchliffe, S., Clarke, J., Bromley, S., Introducing the social sciences. Making Material Lives. Milton Keynes: The Open University Hinchliffe, S., 2009. Introduction: Material lives. In Taylor, S., Hinchliffe, S., Clarke, J., Bromley, S., Introducing the social sciences. Making Material Lives. Milton Keynes: The Open University Staples, M., Meegan, J., Jeffries, E., Bromley, S., 2009. Introducing the social sciences. Learning Companion 2. Milton Keynes: The Open University.