TMA 02: Outline who the Winners and Losers are in Consumer Society
Material needing to be referenced and read:
* Learning Companion 2 * Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of ‘Making Social Lives’ * Assignment Booklet pages 18 to 20 * CD/DVD’s: * Preparing for Assignments – Developing Skills Audio CD * Evidence in the Social Sciences – Audio CD 1 * Rubbish Society – Audio CD 1 * Making connections: economics and politics – Making connections Audio CD * Reflections on Material Lives – Audio CD 1
Specific References:
* Allen, J. (2009) ‘One-stop shopping: the power of supermarkets’ in Taylor, S., Hinchcliffe, S., Clarke, J. and Bromley, S (eds) Making Social Lives, Milton Keynes, The Open University. * Bauman, Z. (1988) Freedom, Milton Keynes, Open University Press. * Susman, W. (2003) Culture as History, Washington, DC, Smithsonian Books. * Veblen, T. (1899) The Theory of the Leisure Class: An Economic Study in the Evolution of Institutions, New York, Macmillan. * Wrong, D. (1997) Power: Its Forms, Bases and Uses, New Brunswick, NJ, and London, Transaction Publishers * Bevan, J. (2006) Trolley Wars: The Battle of the Supermarkets, London, Profile Books. * Rimmer, H. (2009) Friends of the Earth, Online Activity 9, Open University Website
Essay Layout
Introduction:
Explain the definition of Consumer Society and outline what I would like to achieve in this essay.
Paragraph 1:
The ‘seduced’ and the repressed using the example of a Retail Park
Paragraph 2:
Veblen and Sussman – Conspicuous consumption and performing-self
Paragraph 3:
Buying power of Supermarkets and the demise of the small shop
Paragraph 4:
Zero-Sum and Positive-Sum Game.
Conclusion:
Outline what has been discussed and draw a conclusion
Reference:
Ensure correct referencing format is adhered to and make sure that all short references are noted (as long references)
References: Allen, J. (2009) ‘One-stop shopping: the power of supermarkets’ in Taylor, S., Hinchcliffe, S., Clarke, J. and Bromley, S (eds) Making Social Lives, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Bauman, Z. (1988) Freedom, Milton Keynes, Open University Press. Bevan, J. (2006) Trolley Wars: The Battle of the Supermarkets, London, Profile Books. Rimmer, H. (2009) Friends of the Earth, Online Activity 9, Open University Website Susman, W. (2003) Culture as History, Washington, DC, Smithsonian Books. Veblen, T. (1899) The Theory of the Leisure Class: An Economic Study in the Evolution of Institutions, New York, Macmillan. Wrong, D. (1997) Power: Its Forms, Bases and Uses, New Brunswick, NJ, and London, Transaction Publishers Reflection: I found the statistics and quantitative evidence in this part of the module very fascinating. It has made me look at my local Supermarket in a completely different light and my opinions have changed quite dramatically since doing the research. The theories all made sense to me but I actually found it quite repetitive at times which therefore made it a little difficult to elaborate.