CSCT 1CS3 Lecture Notes - 4Motion, Consumerism, Asceticism

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Cultural Studies and Critical Theory
• Course: CSCT 1CS3
• Professor: Helene Strauss

Document Summary

Feb 1st/2011: foundational myth of consumer culture. Commodities: objects & services produced for consumption or exchange by someone other than their producers (pc 154: consumption is about more than exchange. The cultural & social dynamics extend way longer than the exchange. Not only increase in wages (to stimulate consumption of goods) Also required a shift in values (to stimulate consumption of goods) From saving to shopping: max weber: from protestant asceticism to materialism, self-denial & guilt to self realization & indulgence. James twitchell: the culture of consumption replaced the culture of contrition (qtd. in. O"brien and szeman 155): government and manufacturers worked together to promote economy and culture of consumerism, new spaces of consumption, au bon marche, paris 1852 (invention of department store) Goal was to create a whole new shopping experience ( customer service, personalized experience, allowed people to browse, socialize [meet w/ friends], form of entertainment: wal-mart, west edmonton mall.