95729 - CONSUMER CULTURE (1) (LM)

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

At the end of the course students acquire a critical understanding of the historical development of consumer capitalism, the fundamental elements of contemporary sociological theories of consumer action and the main issues related to the politics of consumer culture. They are able to consider how theories work in practice, by addressing key contemporary empirical phenomena in the sphere of consumption, with particular attention to social boundaries and social identities, commercial institutions and the new challenges posed by environmental issues and the process of globalization/localization.

Contenuti

This unit aims at providing a theoretically informed sociological understanding of contemporary consumer cultures and practices. While adopting an interdisciplinary outlook, it mainly deals with the sociology of consumption, concentrating on contemporary social phenomena of global relevance. The unit starts by discussing the historical development of so-called consumer capitalism, highlighting the relevance of urbanization, colonialism, changes in social stratification (class, gender) and international commerce. It then focuses on the most important theories of consumer action, considering how economics, sociology and anthropology have provided several distinctive perspectives on the functions, meanings, and mechanisms of consumption. It finally considers the politics of consumer culture: it thus addresses cultural industries as a vehicle for hegemonic views of the “consumer”; commercially mediated spaces as institutional contexts for a variety of dominant or alternative consumer practices and identities with particular attention to gender identities; and the process of globalization/localization as realized through the global standardization of commodity chains and alternative, locally grounded market circuits.

Attending students will be asked to participate in seminars to present and discuss the reading material on sustainable consumption which will be available from the start of course. 

 

Testi/Bibliografia

Attending students will study carefully  the following text in its entirety:

Sassatelli, R. (2007) Consumer Culture, Sage.

Plus, they will also actively participate in seminars about Consumption and Sustainability. A broad reading list will be provided at the start of the course and the students are requested to organize group presentations in class and carefully study at least three of the articles and chapters suggested.

Attending students are required to take the exam by the summer session 2025. 

Useful reading to complement the exam material (not to be studied) is:

Bali Swain, R. and Sweet, S. (2021a) Sustainable Consumption and Production,  Challanges and Develpment, Volume I, Palgrave (open access)

Bali Swain, R. and Sweet, S. (2021b) Sustainable Consumption and Production. Circular Economy and Beyond, Volume II, Palgrave (open access)

Bazela, M. (2011) Sustainable Consumption. Towards a new economic humanism, IF Press, Morolo.

Ekstrom, K.M. and Glans (2011) Beyond the Consumption Bubble, Routledge, London. 

Hansen, A. and Bo Nielsen, K. (2023) Consumption, Sustainability and Everyday Life, Palgrave (Open Access).

Middlemiss, L. (2018) Sustainable Consumption. Key Issues, Routledge, London.

Reisch, L. A. and Thøgersen, J. (2015) Handbook of Research on Sustainable Consumption, Elgar, Cheltenham.

 

Also you may find lots of articles on various aspects of consumer culture in the following journals:

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER CULTURE

THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES

CONSUMPTION, MARKETS AND CULTURE

CONSUMPTION AND SOCIETY

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER POLICY

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER RESEARCH

 

Non-attending students will study:

Hochschild, A. R. (1999) The Commercialization of Intimate Life, University of California Press.

Sassatelli, R. (2007) Consumer Culture, Sage.

Sassatelli, R. (ed) (2019) Italians and Food, Palgrave.

Stillerman, J. (2015) The Sociology of Consumption, Polity.

 

The program is valid for AY 2024/25

Metodi didattici

The course will be organized through lectures with the help of Powerpoint. During each lesson, topics for discussion will be proposed to students and active participation will be encouraged. The course will also entail seminar sessions specifically dedicated to students presentation and group discussion of some of the relevant readings to which attending students are required to participate.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Oral exam on the entire program as specified above, both for attending and non-attending students.

Students who participate in the seminars and attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

 

Proper language and the ability to critically speak about the content of the exam material will lead to a good/excellent final grade

Acceptable language and the ability to resume the content of the exam material will lead to a sufficient/fair grade.

Insufficient linguistic proficiency and fragmentary knowledge of the content of the exam material will lead to a failure in passing the exam.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Powerpoint slides.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Roberta Sassatelli