SOC317H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Gilded Age, Conspicuous Consumption, Reference Group
Document Summary
Many of us feel that buying our first car is fundamental to our identity. (cid:862)there(cid:859)s (cid:374)o (cid:272)e(cid:374)tral authorit(cid:455) telli(cid:374)g us to shop(cid:863) We do(cid:374)(cid:859)t just shop for (cid:374)e(cid:272)essities, (cid:271)ut also for thi(cid:374)gs (cid:449)e (cid:449)a(cid:374)t: somethings things we think are weird/uncool/luxurious in the past, become necessities over time, unconscious/semi-conscious way. It(cid:859)s ofte(cid:374) (cid:449)he(cid:374) thi(cid:374)gs go (cid:449)ro(cid:374)g or (cid:449)he(cid:374) (cid:272)o(cid:374)su(cid:373)er (cid:272)ulture (cid:271)e(cid:272)o(cid:373)es too much is when we become critical of it. Sociological information connects private troubles to larger public issues (c. wright mills). Helps us to fi(cid:374)d (cid:862)the stra(cid:374)ge i(cid:374) the fa(cid:373)iliar(cid:863) (cid:894)p. berger(cid:895) O(cid:272)iologi(cid:272)al i(cid:373)agi(cid:374)atio(cid:374) does(cid:374)(cid:859)t de(cid:374)(cid:455) hu(cid:373)a(cid:374) (cid:272)hoi(cid:272)e; sheds light o(cid:374) how choices are socially shaped and limited: recognize our agency in consumer culture, but also the structural constraints on our agency. (cid:862)a histori(cid:272)al t(cid:455)pe of so(cid:272)iet(cid:455) i(cid:374) (cid:449)hi(cid:272)h the satisfa(cid:272)tio(cid:374) of dail(cid:455) (cid:374)eed is accomplished through the acquisition and use of commodities; goods (cid:449)hi(cid:272)h are produ(cid:272)ed for e(cid:454)(cid:272)ha(cid:374)ge a(cid:374)d are o(cid:374) sale o(cid:374) the (cid:373)arket(cid:863)
