ANTHRO 175Q Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Underconsumption, Maoism, Risk Society
Document Summary
Consumerism and risk society in the content of globalism. Under-consumption in the maoist era: the economic and political drives for a consumer revolution after 1989, consumption as a new means for identity constitution and status definition in chinese society. Consumer protection since the 1990s and its role in rights movement. Communist asceticism and the lifestyle of hard working, plain living . The leveling of consumption needs and purchasing power. The strategy of low consumption and high accumulation. Mass consumption and consumerism in the reform era. The changing meaning of consumption since the 1980s. Consumption and the re-stratification of society in the 1990s, the rising group of private entrepreneurs and professionals. The politics of consumption and its impact on chinese society, fraternization of life aspirations, social discontent due to absolute or relative deprivation increased severity of competition (including negative competition) and the dominance of materialism. Not enough but at least you won"t die.