SOCI201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Conspicuous Consumption

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCI201
• Professor: Best Joel

Document Summary

And we evaluate them, we give prizes, but also look down on them. Ethnocentrism-we assume that the way we"ve learned to evaluate things are universal; our way is the correct way . Many cultures have equated more weight with greater beauty (reubenesque) They wanted to avoid becoming tanned to show that they weren"t poor enough to have to work outdoors. Many artists painted nudes who were pale, not tan. Today, work is more likely to be illuminated by florescent lights, so that being tanned is a way of displaying that you have leisure. This makes tan lines sexy and leads to faking tans. Conspicuous consumption-lavish expenditures in order to demonstrate your own wealth and your own importance (ex. People start to engage in conspicuous consumption that alter their bodies. Early america"s respect for age/wisdom-powdered wigs and high waistlines made men look old, wise. Medical modifications (braces, working out, breast reduction, diets)