Consumer society

Topics

The rise of consumer society.
Why and what do we consume?
The creation of debt — social and political implications.
Consumerism as a “first world problem”?
Consumerism in developing societies.

Read

Belk, "Possessions and the Extended Self," 1988

Belk – 1988 – Possessions and the extended self

Calder, “Credit, Consumer Culture and the American Dream,” 1999

Calder-1999-Introduction-Credit-Consumer-Culture-and-the-Am

Watch

Aljazeera, China's rich girls

Listen

Activities

Brand-name quiz

Do you know what brands these products are?