 Consumer cultureTerhi-Anna Wilska Chapter 3 in Research Handbook on the Sociology of Consumption, 2026, pp 46-59 from Edward Elgar Publishing Abstract: This chapter examines how consumer culture is conceptualized and implemented across different settings in the sociology of consumption. It also integrates insights from sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, and marketing to show how consumption practices both influence and are influenced by social dynamics, power structures, and globalization. The chapter starts with a historical overview of consumer culture, tracing its development from pre-industrial times to the present. Prominent theorists discuss the ties between consumer culture and social status or hierarchies as well as how consumption shapes identities and acts as a means of self-expression. The chapter also examines the impact of globalization, including the standardization of consumer culture and the fusion of local and global elements. The influence of digitalization and social media on modern consumer identities, especially among young people, is also explored. Lastly, the chapter addresses sustainability and ethical issues within consumer culture, emphasizing the need for a critical understanding of these evolving dynamics in today's world. Keywords: Consumer culture; Consumer history; Theory of consumption; Consumer identity; Globalization of consumption; Digitalization of consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:22245_3 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing |
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