SAN266 Anthropology of Consumption and Consumer Society

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 9 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zuzana Sekeráková Búriková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Klára Reimerová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 14:00–15:40 U35
Prerequisites
Ability to study in English. Students are supposed to read academic texts, participate at discussion and write essays and tests in English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 524 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course anthropology of consumption and consumer society maps the role of society in current society and introduces students to anthropolotical studies of consumption. Its aim is to introduce students to main themes and theories in anthropology of consumption. The first part of the course focuses on main theoretical traditions in anthropology of consumption and looks at consumption in relation to cultural differencies, commodification and political economy. The second part follows themes and concepts important for anthropological studies of consumption and lookes at consumption and identities, consumption and/as ritual, and consumption as practice. Third part looks at consumption of material and imaterial objects. The course extends the knowledge students gained at the courses on political and economic anthropology, and material culture
Learning outcomes
After the couse students will be able:
- to addopt anthropological approach to study of consumption
- to recognise and describe key themes of anthropology of consumption
- to understand development of thinking on this theme
Syllabus
  • 1. introduction: what is consumption and consumer society
  • 2. Consumption and cultural diferences: Commodification and authenticity
  • 3. Consumption and political economy
  • 4. Spaces and practices of consumption
  • 5. Consumption and identities
  • 6. Consumption and relations
  • 7. Consumption and rituals
  • 8. Home, house and household
  • 9. Clothes and fashion
  • 10. COnsumption of imaterial goods (services, time, experiences)
  • 11. Consumption as ethical activity, alternative modes of consumption
Literature
  • Acknowledging consumption : a review of new studies. Edited by Daniel Miller. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1995, vii, 341. ISBN 0415106893. info
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, group projects, reading
Assessment methods
test, oral presentation, essay
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2018, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2019/SAN266