Consumer Culture

Question 1

Definition of Consume (how it used to be, and how it is now: give example)

Answer 1

Used to be:
- negative connotation: „to do away with completely“
Now:
- positive connotation: „enjoy avidly“/„utilize as customer“

Question 3

Words connoted with one who consumers
(NEG vs POS)

Answer 3

NEG: destructive, wasteful, uses things up, eats and drinks in great quantity
POS: avidly enjoys, fully engaged

Question 4

Definition of CONSUMPTION

Answer 4

The utilization of economic goods in the satisfaction of wants or in the process of production resulting chiefly in their destruction, deterioration, or transformation.

Question 5

Why study consumers and their consumption?

Answer 5

Consumerism might be core of our society

Question 6

Definition of CONSUMERISM
1. belief and theory

Answer 6

1. The belief that it is good for people to spend a lot of money on goods and services
   -> The theory that increasing consumption of goods is economically (and socially) desirable

Question 7

Definition of CONSUMERISM
2. actions and preoccupation

Answer 7

2. The actions of people who spend a lot of money on goods and services
   -> A preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods

Question 9

What does consumption have to do with social bonding

Answer 9

It is nowadays a significant way of social bonding and often socialising is bound to consumption

Question 10

Definition Culture

Answer 10

A culture can be understood as a pattern of beliefs, values, meanings and customs shared by a groups of people, often existing at an implicit or taken-for-granted level

Question 11

general Definition Consumer Culture

Answer 11

Consumer culture suggests that consumption - the act of buying goods or services - is a cultural activity, one imbued with meaning and driven not just by practical or economic factors

Question 12

Academic Definiton of Consumer Culture

Answer 12

Consumers as part of an interconnected system of commercially produced products and images which they use to construct their identity and orient their relationships with others

Question 13

Interconnected system:
Our society is built around…

Answer 13

Commercially produced products and its consumption

Question 14

Definition Consumer economy

Answer 14

An economy driven by consumer spending as opposed to other major components of GDP

Question 15

Definition GDP

Answer 15

Gross private domestic investment, government spending and imports netted against exports

Question 16

Definition Commercial products
2 parts

Answer 16

1. Things produced for exchange within a capitalist market
   - produced and distributed in large quantities
   - intended for or appeal to a large audience
2. Things you pay money for in marketplace
   - have profit as a chief aim

Question 17

Consumption of products has always existed - what is new?

Answer 17

A culture centered around consumption

Question 18

With commercial products - no relation with producer
SO: …..replaces… found in less …. Markets (….)

Answer 18

Anonymity replaces social ties found in less developed markets (subsistence markets)

Question 19

…. Offer differentiation and freedom of choice

Answer 19

Commercial products

Question 20

Explain the disintegration of social bonds caused by commercial products and consumerism (2 parts)

Answer 20

1. commodification : treat everything as interchangeable
   -> push for even cheaper prices despite social cost
2. Turning relationships into financial transactions
   -> paying for „services“ that were rendered within relationships in the past

Question 21

Second Academic Definition of Consumer Culture

Answer 21

Consumer culture is a „social arrangement in which the relations between lived cultural experience of everyday life and social resources, between meaningful valued ways of life and the symbolic and material resources on which they depend, are mediated through markets

E.g. social arrangement (this brand is cooler than other) - will get more of less social resources

Question 22

Consumptionion is a lifestyle in what sense

Answer 22

It’s a lifestyle built around a product

Question 23

What does it mean to have a lifestyle built around a product

Answer 23

Idea and practice of paying for a value proposition is second nature
-> intuitive understanding that value proposition is a value worth purchasing (e.g. bottled water)

Question 24

Having a lifestyle built around a product means members have “embedded” products and their value proposition into their lives.

name three ways of doing so

Answer 24

1. Adapting behaviours and habits of thinking
2. Reprioritizing routines and budgets
3. Adjusting relationships to other products and objects that make up their environment

Question 25

Give a definition describing the relationship between the consumer culture and the economy and then describe that definition in your own words

Answer 25

Consumer culture denote an economy in which *value* has been divorced from the *material satisfaction* of wants and the *sign value* of goods takes precedence -> value is related to: Creating identity rather than actual material value

Question 26

Give a simple explanation for the relationship between the consumer culture and the economy and then give an example

Answer 26

Consumption to **create** and maintain and **identity** E.g. dont want Nike shirt to keep cool, but to be cool

Question 27

Give a simple definition of consumer culture

Answer 27

Consumer culture can be defined as a *culture* where *social status, values, and activities* are centered on the *consumption* of goods and services.

Question 28

In a consumer culture, a large part of what you…

Answer 28

What you **do**, what you **value** and how you are **defined** revolves around your **consumption** of commercial products and services

Question 29

In a consumer culture, the economy is focused on…

Answer 29

The selling of consumer goods and the spending of consumer money

Question 30

consumer confidence is an economic indicator, that denotes…

Answer 30

how much people are consuming

Question 31

In a consumermer culture, there is emphasis on…

Answer 31

**lifestyle** and using material **goods** to attain **happiness and satisfaction**

Question 32

In a consumer culture, shopping is seen as…

Answer 32

Leisure and Entertainment : shopping as a dopamine hit

Question 33

which two motives drive the rapid turn-over in goods and services, and thus drive trends and fads

Answer 33

1. **predispositions** toward (Safe to copy others, need to fit in) - social emulation - matching - imitation 2. accompanied by a **penchant for** (need to be special) - differentiation - individuality - distinction

Question 34

trends and fads spread from…

Answer 34

Fashion industry into all parts of social life

Question 35

the dynamics of trends and fads are often thought to have been triggered by…(and name example)g

Answer 35

the **purposeful social engineering** of marketers, advertisers and retailers E.g. planned obsolescence

Question 36

Explain Planned obsolescence

Answer 36

It **wears out** quickly and **cannot** be **repaired** (or too expensive to repair)

Question 37

Give an examplee of planned obsolescence

Answer 37

apple makes it difficult for users to replace batteries (one-of-a-kind screw shape + battery embedded in device) Older Chargers incompatible

Question 38

explain perceived obsolescence

Answer 38

Belief that product is **out of fashion/no longer desirable** - even though it’s still **functional**

Question 39

Give and example for perceived obsolescence

Answer 39

a pair of jeans that is in **good condition** but considered **outdated** if the current fashion **trend** is for a different style