Objectives and competences
- Acquaintance with basic theoretical perspectives within the Culture of Consumption;
- acquaintance with empirical research and research methods on the field of Social Studies of Consumption;
- understanding the role of consumption in the contemporary society and life of individuals.
- ability of critical thinking and opinion formation regarding the questions of consumer behaviour
Content (Syllabus outline)
Theoretical perspectives in dealing with consumer society and consumer behaviour
Relations between production and consumption.
Relations between economy and culture.
Relations between human needs and social structures.
Relations between freedom of choice and the power of commercial systems.
Construction of individual's identity through consumer practices.
Media and advertising.
Basic principles of consumer behaviour in areas such as tourism, eating habits, body cultivation with the use of cosmetics, fashion clothing and body practices.
Relations between individual's social position and his consumer behaviour.
Learning and teaching methods
• Lectures, seminars, individual work, cooperative learning, project work, reflexive teaching/learning.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and Understanding:
- Student is acquainted with basic theoretical perspectives within the Social Studies of consumption;
- student understands the role of consumption in the contemporary society and life of individuals;
- student is acquainted with most influential and up-to-date research on the field of culture of consumption.
- The role of consumer ethics in the relationship between the contemporary global society and the environment.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Transferable/Key Skills and other attributes:
- Capability of individual searching and use of different sources, collecting information by using sociological methods, representing the findings by using different technologies, critical analysis of read sources, cooperation in groups, written and oral skills.
- Ability to comprehend the patterns and causes of the problems regarding the relationships between human societies.
- Students are able to think autonomously in a sociological manner about the different views regarding the relationships in the contemporary global society.
Readings
Obvezna:
Corrigan, P. (1997), The Sociology of Consumption, London: Sage Publications.
Campbell, C. (2001): Romantična etika in duh sodobnega porabništva. Ljubljana: Studia Humanitatis.
Hahn, Hans Peter (ur.). 2015: Vom Eigensinn der Dinge: Für eine neue Perspektive auf die Welt des Materiellen. Berlin: Neofelis Verlag.
Baudrillard, J. (2017): The Consumer Society. Myths and Structures. London: Sage Publications.
Dodatna:
Krotz, F. (2001): Die Mediatisierung kommunikativen Handelns. Der Wandel von Alltag und sozialen Beziehungen, Kultur und Gesellschaft durch die Medien. Wiesbaden: Westdeutscher Verlag.
Lury, C. (1996): Consumer culture. London: Routledge.
Ritzer, G. (2001): Explorations in the Sociology of Consumption: Fast Food, Credit Cards and Casinos. London: Sage Publications.
Willems, Herbert (Hrsg.) (2002): Die Gesellschaft der Werbung. Kontexte und Texte. Produktionen und Rezeptionen. Entwicklungen und Perspektiven. Wiesbaden: Westdeutscher Verlag.
