The World of Consumption: The Material and Cultural Revisited

by Ben Fine

In the opinion of many people the last decade saw the arrival of the `consumer society'. However, the response of social theory to consumerism has been barely appropriate to the scale of the changes. As an antidote to this, the authors propose the adoption of a new, more inclusive theoretical approach, based on "systems of provision". This emphasises different forms of determination for different products. It also emphasises the essential continuity between the various aspects of production, distribution, marketing, advertising and sales.

Genres: Economics, Philosophy

384 pages, Hardcover

First published December 16, 1993

Reviews

[unperspicacious]

GR has listed this down as one book instead of two different editions; both are for the most part different works altogether (though their underlying thrust is the same). They are ten years apart (1993, 2002) and some of the conceptual and empirical focus has shifted since. Neither book can really be read alone. Both are devoted to a search for a Grand Unifying Theory of Social Science with re: to the political economy of consumption aka the 'systems of provision' approach. The writing is clearly pitched at a very advanced audience; not just those familiar with marxist political economy but also historians, cultural theorists, psychologists, economists, anthropologists, sociologists and so forth. Either Ben Fine is a genius from another planet...or I am just thick...or both....or neither. Maybe things will make more sense in a couple more years' time. Maybe.