The Making of the Consumer: Knowledge, Power and Identity in the Modern World

Description

We constantly hear about 'the consumer'. The 'consumer' has become a ubiquitous person in public discourse and academic research, but who is this person? The Making of the Consumer is the first interdisciplinary study that follows the evolution of the consumer in the modern world, ranging from imperial Britain to contemporary Papua New Guinea, and from the European Union to China. It makes a novel contribution by broadening the study of consumption from one focused on goods and symbols to one considering the changing role and identity of consumers. Offering a historically informed picture of the rise of the consumer to its current prominence, authors discuss the consumer in relation to citizenship and ethics, law and economics, media, work and retailing. Contributors include: Donald Winch (University of Sussex) Frank Trentmann (Birkbeck College, University of London) Vanessa Taylor (Birkbeck College, University of London) Marie-Emmanuelle Chessel (CNRS: Centre de Recherches Historiques, cole des Hautes tudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris) Michelle Everson (Birkbeck College, University of London) Erika Rappaport (University of California, Santa Barbara) Uwe Spiekermann (Georg-August University, Gttingen) Jos Gamble (Royal Holloway University) Stephen Kline (Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada) Frank Mort (University of Manchester) Ina Merkel (Philipps-Universitt, Marburg, Germany) James Carrier (Indiana University and Oxford Brookes University) Ben Fine (SOAS: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London)

Frank Trentmann is Professor of Modern History at Birkbeck College, London, and Director of the Cultures of Consumption Research Programme (ESRC-AHRC).

'At a time when it has become commonplace to accept "the consumer" as a timeless and neutral concept, it is vital to question just when, where and how this particular figure appeared. An exciting and important collection that leads consumption studies forward into new territory, this book offers highly relevant and engaged social science which will have a broad appeal.' Professor Richard Wilk, Gender Studies and Anthropology, Indiana University, USA 'Epitomizes the maturity reached by consumer studies. Framed by a far-reaching introduction, the wide-ranging and original essays develop a much-needed genealogical approach to the development of the consumer as a contested social figure embedded both in everyday life and in commercial and public knowledge.' Dr. Roberta Sassatelli, Department of Communication Studies, University of Bologna, Italy 'This bracing collection arrives at a crucial moment in the development of consumption studies. It demonstrates the benefits and tensions that arise when social scientists enter into dialogue with historians over the nature of the field and its future directions. For those of us who have tended to view the world of the consumer through a "culturalist" lens, the arising debates are revelatory and should inspire much interesting new work.' Professor Christopher Breward, Research Department, Victoria Albert Museum, London, UK