This guy is perhaps best known for having said that the Gulf War never happened or having one of his books read by Neo in the first Matrix film. This is only Baudrillard's second book so the complaint doesn't really hold anyway, the book is a good continuation of his first book (The System of Objects) from which he elaborates more specific phenomena and when it comes to taking ideas from other people, he mentions an overwhelming. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. the general premise of the book is clear: we're surrounded by objects and our relation to them, rather than being surrounded by other humans. April 14th 1998 mainly because he has given his general idea in the first chapter, causi. It often feels like a lot of pretentious babbling with no real applicational use in real life. This is only Baudrillard's second book so the complaint doesn't really hold anyway, the book is a good continuation of his first book (The System of Objects) from which he elaborates more specific phenomena and when it comes to taking ideas from other people, he mentions an overwhelming number of other authors and theorists, it is certainly not plagiarization, but rather interpretation of those authors. At a time when others were fixated with the production process, Baudrillard could be found making the case that co. To see what your friends thought of this book, The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures. Despite its considerably lower popularity among Baudrillard's works, Consumer Society is incredibly insightful in revealing the inner mechanisms of the current cultures and societies we live in. Jean Baudrillard's book The Consumer Society is a masterful contribution to contemporary sociology. The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures. Tricky, over-poetical and pretty obscure, still it has some undeniable moments of bright irony and lucid consciusness. If anything that is a positive because it is interesting seeing the influences that shaped early Baudrillard. However, seeing the evolution of his ideas as they come to fruition gives you insight into his thought processes. 0 Reviews. don't worry, I didn't read the original version, the French version. His work is frequently associated with postmodernism and post-structuralism. In particular, concepts of simulation and the simulacrum receive their earliest systematic treatment. Baudrillard analyses our contemporary Western societies, including that of the United States. Here is an early work by a scholar who has come to be thought of by many as the First, let me confess that this is the first philosophy book I've finished, and that this is my first Baudrillard. Many of the themes that would later make Baudrillard famous are sketched out here for the first time. He demonstrates how consumption is related to the goal of economic growth and he maps out a social theory of consumption. And it is anything but. A Summary of The Consumer Society Myths and Structures written by French sociologist, philosopher, cultural theorist, political commentator and photographer Jean Baudrillard in 1970. by Sage Publications Ltd. I've seen this mention as some people's least favourite book by Baudrillard with the explanation that it is not very original. This is also the case with pop, and its smile ultimately encapsulates all its ambiguity: it is not the smile of critical distance, but the smile of collusion”, “You have to try everything, for consumerist man is haunted by the fear of 'missing' something, some form of enjoyment or other. The book attempts at diagnosing the problems with the consumer culture, and does not provide many solutions--if a book like this should. the general premise of the book is clear: we're surrounded by objects and our relation to them, rather than being surrounded by other humans. I seem to have understood most of it, but in an unsatisfactory way. Though this book did not change my view on philosophical babbling, it has some really interesting concepts that are worth analyzing in more detail. I was expecting it to be, well, you know, a bit nutty. Introduction is well written too and orientated me into a better approach to reading the main text. : Jean Baudrillard. The book is dense however, if you don't take time to read it properly a lot of it will go over your head. SAGE, Dec 13, 2016 - Business & Economics - 240 pages. i also am using videos to explain this book, because i didn't follow everything very carefully. It certainly has its place in the tradition which includes Durkheim's The Division of Labour in Society, Veblen's Theory of the Leisure Class and David Riesman's The Lonely Crowd. God forbid. I’ve finished the bit of that book I wanted to read too – and will probably review it soon as well. After its publishing in 1970, the ideas outlined by Baudrillard are surprisingly (or unsurprisingly?) Philosophy, for me, is always problematic, mainly because I feel as if many ideas and concepts are nothing I can connect to. I'd stick with Derrida. Sokal puts it quite nicely: des impostures intellectuelles. Choreographic Investigation of the Cha Cha. His chapter about systems of objects and the philosophies that dictate our social interactions was impeccable. Refresh and try again. Partly read, partly browsed through — potential reference to my phd thesis. He bounds his ideas in then-current theory, his tendency to turn theory upon itself is not yet a major element of his style. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published i skipped some parts, because baudrillard tends to repeat himself. By Amelia O'Dubhain 2009 Baudrillard’s book The Consumer Society analyses our contemporary Western societies’ focusing on the consumption of objects. Of course, Baudrillard continues to flesh out these ideas, culminating in his later works that focus more on the impacts of the pervasive impact of the consumer society on media and culture, while this book talks more about the material. At a time when others were fixated with the production process, Baudrillard could be found making the case that consumption is now the axis of culture. I used this book for my college paper....cool...inspiring....I owe a lot from this book...can you imagine..late Baudrillard spoke of credit card in his work published in 1970...wow...when you read Baudrillard's pieces you have to take sides..go with him or stand against him...nothing in between!! The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures. i skipped some parts, because baudrillard tends to repeat himself. For Baudrillard, "consumption" does not merely designate the aggregate consumption of material goods, but also society's self-represention of consumption, namely, the myth of consumption and affluence. He's dense and referential and it doesn't seem like he's going anywhere most of the time. Welcome back. Jean Baudrillard's classic text … the book then uses this premise to look at the world and basically deconstruct the hidden meaning of our day to day lives. Even if he is not 100% original, Baudrillard's interpretations are still valuable and not just because they come with rants about commercials, media, culture etc. It is no longer desire, or even 'taste', or a specific inclination that are at stake, but a generalized curiosity, driven by a vague sense of unease - it is the 'fun morality' or the imperative to enjoy oneself, to exploit to the full one's potential for thrills pleasure or gratification.”, Heat Up the Holidays with These 27 Winter Romances. There are circular statements- overlapping ideas maybe because of the translation, excellent early writings, postmodern critique. the book then uses this premise to look at the world and basically deconstruct the hidden meaning of our day to day lives. Originally published in 1970, the book makes a vital contribution to current debates on consumption. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. not common knowledge despite its prescience about the way the world advances. Be the first to ask a question about The Consumer Society. Yes, the prose is at times quite dense and Baudrillard will come across as cynical at times--well, because he somewhat is. The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures produces some excellent ideas surrounding everything from sex, the body, violence and gender to the production of signs, key …
the consumer society: myths and structures summary