8/13/2019 Responsive Essay 1 ATM 634
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Today in class, we discussed the following reading :
Fashion as Collective and Consumer BehaviorThis was a
compilation of seminal readings from the early parts of the
20th Century. These readings come from a number of disciplines,
suchas sociology, philosophy, psychology, later we will include
readings
from marketing as well.
Because of the density of the material, I think it best if we
reflect
sooner rather than later.
Please craft a 5 page double spaced argumentative essay using
one
of the questions we developed in class today
OR using one of the statements in the de Young excerpt. You
mayalso choose to alter one of these questions.
My goal is to require you to consider the ideas presented and to
ask you
to actively reflect (this means research) how these ideas
interact withour current experience.
These should be uploaded to the Drop Box "Responsive Essay
#1"
by classtime on Jan 28.Make sure you have access to what you
wrote...because you will
present your point of view in class.
The Questions we developed are:
Fashion does not make any real contribution to societyWhat
impact does globalization have on our concepts of beautyAs a
consumer, how much choice do we really have?Does fashion have the
impact of creating significant results for social
order.
How did de Young come to her conclusions, by what
instrument?
How is the choice of dress a major social activity?I also have a
couple of questions (kinda classic) Veblen questions
that you may choose to address as well.
1. Veblen describes economic behavior as socially rather than
individuallydetermined and asserts that ;economic organization is a
process of ongoing
8/13/2019 Responsive Essay 1 ATM 634
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evolution. This evolution is driven by the human instincts;
emulation,
workmanship, parental bent, and idle curiosity.
What is your response to the concept of economic developments as
a process ofongoing evolution?
Does this theory still describe our current global economy?Can
this theory still describe current consumer practices, as you
understand
them?
2. What does Veblen mean by "conspicuous consumption,"
"conspicuous leisure,"
"vicarious conspicuous consumption," and "vicarious conspicuous
leisure"?
3. How does Veblen size up the role of the middle class wife and
middle class
domesticity? What is ironic about the role of the wife as
"ceremonial consumer of
goods"? Why, according to Veblen, do middle and leisure class
men not want their
wives to work? Is Veblens thinking here hopelessly outmoded?
The goal here is to reference the reading, and to think
comparatively.
Think about how the ideas expressed by these writers is relevant
and/or
applicable today.
When we meet again, you will present your position, so be sure
to have
good supporting evidence. You have time to fact check and to
collect
your thoughts so you can be articulate and strong in your
position.
We must also discuss the article about Ghandi and Khadi...
We will also have to finish the readings :Veblen and Simmel when
we
next meet.....so we have a lot to cover.
