Course timetable

 TimeRoom
Monday14-16Aula 8
Tuesday14-16Aula 8

Reading list

  Dates  TopicHours – Progressive Number
Part I: Introduction
MON_11-9Introduction and course overview2
Compulsory reading:
Warde, A. (2015) “The Sociology of Consumption: It’s Recent Development” Annual Review of Sociology, 41, pp.117–34.
Suggested readings:
Sassatelli R. (2007) “Capitalism and the Consumer Revolution” in R. Sassatelli Consumer Culture, History and Politcs, London: Sage, pp. 13-31.
TUE_12-9Production and consumption, economy and culture: a beginning of a conversation4
Compulsory reading:
Zukin S. and Smith M. J. (2004) “Consumers and Consumption”, Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 30, pp. 173-19.
Suggested readings:
Storey J. (2017) “Consumerism and Consumer Society”, in Theories of Consumption, London, Routledge, pp. 103-116.
MON_18-9Why we consume (as we do)6
Compulsory reading:
Storey J. (2017) “Why we consume”, in Theories of Consumption, London, Routledge: pp. 1-17.
Suggested readings:
Boström M. (2020) The social life of mass and excess consumption” Environmental Sociology, 6:3, pp. 268-278.
TUE_19-9Market fragmentation and Consumer culture8
Compulsory reading:
Stillerman J. (2015) “Marketing and Retail” in The Sociology of Consumption. A Global Approach, Cambridge, Polity Press, pp. 20-50.
Stillerman J. (2015) “Market fragmentation and globalization” in The Sociology of Consumption. A Global Approach, Cambridge, Polity Pres,: pp. 51-82
Suggested readings:
Sassatelli R. (2007) “Contexts of Consumption” in R. Sassatelli Consumer Culture, History and Politics, London: Sage, 163-192.
MON_2-10Consumption and identity10
Compulsory reading:
Storey J. (2017) “Consumption and Identity” in Theories of Consumption, London, Routledge, pp. 87-102.
Suggested readings:
Sassatelli R. (2007) “Taste, Identity and Practices” in R. Sassatelli Consumer Culture, History and Politcs, London: Sage, pp. 91-111.
Social differences and consumption
TUE_3-10Consumption, status and class12
Compulsory reading:
Stillerman J., (2015) “Consumption, Status and Class” in The Sociology of Consumption. A Global Approach, Cambridge, Polity Press, pp. 83-108.
Suggested readings:
Bögenhold, D. and Naz F. (2018) “Conspicuous consumption” in Consumption and Life- Styles, London, Palgrave, pp.39-52.
MON_9-10Students-led presentation and class discussion14
Dimaggio P and Useem M (1978) “Social Class and Arts Consumption: The Origins and Consequences of Class Differences in Exposure to the Arts in America”, Theory and Society, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 141-161 [On line at UniTN Library catalogue].
TUE_10-10Consumption, gender and race16
Compulsory reading:
Stillerman J. (2015) “Gender and Race at the Margins and Center of Consumption” in The Sociology of Consumption. A Global Approach, Cambridge, Polity Press, pp. 109- 141.
Suggested readings:
Bögenhold, D. and Naz F. (2018) “Gender and Social Relations of Consumption” in Consumption and Life-Styles, London, Palgrave, pp. 75-86
MON_16-10Students-led presentation and class discussion18
Beagan B, Chapman GE, D’Sylva A, Bassett BR. (2008) “’It’s Just Easier for Me to Do It’: Rationalizing the Family Division of Foodwork”. Sociology. 42(4):653-671.
TUE_17-10Consumption and life course20
Compulsory reading:
Stillerman J., Ch. 6: “The Life Course” in The Sociology of Consumption. A Global Approach, Cambridge, Polity Press, pp. 142-162.
Suggested readings:
Schor, J. B (2003) “The Commodification of Childhood. Tales From The Advertising Front Lines” in The Hedgehog Review – Volume 5, No. 2 pp. 7-23.		 
MON_23-10Students-led presentation and class discussion22
Higgs PF, Hyde M, Gilleard CJ, Victor CR, Wiggins RD, Jones IR. (2009) “From Passive to Active Consumers? Later Life Consumption in the UK from 1968–2005”. The Sociological Review 57(1):102-124.
TUE_24-10Recap and going forward24
Compulsory reading:
Stillerman J., Ch. 8: “Consumer Citizenship in the Era of Globalization” pp.174-187.
Suggested readings:
Micheletti, M. (2003) “Why Political Consumerism?” in Political Virtue and Shopping, London, Palgrave: 1-36.
Boström M., Klintman M., (2018) Mass Consumption and Political Consumerism in The Oxford Handbook of Political Consumerism. Oxford: OUP, pp: 855-87.
Part II: Consumer society, its consequences and alternatives
MON_6-11Documentary and discussion26
The True Cost – 2015 documentary film focusing on fast fashion and discussing several aspects of the global garment industry.
TUE_7-11Consumption, economic growth and well being28
Compulsory reading:
Smart, B. (2012) Consumer Society: Critical Issues and Environmental Consequences. London: Sage (Chapter 6 and 7: Consequences of Consumerism) [available on Moodle]
Suggested readings:
Brand, U. and Wissen, M (2012) Global Environmental Politics and the Imperial Mode of Living: Articulations of State – Capital Relations in the Multiple Crisis, Globalizations, 9(4): 547–560. [Watch the book presentation HERE]
MON_13-11The concept of Sustainable development30
Compulsory reading:
Tomislav K. (2018) “The Concept of Sustainable Development: From its Beginning to the Contemporary Issues” Zagreb International Review of Economics & Business, Vol. 21(1), pp. 67-94.
Suggested readings:
Kevin M. (2012) The social pillar of sustainable development: a literature review and framework for policy analysis, Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 8:1, 15-29.
TUE_14-11Policy and governance for sustainable consumption32
Compulsory reading:
Keller M. Halkier B. and Wilska T.A. (2016) “Policy and Governance for Sustainable Consumption at the Crossroads of Theories and Concepts” Environmental Policy and Governance, Vol. 26(2): 75-88
Suggested readings:
Welch D. and Southerton D. (2019) “After Paris: transitions for sustainable consumption”, Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 15:1, 31-44
MON_20-11Consumption corridors: how to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet.34
Compulsory reading:
Sahakian M., Fuchs D. Lorek S, Di Giulio, A. (2020) “Advancing the concept of consumption corridors and exploring its implications”. Sustainability: science, practice and policy, Vol 17, No. 1, 305-315. [Watch the book presentation HERE]
Suggested readings:
Forno, F. and Wahlen, S. “Environmental activism and everyday life” in Grasso, M., and Giugni, M. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Environmental Movements, London: Routledge, 2022, p. 434-450
Part III: Food and eating
TUE_21-11Theories of food consumption36
Compulsory reading:
Beardsworth A. and Keil T. (1997) “Sociological perspective on food and eating” in Sociology on the Menu, London, Routledge: pp. 30-70.
Suggested readings:
Poulain J.P. (2017) “From sociological interest in food to sociologies of food”, in The Sociology of food”, London, Bloomsbury: pp. 136-167.
MON_27-11What type of practice is eating?38
Compulsory reading:
Warde, A (2016) “Elementary Forms of Eating”, in The Practice of Eating, London, Polity Press: pp. 52-79
Suggested readings:
Poulain J.P. (2017) “The evolution of eating practices”, in The Sociology of food”, London, Bloomsbury: pp. 40-62.
TUE_28-11Lab. Methods to study food consumption40
Simulation of a “Focus group” and discussion around other research techniques for the study of consumption.
MON_4-12Students-led presentation and class discussion42
Warde A, Cheng S-L, Olsen W, Southerton D. (2007) “Changes in the Practice of Eating: A Comparative Analysis of Time-Use”, Acta Sociologica, 50(4):363-385.
TUE_5-12Students-led presentation and class discussion44
Oncini, F., Bozzini, E., Forno, F., Magnani, N. (2020) “Towards food platforms? An analysis of online food provisioning services in Italy” in GEOFORUM, p. 1-9.
Part IV: Final week
MON_11-12 Course project presentations and general discussion46
TUE_12-12 Course project presentations and general discussion / wrapping up and Q&A session48