| Dates | Topic |
| Part I: Introduction | |
| MON_16-9 | Introduction and course overview |
| This first lecture outlines the course objectives and details the syllabus and examination requirements for attending and non-attending students. | |
| TUE_17-9 | Production and consumption, economy and culture: a beginning of a conversation |
| Compulsory reading: Warde, A. (2015) “The Sociology of Consumption: It’s Recent Development” Annual Review of Sociology, 41, pp.117–34. Suggested readings: Zukin S. and Smith M. J. (2004) “Consumers and Consumption”, Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 30, pp. 173-19. | |
| MON_23-9 | Why we consume (as we do) |
| Compulsory reading: Storey J. (2017) “Why we consume”, in Theories of Consumption, London, Routledge: pp. 1-17. Suggested readings: Sassatelli R. (2007) “Capitalism and the Consumer Revolution” in R. Sassatelli Consumer Culture, History and Politcs, London: Sage, pp. 13-31. | |
| TUE_24-9 | Market fragmentation and Consumer culture |
| 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_30-9 | Consumption and identity |
| 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_1-10 | Consumption, status and class |
| 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_7-10 | Students-led presentation and class discussion |
| 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_8-10 | Consumption, gender and race |
| Compulsory reading: Bögenhold, D. and Naz F. (2018) “Gender and Social Relations of Consumption” in Consumption and Life-Styles, London, Palgrave, pp. 75-86 Suggested readings: 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. | |
| MON_14-10 | Students-led presentation and class discussion |
| 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_15-10 | Consumption and life course |
| 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. | |
| No class for one week | |
| MON_28-10 | Students-led presentation and class discussion |
| 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. | |
| Part II: Consumer society, its consequences and alternatives | |
| TUE_29-10 | Documentary and discussion |
| The True Cost – 2015 documentary film focuses on fast fashion and discusses several aspects of the global garment industry. | |
| MON_4-11 | Consumption, economic growth and well being |
| 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. (2021) The Imperial Mode of Living. Everyday Life and the Ecological Crisis of Capitalism, London: Verso. [Watch the book presentation HERE] | |
| TUE_5-11 | The Social Life of Unsustainable Mass Consumption |
| Compulsory reading: Boström M. (2020) The social life of mass and excess consumption” Environmental Sociology, 6:3, pp. 268-278. Suggested readings: Boström M. (2023) The Social Life of Unsustainable Mass Consumption, London: Lexington Books. [Watch the book presentation HERE] | |
| MON_11-11 | The concept of Sustainable development |
| 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_12-11 | Policy and governance for sustainable consumption |
| Compulsory reading: Margit Keller M. Bente 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: Fuchs F., Sahakian M., Gumbert T., Di Giulio A., Maniates M., Lorek S., Graf A. (2021) Consumption corridors. Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits, London: Routledge. [Watch the book presentation HERE] | |
| Part III: Exploring the Interconnections between consumption and commerce: | |
| MON_18-11 | Workshop: Meeting the stakeholder. Insights from Trento’s Commerce Councillor on vacant spaces |
| In this lesson, we will meet the commerce councillor from the municipality of Trento, who will discuss the issue of numerous shop closures in the city center. Following this, we will lay the groundwork for researching vacant spaces in Trento, aiming to grasp the problem, identify key research questions, and explore methodological approaches to address this challenge. | |
| TUE_19-11 | Urban walk around Trento with Cristiana Zara |
| Students will participate in an “urban walk” to observe and analyse changes in local commerce. They will gain firsthand insights into how businesses and public spaces adapt to shifting urban dynamics. This activity will foster critical thinking about the social and economic factors shaping city life. | |
| MON_25-11 | Integrated strategies for activating vacant spaces: a talk with architect Silvia Forlati |
| In this lecture, architect Silvia Forlati will highlight the importance of adopting integrated strategies to address the issue of vacant spaces in urban areas, focusing not only on the physical spaces but also on the processes that shape them. | |
| TUE_26-11 | Organising the research work |
| In this course activity, students will be organized into small research groups to explore the growing issue of “empty spaces” in Trento. To fully understand this problem, we will draw on diverse skills and utilize the entire toolkit of social research methods. | |
| MON_2-12 | Changes in food habits |
| This lecture explores the evolution of food habits, examining how cultural, economic, and technological factors influence what and how we eat. We will discuss shifts in dietary trends, the role of globalisation, and the growing emphasis on sustainability, health, and convenience in shaping contemporary food choices. Students-led presentation and class discussion Paddock J, Warde A, Whillans J. The changing meaning of eating out in three English cities 1995-2015. Appetite. 2017 Dec 1;119:5-13. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.01.030. | |
| TUE_3-12 | Digital transformation and consumer behavior |
| This lecture examines how digital transformation reshapes consumer behavior, focusing on the rise of e-commerce, online platforms, and digital marketing. We will explore how technology influences purchasing decisions, consumer engagement, and the relationship between businesses and their customers in the digital age. Students-led presentation and class discussion Culpepper, P.D.; Thelen, K. (2020) Are We All Amazon Primed? Consumers and the Politics of Platform Power, Comparative Political Studies, Vol. 53(2) 288–318. doi:10.1177/0010414019852687 | |
| Part IV: Final workshop | |
| MON_9-12 | Course project presentations and general discussion |
| TUE_10-12 | Course project presentations and general discussion / wrapping up and Q&A session |
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