2009 Course Handbook
ANTH278: Commodities, Consumption and Culture
This course examines the cultural dimensions of capitalist systems. Using examples from cultures around the world it will explore such issues as the social organisation of wage labour, the value of money, customs of trade, the cultural implications of commoditisation, exchange and other forms of distribution, the creation of human "needs and desires," globalisation and its implications, advertising as a form of meaning-making, and the social regulation of markets. We will do this by using ethnographic case studies and compare, for example, traditional forms of gift giving in non-capitalist societies with shopping in the West; 'cargo-cults' in the New Guinea highlands with contemporary financial markets; colonialism in the 19th century and the rise of multi-national corporations and many other perspectives that shed light on economic culture.
| Credit Points: | 4 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year |
| Staff Contact: | Dr Greg Downey |
| Prerequisites: | ANTH150 or 12cp or admission to GDipAnth |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCWs: | |
| Unit Designations: | -- |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: |
Department of Anthropology |
Timetable Information
For unit timetable information please visit the Timetables@Macquarie Website.