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This introductory chapter uses the case study of jeans to introduce the concept of the sociological imagination. A sociological imagination…

In every culture, people have to eat and drink to survive. Making food choices is particularly complex in contemporary consumer…

In this chapter, we shift away from the perspective of the consumer to look at the people who work in…

This chapter explores how our consumer tastes connect to our social class. We discuss how visible and demonstrative consumption habits—conspicuous…

This chapter examines a key activity in consumer culture: shopping. After learning a bit about the history of shopping, we…

Billions of people around the world love to play sports, watch professional athletes compete, and adorn themselves with team logos.…

This chapter uses the case of toys to explore socialization: the lifelong process of learning the norms of a particular…

Weddings are both a massive industry, and a powerful ritual. In this chapter, we use the case study of weddings…

In this chapter, we shed light on the tension between group connection and separation by examining a ubiquitous technological device:…

This chapter examines how we develop our sense of self and manage our multiple identities in a consumer society. While…

What do you think of as “beautiful” or “attractive” in a person? Our ideas of physical attraction feel deeply personal…

Music is an important source of cultural symbolism, and a way to articulate dissent. Sociologically, music can teach us about…

Cars are an ideal example for understanding how our stuff has profound cultural and material dimensions. Cars are not only…