Wilson, R. (2008) The mystical character of commodities: the consumer society in eighteenth century England. Post-Medieval Archaeology, 42 (1). pp. 144-156. ISSN 0079-4236
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Abstract
This article argues for an alternative response to the 'consumer society' hypothesis for eighteenth-century England, which is seen to focus on large-scale development and obscure the relations between people and objects. Returning to Marx's theories regarding 'consumer fetishism' and utilising Bruno Latour's work on hybrids and the human and the non-human, the manner in which people used objects and objects used people is considered. Utilizing the courtesy books and 'it-narratives' of the eighteenth century and the later works of Jane Austen, it is argued that goods should not be seen only as commodities.
Publication Type: | Articles |
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Subjects: | C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology J Political Science > JC Political theory P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0441 Literary history |
Divisions: | Academic Areas > Institute of Arts and Humanities > History |
Related URLs: | |
Depositing User: | Ross Wilson |
Date Deposited: | 29 Jul 2014 14:03 |
Last Modified: | 27 Feb 2018 11:05 |
URI: | https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/1242 |