Trentmann, Frank (Hrsg.): The Making of the Consumer

The 'consumer' has become a ubiquitous person in public discourse and academic research, but who is this person? Offering a historically informed picture of the rise of the consumer to its current prominence, the authors discuss the consumer in relation to citizenship and ethics, law and economics, media, work and retailing.'At a time when it has become commonplace to accept 'the consumer' as a timeless and neutral concept, it is vital to question just when, where and how this particular figure appeared. An exciting and important collection that leads consumption studies forward into new territory, this book offers highly relevant and engaged social science which will have a broad appeal.'Professor Richard Wilk, Gender Studies and Anthropology, Indiana University, USA'Epitomizes the maturity reached by consumer studies. Framed by a far-reaching introduction, the wide-ranging and original essays develop a much-needed genealogical approach to the development of the consumer as a contested social figure embedded both in everyday life and in commercial and public knowledge.'Dr. Roberta Sassatelli, Department of Communication Studies, University of Bologna, Italy'This bracing collection arrives at a crucial moment in the development of consumption studies. It demonstrates the benefits and tensions t