Status Spotting- A Consumer Cultural Exploration into Ordinary Status Consumption of "Home" and Home Aesthetics
(2008)- Abstract
- When lumping the notions of “status” and “consumption” together, people often think of expensive brands, conspicuous luxury, bling-bling and spectacular extravaganza. Not least in the case of the “home,” such associations go to Hollywood stars, spacious mansions, famous architects, swimming pools, and high-priced furniture design frenzy. But given that most people don’t have the means, and perhaps more importantly don’t want, to consume in opulent and spectacular ways, how do “ordinary” consumers compete for status through the home and home decoration? And how do they relate to the idea of status as regards their homes without making it so visible?
In this book I explore the shadowy existence of status competition in... (More) - When lumping the notions of “status” and “consumption” together, people often think of expensive brands, conspicuous luxury, bling-bling and spectacular extravaganza. Not least in the case of the “home,” such associations go to Hollywood stars, spacious mansions, famous architects, swimming pools, and high-priced furniture design frenzy. But given that most people don’t have the means, and perhaps more importantly don’t want, to consume in opulent and spectacular ways, how do “ordinary” consumers compete for status through the home and home decoration? And how do they relate to the idea of status as regards their homes without making it so visible?
In this book I explore the shadowy existence of status competition in ordinary (Western) consumer culture, where consumers are often said to claim status in ever more subtle ways. By interviewing urban middle-class consumers inside their homes in Sweden, Turkey, and the USA, I discover sophisticated home decoration practices, emotions, conversation techniques and narratives, which work to camouflage and disguise status concerns on one hand, and claim aspired status on the other. All in all, my findings show how status is an ever-present dimension in people’s consumption, albeit seldom admitted by consumers themselves.
This is a book for consumer researchers, social and cultural critics, business managers, marketers, lifestyle commentators and—not least—for consumers themselves, who want to know more about disguised status competition, the home, and consumption that is not exactly what it appears to be. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Popular Abstract in Swedish
När man förenar idéerna “status” och “konsumtion” tänker många automatiskt på dyra varumärken, konspikuös lyx, bling-bling och spektakulär extravaganza. Inte minst i fallet “hem” går associationerna till Hollywood-stjärnor, enorma villor, kända arkitekter, swimming pools och dyr möbeldesign-hysteri. Men, givet att de flesta människor inte har medlen, och kanske mer viktigt inte viljan, att konsumera på ett opulent och spektakulärt sätt, hur tävlar ”vanliga” konsumenter om status genom sina hem och sin hemdekoration? Och hur relaterar de till idéen om status vad gäller deras hem utan att göra det så synligt?
I den här boken utforskar jag den skuggiga existensen av statustävlan... (More) - Popular Abstract in Swedish
När man förenar idéerna “status” och “konsumtion” tänker många automatiskt på dyra varumärken, konspikuös lyx, bling-bling och spektakulär extravaganza. Inte minst i fallet “hem” går associationerna till Hollywood-stjärnor, enorma villor, kända arkitekter, swimming pools och dyr möbeldesign-hysteri. Men, givet att de flesta människor inte har medlen, och kanske mer viktigt inte viljan, att konsumera på ett opulent och spektakulärt sätt, hur tävlar ”vanliga” konsumenter om status genom sina hem och sin hemdekoration? Och hur relaterar de till idéen om status vad gäller deras hem utan att göra det så synligt?
I den här boken utforskar jag den skuggiga existensen av statustävlan i ordinär (Västlig) konsumentkultur, där konsumenter ofta sägs hävda sin status på mer och mer subtila sätt. Genom att intervjua konsumenter från den urbana medelklassen i deras hem i Sverige, Turkiet och USA, upptäcker jag sofistikerade dekorationspraktiker, känslor, konversationstekniker och narrativ, vilka har funktionen att kamouflera och dölja statusmotiv å ena sidan, och hävda önskad status å andra sidan. Mina fynd visar hur status är en alltid närvarande dimension i människors konsumtion, om än sällan erkänt av konsumenterna själva.
Detta är en bok för konsumtionsforskare, samhälls- och kulturkritiker, företagsledare, marknadsförare, livsstilskommentatorer, och—inte minst—för konsumenter själva, som vill veta mer om dold statustävlan, hemmet, och konsumtion som inte är vad den först ser ut att vara. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1153317
- author
- Ulver, Sofia LU
- supervisor
-
- Ulf Johansson LU
- Jacob Östberg LU
- opponent
-
- Professor Belk, Russell, Schulich School of Business, Toronto, Canada
- organization
- publishing date
- 2008
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Status, Consumers, Home, Aesthetics, lifestyle, Status Consumption, Marketing, Consumer Culture, Globalization
- pages
- 297 pages
- publisher
- Lund Institute of Economic Research
- defense location
- Craafordsalen, EC1, Holger Craaford Ekonomishögskolan, Tycho Brahevägen 1, Lund
- defense date
- 2008-09-05 14:00:00
- ISBN
- 109185113271
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 597dc44e-d109-4705-861b-9a275aab4461 (old id 1153317)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 10:08:29
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 20:57:00
@phdthesis{597dc44e-d109-4705-861b-9a275aab4461,
abstract = {{When lumping the notions of “status” and “consumption” together, people often think of expensive brands, conspicuous luxury, bling-bling and spectacular extravaganza. Not least in the case of the “home,” such associations go to Hollywood stars, spacious mansions, famous architects, swimming pools, and high-priced furniture design frenzy. But given that most people don’t have the means, and perhaps more importantly don’t want, to consume in opulent and spectacular ways, how do “ordinary” consumers compete for status through the home and home decoration? And how do they relate to the idea of status as regards their homes without making it so visible? <br/><br>
<br/><br>
In this book I explore the shadowy existence of status competition in ordinary (Western) consumer culture, where consumers are often said to claim status in ever more subtle ways. By interviewing urban middle-class consumers inside their homes in Sweden, Turkey, and the USA, I discover sophisticated home decoration practices, emotions, conversation techniques and narratives, which work to camouflage and disguise status concerns on one hand, and claim aspired status on the other. All in all, my findings show how status is an ever-present dimension in people’s consumption, albeit seldom admitted by consumers themselves. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
This is a book for consumer researchers, social and cultural critics, business managers, marketers, lifestyle commentators and—not least—for consumers themselves, who want to know more about disguised status competition, the home, and consumption that is not exactly what it appears to be.}},
author = {{Ulver, Sofia}},
isbn = {{109185113271}},
keywords = {{Status; Consumers; Home; Aesthetics; lifestyle; Status Consumption; Marketing; Consumer Culture; Globalization}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Lund Institute of Economic Research}},
school = {{Lund University}},
title = {{Status Spotting- A Consumer Cultural Exploration into Ordinary Status Consumption of "Home" and Home Aesthetics}},
year = {{2008}},
}