ABSTRACT
In this chapter we will consider the idea that consumption is a form of social communication. The chapter begins with a critical assessment of the foundational work of two early sociologists, Thorstein Veblen (working in the USA) and Georg Simmel (working in Germany). This is followed by a discussion of an influential study on the symbolic use of goods by social anthropologist Mary Douglas and economist Baron Isherwood. The work of Pierre Bourdieu on consumption and its use to mark and maintain social distinctions is discussed in the next section. Michel de Certeau on consumption as secondary production is the subject of the final section.
