Consumer Culture

Any culture that is based on the consumption of things, in which people use materials to identify themselves and to communicate, socialize, and relate to others, is called a “consumer culture.” This particular phenomenon may be considered part of a “material culture;” that is, a culture in which the cultural values that shape our everyday practices and beliefs are driven by the desire to buy, consume, and show off purchases, goods, possessions, and ultimately, status. In contemporary society, consumer symbols of consumption are the cornerstones of the construction of self-identity.