Consumer Chronicles

Cultures of Consumption in Modern French Literature

AvDavid H. Walker

Inbunden, Engelska, 2011

Del 19 i serien Contemporary French and Francophone Cultures

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Beskrivning

At a time when the world is contemplating the depletion of non-renewable natural resources, the consumer society is increasingly being called into question. This is nowhere more acutely evident than in France, where since its beginnings in the nineteenth century, the consumer revolution, extending market forces into every area of social and private life, has been perceived as a challenge to core elements in French culture, such as traditional artisan crafts and small businesses serving local communities. Cultural historians and sociologists have charted the increasing commercialisation of everyday life over the twentieth century, but few have paid systematic attention to the crucial testimony provided by the authors of narrative fiction. Consumer Chronicles rectifies this omission by means of close readings of a series of novels, selected for their authentic portrayal of consumer behaviour, and analysed in relation to their social, cultural and historical contexts. Walker's study, offering an imaginative interdisciplinary panorama covering the impact of affluence on French shoppers, shopkeepers and society, provides telling new insights into the history and characteristics of the consumer mentality.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2011-03-31
Mått:163 x 239 x undefined mm
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Contemporary French and Francophone Cultures
Antal sidor:288
Förlag:Liverpool University Press
ISBN:9781846314872

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Mer om författaren

David H. Walker is Professor of French at the University of Sheffield and was formerly President of the Society for French Studies and President of the Association of University Professors of French. His books include 'Outrage and Insight: Modern French Writers and the ‘fait divers’'. Oxford, Berg French Studies, 1995 and a number of critical editions of the work of André Gide.

Recensioner i media

Walker’s prose remains clear, readable, even playful. The greatest strength of this book lies in the author’s ability to synthesize vast amounts of information from primary and secondary works in order to tell a coherent story. Works of fiction unfold in time and in tandem with a thoroughly documented history of consumer culture in modern France.

Innehållsförteckning

AcknowledgementsIntroductionI. WAITING FOR THE CONSUMER SOCIETY1. Earning, Yearning and Making Do: Huysmans, 'Les Soeurs Vatard'2. 'Flaneurs and Shoppers: Huysmans, 'En menage'3. From Shopping to Schopenhauer: Huysmans, ' A vau- l'eau'II. ECONOMIES OF CONSUMPTION (1)4. Transactions and Value: Gide, 'L'Immoraliste'III. SMALL SHOPS5. 'La lente Agonie du petit commerce? Balzac, 'Grandeur et decadence de Cesar Birotteau' and Zola, 'Au bonheur des dames'6. 'Eleve dans le commerce: Celine, 'Mort a credit'7. The Emprium Strikes Back: Dutourd, 'Au Bon Beurre'IV. BIG STORES8. The Big Sell9. The 'grand magasin': Zola, 'Au bonheur des dames (2)'10.'Les Venus des comptoirs' : Feminism and Shopping in the 1920's11. Total Retail: Figures of the Dystopian SuperstoreV. ECONOMIES OF COMSUMPTION (2)12. Speculations on ValueVI. REFLECTIONS ON THE CONSUMER SOCIETY13. Post-wr visions of Paradise: The Dawning of the Consumer Society14. Managing the Consumers (1): Motivational Analysts15. Managing the Consumers (2) Advertisers16. The Consumers Managing 1: Making Do by Instalments17. The Consumers Managing 2: Making Do and ProducingConclusion: A Good Buy?BibliographyIndex