<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This paper presents some dimensions of the lifestyle discourse which have become relevant in recent years in science and public. The discourse that had initially focused on the limits of growth increasingly showed the destructive consequences of the materialistic consumer way of life and discussed sustainable lifestyles. The commodification and infantilization of the consumers who are involved in the commodity structure of consumerist lifestyle have been criticized. For some time an increasing emphasis is found for problems that extend beyond one's own life. With increasing empathy the personal lifestyle is widely based on relationships and contexts outside the immediate sphere of life. Accordingly, a lifestyle of voluntary simplicity is propagated. The consistent postmaterialistic orientation, which means a renunciation of the consumer capitalism, is regarded as its central feature.</p></abstract>

This paper presents some dimensions of the lifestyle discourse which have become relevant in recent years in science and public. The discourse that had initially focused on the limits of growth increasingly showed the destructive consequences of the materialistic consumer way of life and discussed sustainable lifestyles. The commodification and infantilization of the consumers who are involved in the commodity structure of consumerist lifestyle have been criticized. For some time an increasing emphasis is found for problems that extend beyond one's own life. With increasing empathy the personal lifestyle is widely based on relationships and contexts outside the immediate sphere of life. Accordingly, a lifestyle of voluntary simplicity is propagated. The consistent postmaterialistic orientation, which means a renunciation of the consumer capitalism, is regarded as its central feature.

The Lifestyle Discourse in Consumer Capitalism

Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU CS), Fakultät für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Musikpädagogik, 47 Lipezker Str., 03048 Cottbus, Germany

Social Change Review

{"article-title":"The Lifestyle Discourse in Consumer Capitalism"}

This paper presents some dimensions of the lifestyle discourse which have become relevant in recent years in science and public. The discourse that had...

The Lifestyle Discourse in Consumer Capitalism

Publicado en línea: 15 ago 2013

Páginas: 85 - 101

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scr-2013-0007

Palabras clave
Lifestyle Lifestyle discourse Capitalism Consumer capitalism Economism Consumerism Overconsumption Commodification Prosperity Poverty Voluntary simplicity Sustainability Empathic civilization

This content is open access.

The Lifestyle Discourse in Consumer Capitalism

Publicado en línea: 15 ago 2013

Páginas: 85 - 101

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scr-2013-0007

Palabras claveLifestyle Lifestyle discourse Capitalism Consumer capitalism Economism Consumerism Overconsumption Commodification Prosperity Poverty Voluntary simplicity Sustainability Empathic civilization

This content is open access.

Palabras clave
Lifestyle Lifestyle discourse Capitalism Consumer capitalism Economism Consumerism Overconsumption Commodification Prosperity Poverty Voluntary simplicity Sustainability Empathic civilization