cohesive essay: Social Class and its Impacts
Schedule of Readings and Assignments:
These are the readings we will discuss in class each week—that means you should come to class having already read them and should be prepared to discuss them.
Class 1: Monday Jan 2, Wednesday Jan 4—Introduction
D2L: “Delectable Materialism” by Michael Schudson
D2L: “Land of Desire” by William Leach
Class 2: Monday Jan 9, Wednesday Jan 11—The Meaning and Power of Things
D2L: “The Evocative Power of Things” by Grant McCracken
Online: “The Judgment of Thamus” by Neil Postman http://tinyurl.com/m8bpk5p
Online: “The Precautionary Principle” http://tinyurl.com/pl2vlcy
Book: Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton, Chapters 1 & 2
Class 3: Monday Jan 16, Wednesday Jan 18—Class and Status Hierarchies
Online: “Conspicuous Consumption.” by Thorstein Veblen http://tinyurl.com/dxgvdc
Online: “Symbols of Class Status” by Erving Goffman http://tinyurl.com/3lheum3
Book: Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton, Chapter 3& 4
Class 4: Monday Jan 23, Wednesday Jan 25— (In)Conspicuous Consumption
D2L: “Anatomy of the Classes” by Paul Fussel
Online: “Inconspicuous Consumption.” by Virginia Postrel http://tinyurl.com/n3s9zud
Online: "Why Do Poor People 'Waste' Money on Luxury Goods?" by Tressie Cottom http://tinyurl.com/k522fny
Online: “Dinner Crashers Walked all over the Social Code” by David Segal http://tinyurl.com/ykn7ev2
Book: Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton, Chapter 5