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