Consumption, Culture, & Identity [Video]

Check out this music video for an interesting way to teach students about the relationship between material culture, social meanings, and identity.

Objects are never just objects - they take on social importance and meaning through culture and social interactions. In the case of this video, a sneaker takes on importance beyond simply footwear.

Before showing the video, we talk about culture, stuff, and who it matters to and why. I then ask them to watch the video paying attention to the deeper meanings behind the 'stuff' and the ways that those meanings are tied to social identities.  At a more advanced level, you could also ask students who benefits and who loses from this way of treating stuff which could take you into a deeper discussion about the social consequences of economic systems.

Thanks to Dr. Jason Martin for rocking out with me to this video way back in graduate school and launching into good discussions about it.