Critical Consumption Studies

Course Type: Lecture
Study Focus: SEG
Term: Fall

Teacher: HISANO Shuji, HISANO Ai

Course Code: JK38002

This course examines the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of consumption broadly conceived.



Theoretical and empirical studies on consumption have attracted scholarly attention from various disciplines ranging from sociology, anthropology, history, geography, business, and marketing studies, to agri-food studies. This course provides the overview of the interdisciplinary discussion on consumption — not simply as the purchasing of goods but also as a political and social practice. It asks, for example, how have scholars in different disciplines understood and theorized consumption?; how does the consumption of food, clothes, and other consumer products affect social, economic, cultural and environmental sustainability?; and who are main actors and how they interact each other in these processes?


Course Information

Module: Research and Advanced Studies
CATS Requirements: MA 1st. year or above

Day/Period: every other Friday/ 2-3
Location: Econ. 107
Credits: 2


Course Goals

This course aims to foster students’ better understanding of theories, approaches and practices concerning consumption. It particularly helps students to identify key theoretical studies and concepts on the issue and to critically analyze consumption from comparative perspectives.

Course Schedule and Evaluation

For a detailed course schedule, please visit KULASIS.

Grading will be done on the basis of class participation/presentations (60%) and final assignment evaluation (40%).

To JDTS/MATS students: This is course can be taken as either reduced (4 ECTS) or full seminar (8 ECTS).
Please indicate your ECTS requirement to the teacher.