Identifying Sources and Quotations - Steven Miles // Consumerism as a Way of Life

Steven Miles' 'Consumerism as a Way of Life' book provides an introduction to the historical and theoretical foundations of consumerism. This is followed by an examination of the experience of consumption in the areas of space and place, technology, fashion, 'popular' music and sport. Throughout, miles evidences a critical perspective to bear upon the subject, thus providing 

a 'reliable and stimulating' guide to a complex field with many sides and views.

Harvard Reference:

Miles, S. (1998) Consumerism: As a way of life. New York: Sage.

Identified Quotations:

• ‘Design, by its very nature, can cast ideas about who we are and how we should behave…it has an especially important role in the visualisation of class positions and status.’ (Miles. 1998: 39)

• ‘Power in this relationship,  from on point of view, is with the consumer.’ (Miles, 1998: 38)

• ‘Companies must inevitably operate as part of the industry as a whole and thus must, at east to a certain extent, prioritise financial profits before ecological concerns.’  (Miles. 1998: 45)

• ‘Branding should in effect become more of a negotiation between the designer and the consumer.’ (Miles. 1998: 50)