The Social Life of Things

Book Details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

• Author: Arjun Appadurai

• Edition: Reprint

• Binding: Paperback

• Pages: 339

• Release Date: 01-12-1988

• ISBN: 9780521357265

• Dimensions: 9.0 x 6.0 x 0.9 inches

• Languages: English

About the Book

The Social Life of Things: Commodities in Cultural Perspective, edited by Arjun Appadurai, explores the cultural and social dimensions of economic life, examining how commodities are traded and sold in different social and cultural contexts, both past and present.

This groundbreaking volume brings together contributions from scholars across multiple disciplines, including social history, cultural anthropology, and economics. The collection provides a deeper understanding of the cultural foundations of economic activities and the role of culture in shaping economic systems. By analyzing commodities as social objects with cultural significance, the book challenges conventional views of economics and highlights the social relationships embedded in the circulation of goods.

Through a series of case studies and theoretical frameworks, the contributors demonstrate how commodities are not merely economic items but are intertwined with social identities, power dynamics, and cultural practices. The volume is an important step in broadening the scope of economic and cultural studies, offering valuable insights into how material goods are connected to both culture and society.

This book is essential reading for scholars and students interested in cultural economics, the sociology of culture, and the anthropology of trade and exchange.