Making Love in Supermarkets From Theory of Shopping

Making Love in Supermarkets From Theory of Shopping by Daniel Miller Presented by Deanna Miller

Background Information • Daniel Miller – Anthropologist – Most closely related with studies in material culture and materialism – Wrote Theory of Shopping in 1998 – Other publications include Material Cultures and The Dialectics of Shopping 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller

Types of Shopping Relationships • Couples • Families • Teenagers • Singles – Elderly – Single Mothers 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller

The Anthropologist Beyond Voyeurism • Two differing viewpoints: – Majorie Devault, Feeding the Family • Bulk of housewife decision making oriented towards others • Inequity and self-sacrifice – Brad Weiss, The Making and Unmaking of the Haya Lived World • Sought to demonstrate moral and cosmological world objectified view in feeding family • Author leaned more towards Weiss (conventional) 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller 4

The Treat • Seen as a direct reward to shopping • Given to children as a reward for being good while shopping – Candy – Trip to toy store – Fast food • Control of expenditure 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller

Thrift • By far the most important activity in shopping • Three different types of savers 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller

The Exception • Mary is a single mother with children • Exhibits a lack of guilt and anxiety • Made as much time and money available for shopping • Does not see herself as thrifty • Shops for love and sex in supermarkets 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller

The Discourse of Shopping • Does not believe love automatically comes shining through • Whenever Miller asked a person about shopping, the experience of shopping studied is not the one actually done 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller

Discussion Questions • Did you agree with Weiss or De. Vault about their interpretations of their study? Why or why not? • Do you think that Miller chose to follow the right anthropological approach? Why or why not? • How do you feel about Sheila and Bob’s concept of borrowing from their son’s fund provided by his grandparents to buy him expensive football uniforms to fit in with his friends? 05 -650: BID Deanna Miller