Date of Award
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Harvey, David
Keywords
London, Consumer Culture, Eighteenth Century, Britain, Consumerism, Working Class
Area of Concentration
History
Abstract
This thesis considers the birth of consumer culture in eighteenth-century London and explores the changes witnessed by society in response to the mass production of consumer goods. Maintaining that the eighteenth century witnessed the birth of the "modern world", this study considers the growth of industrial capitalism and the expansion of global markets as catalysts for the restructuring of British society. This transitory period was wrought with many difficulties, as progress of a civilization often entails a reorganization of social hierarchies and values. The growth of fashion, communications, advertising and print culture forever changed not only the structure of the British economy, but the activities and values of society as a whole. The upper classes indulged in leisurely pursuits and participated in consumption as a means of demarcating status. However, many new problems were created by urban society, and the overpopulated streets of London experienced immense issues in regards to crime and poverty. As the upper classes were increasingly linked to luxury and "polite" society, the lower classes were linked criminality and immorality. Living conditions and modes of subsistence were indeed highly stratified, and this study also looks at popular culture as a reflection of the anxieties and social criticisms of the period. While this thesis does not deny that industry has proven beneficial to modern society in the long run, it does assert that the transition to industry was incredibly traumatic to those living through it. Focusing on issues of social stratification, the expansion of consumer goods, industrial work, and urban living, this thesis attempts to explain how early industry redefined the social structure and norms of eighteenth-century London.
Recommended Citation
Fisher, Lisa, "Eighteenth-Century London and the Birth of Consumer Culture" (2009). Theses & ETDs. 4103.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4103
Rights
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