Postmodern Consumerism and the Construction of Self Essay...

1. Introduction The words of proverbial wisdom indicate that â€Å"home is where the heart is.† But is this statement as true today as it was fifty, one hundred, or even one hundred fifty years ago? This statement might not be so true anymore. Nowadays, we travel so much and â€Å"leave our heart† in many places, as we make friends and create great memories everywhere we go. This led me to ask the question of what actually is a home in the modern society, particularly in the specific case of transnationally mobile students. In exploring this idea I focus on their consumption choices and their importance to building or preserving identity. As Todd (2012:48) reinforces in her article suggestively entitled â€Å"You Are What You Buy: Postmodern Consumerism†¦show more content†¦Being away from my home, I came to the realization that this particular topic has a lot of potential. Not only students are transiting from their homes, but along with their departures, they are assuming an overall transition. Leaving behind their culture, familiar places and loved ones, students might feel that their identity is also changing, transforming. As I started to read more and more about this topic and other similar studies (Sixsmith, 1986; Cuba and Hummon, 1993; Hanssen and Danielsen, 2004; Hauge and Kolstad, 2007; Woodward, 2011; Lincoln, 2012; McCarthy et al., 2013), I realized the need for more exploration in this field, especially with a focus on young people. Therefore, my thesis’ first chapter will focus on some of the theoretical perspectives related to â€Å"Consumerism† and â€Å"Identity.† After that, another section will develop on the concept of â€Å"Home† and its various meanings. The importance of objects will be pointed out and linked within these sections. The next chapter, Methodology, will present my â€Å"Philosophical Considerations†, along with my choice of methods. I think we live in times where images have a great impact so I decided use this to my advantage, by using participatory visual methods, such as auto-photography and photo elicitation. The Analysis chapter will be structured in three parts: an introduction, followed by a section with a focus on my research participants andShow MoreRelatedDifferences and Similarities between Postmodernism and Modernism863 Words   |  3 Pagestraditional forms of literature, religion, social organization, and most of all, art and architecture, had become outdated in the new social, political, and economic environment of a fully industrialised world. One of the main characteristics of Modernism is self-consciousness, which typically caused exstensive experimentations of form and function. The creative process of generating work was also explored, forming new techniques in design. 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