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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Theory & Psychologyarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
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Commodity Fetishism and Repression

Reflections on Marx, Freud and the Psychology of Consumer Capitalism
Authors: Michael Billig;

Commodity Fetishism and Repression

Abstract

This paper re-examines Marx's notion of `commodity fetishism' and argues that this concept offers much for an understanding of the psychology of consumer capitalism. Marx's analysis of commodities contains an implicit psychology of collective amnesia, for he argued that in capitalist life the productive origins of commodities are routinely forgotten. Marx formulated these ideas to explain the ideology of 19th-century capitalism. However, the notion of commodity fetishism, it is suggested, is even more apposite for the conditions of so-called `consumer capitalism', where the pleasures of consumerism would be routinely diminished by an awareness of the productive origins of consumer goods. Therefore, the routines of consumerism contain a collective forgetfulness, which can be understood psychologically as a form of social repression. This sort of repression, which differs from the classic Freudian account, should be understood dialogically for it is constituted in dialogue and, as such, tied to the routines of everyday life. In this respect, the routines of life in consumer capitalism create a routine repression, or forgetfulness, which parallels what Marx meant by commodity fetishism.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
62
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
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