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2nd CALL FOR PAPERS 1st International Conference on 'Consumption and Representation' Plymouth, UK, 1st - 3rd September, 1999 "Consuming Markets; Consuming Meanings" APOLOGIES FOR CROSS-POSTING INTRODUCTION Welcome to the 1st international and multi-disciplinary conference on 'Consumption and Representation' the theme of which is, 'Consuming Markets; Consuming Meanings'. The recent proliferation of publications on the significance of consumption and the globalisation of consumer culture has not necessarily been accompanied by an emphasis on the active ways in which people actually invest meanings in both what they consume and representations of what they consume. Indeed, there appears to be a divide in the literature between work that focuses on cultural and theoretical aspects of consumer culture and that which is more concerned with the spatial and economic construction of consumer markets such as fashion, the media and tourism. These are problems that this conference will address in an international, cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary context, as an active dynamic process. The conference theme reflects the on-going work of the research group in 'Consumption and Representation' based in the Sociology Department at the University of Plymouth. The relationship between production and consumption represents a key focus for social scientific enquiry and yet the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration in this field remains largely unexplored territory. This conference is therefore intended to foster links between researchers in consumption from a variety of backgrounds with the intention being to identify common ground for the study of markets as a meaningful arena for social scientific research in an ever-changing world. To this end, future developments in 'consumer research' in its broadest sense will be discussed. The conference will be divided into three complimentary streams: IDENTIFICATION Many authors have debated the increasingly important role played by consumption in the construction of identities in a so-called 'postmodern' world, but such discussions have tended to be highly speculative in nature. This stream is concerned with relating the practical everyday contexts within which people relate to consumption and how consumers' identities are constructed in the marketplace. REPRESENTATION This stream focuses upon the relationship between mass media and consumer culture and considers the extent to which the media reflect or shape consumer meanings. Possible contributions might include papers on representations of environmental issues, advertising, consumption and the media, and the representation of consumption in a 'risk society.' SEGMENTATION Although apparently concerned with freedom of choice, market segmentation may, in fact, involve a degree of rationalisation and control over market formation. Possible contributions to this stream might include papers dealing with the impact of segmentation on the lifestyles of individual consumers or households, or issues concerning ownership and control over the construction of market niches. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION We invite offers of papers from sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, marketers, historians, political scientists, and consumer researchers from any disciplinary background which address the above issues. The aim is to provide a forum for established researchers, academics and practitioners, as well as those new to the field, to present and discuss their ideas, whilst constructing the beginnings of a research agenda for the study of consumption in the twenty-first century. Papers which attempt to marry theoretical insights with practical everyday contexts are especially welcome. Abstracts for papers which do not directly address the above themes will be considered. As a reflection of the cross-disciplinary nature of the conference and the organisers intention to promote a collaborative research-oriented environment the confirmed keynote speakers are: Gordon Foxall, Professor of Consumer Behaviour, University of Keele; Alan Warde, Professor of Sociology, University of Lancaster. Those interested in offering papers should contact the conference convenor with a brief abstract of up to 250 - 300 words which should be sent to the address below no later than 17th May, 1999. The Organising Committee, 1st International Conference on Consumption and Representation, Department of Sociology, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA. Enquiries can also be e-mailed to Alison Anderson, Kevin Meethan, and Steve Miles at one of the following e-mail addresses: [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] If you would like to attend the conference but do not intend to present a paper please write to the above address and we will add you to our booking form mailing list. ____________________________________ Dr Alison Anderson Department of Sociology University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA UK Tel: (01752) 233217 Fax: (01752) 233201 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%