Somos o que consumimos ou consumimos o que somos? A simbologia no ato de consumir da sociedade capitalista

Abstract

The action of consuming has acquired distinct meanings and relationships, which go beyond the economic meaning, translating into an event, especially a social one. In this sense, the study aims to analyze the senses and meanings incorporated into the action of consuming in capitalist society. Based on three argumentative bases: through Veblen, we studied the presence of institutions, especially socially rooted mental habits as a mechanism for determining conspicuous consumption; from Bourdieu, we analyzed the relations between consumption and social classes, with the vision that investigates status groups, distinction and symbology in the act of consuming; and through Bauman's view, we see that consumption is no longer the element of inclusion, reflecting itself in a consumer society. Thus, we see that consumption, which ensures prestige and the uses attributed to objects and the speed of exchange, have become definers of belonging to an elite, of social inclusion and exclusion.