Explorations in the Sociology of Consumption

Focusing on the phenomenon of consumption, George Ritzer explores the implications of the desire to commodify experiences in modern society. He critiques the concept of McDonaldization and examines new cultural spaces like shopping malls and theme parks, which he labels as "cathedrals of consumption." Through discussions of influential theorists such as Thorstein Veblen and the French situationists, Ritzer connects contemporary consumption issues to globalization and highlights the interplay between transgression and consumer culture in a postmodern context.