Within just a few years, China is predicted to become the largest
consumer market in Asia, second in the world only to the United
States. The decisions made by millions of newly affluent Chinese
consumers are already having enormous effects on the world economy and
global  environment.  The transformation of the Chinese nation into
one of the  biggest markets in the world is also having far-reaching
impacts on Chinese society and the lives of its citizens.

This course will explore consumption in present-day China from an
anthropological perspective, asking, for example, if Chinese consumers
are using their purchasing power to buy McDonald's hamburgers and
Gucci sunglasses or turning their attention to national brands and
products emblematic of Chinese history and culture.  We will also
address the broader question of whether the consumer revolution is
creating new social and political identities.

The course will begin with a brief introduction to theories of
consumption and models of consumer behavior, before moving on to
historical and present-day consumption in China.  Readings will be
drawn primarily from articles and scholarly works on contemporary
Chinese consumers.  Assignments will include several short essays and
one final research paper.  There are no prerequisites for this course.