The question of ‘alternatives’ within food and drink markets and marketing: introduction to the special issue

The question of 'alternatives' within food and drink markets and marketing: introduction to the special issu

Looking good: consumption and the problems of self-production

"This article considers the anxieties and risks that attend the process of self-production in the context of consumption. Drawing from interviews with a small sample of British young adults — white, middle-class, university-educated — the article examines how material practices and discursive strategies resonate with theoretical accounts of the nexus of consumption, identity and individualization. The analysis highlights how respondents discursively cope with anxieties and risks associated with the question of style, the problem of conformity, the desire for confidence and the negotiation of gender. In doing so, the article indicates ways in which the process of self-production in contemporary consumer societies may be less reflexive, and more socially conservative, than some accounts of individualization would suggest." [author's abstract

Product patriotism: How consumption practices make and maintain national identity

In today’s society, globalization and global flows are ubiquitous and undeniable. Consequently, it is possible to question the role and importance of national identity in consumption choices. This research inductively develops a theory for product patriotism, defined as how consumers construe their identity through nationally-iconic product consumption. A typology is proposed, outlining four possible virtual national identity positions consumers may occupy relative to their stocks of cultural capital, relational orientation toward the nation and situational contingencies. Product patriotism as a framework is distinct from past research that a) narrowly focuses on spectacular or positive forms of nationalistic consumption, b) segments consumers based on nationalistic or patriotic traits, and c) focuses mostly on brands. The novel framework of product patriotism provides new insight into the social patterning of consumers’ reflexive, negotiated decoding of national identities, the dynamism of national identity, and the enduring significance of consumption when enacting national identities

Towards a sociology from wine and vina aperta

In considering the wisdom of pursuing the development of a sociology of wine, I outline several dangers associated with sub-disciplinary specialization, including overlapping risks of silo-ization, sequestration, and scope and process reduction. In particular, I discuss the attendant risk of thinking of wine as vinum clausum, that is, as a closed and static object. In contrast, I outline an open, processual approach to wine as vina aperta, and consider three, interrelated features of conceptualizing wine as processual, interconnected, and constituted through interdependence between humans and the physical world, others, and themselves. Drawing on a number of process-oriented sociologists, and a range of existing sociological research on wine and related topics, I advocate for a sociology from wine, that is, for wine as an invaluable point of departure for a historically- and processually-oriented sociology

Depicting the Macabre: The lasting influence of German Expressionism on Photography

The art movement German Expressionism, although over a hundred years old, was revolutionary, depicting monstrous figures and dealing with themes of horror and isolation. The purpose of this thesis is to explain why German Expressionism was so ground breaking at the time and what impact it has had on later artists and filmmakers. My argument will explain how German Expressionism influenced the work of three artists in particular, namely Anna Gaskell, Gregory Crewdson and Cindy Sherman. The argument is determined by multiple factors that piece together to show the incorporating elements of German Expressionism, as well as give an understanding of how photography relates to a medium that isn’t traditionally associated with the art movement. The beginning of the thesis will discuss how German Expressionism began, highlighting the most important artworks, films and groups during that time. This leads onto a study of psychoanalysis and its relationship with German Expressionism. Even though these subjects are contrasting, the two are integral to understanding the importance of mental health in the movements, artists and themes used in the work. The two later chapters then move onto discuss the later influences of German Expressionism. Even though these two chapters have some similar counterpoints, it is important to emphasise the key factors which strengthen the thesis argument. Chapter Four studies the aesthetics that lead on to filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and his love of German Expressionism. Creating a narrative of how his work relates to Cindy Sherman, it lead son to examine tableau photography. The research then presents more work from Sherman and Crewdson. However, the discussion is focused towards the psychological aspects and staged photography, leading onto identifying the relationship of German Expressionism and Francis Bacon and Anna Gaskell. Concluding the argument, the research in thesis is about presenting theoretical and visual evidence of how German Expressionism was able to influence these photographers. German Expressionism in itself was anti-photography and rejected an anti-realist movement. But, when studying works from artists such as Otto Dix and Robert Wiene, the themes of mental illness, isolation and trauma mixed with the unique aesthetics of German Expressionism can be seen in the works of later artists. Emotion, psychological pressures and private obsessions are apparent everywhere in the work of Expressionists. Their artistic intentions were not limited to catharsis and self-revelation, but also gave a voice to the ignored (Miesel, 2003).This thesis is a celebration of German Expressionist work and will illustrate how impactful it was been

Taste as market practice: the example of “natural” wine

This paper adopts a practice-oriented approach to address gaps in existing knowledge of the significance of cultural producers’ and intermediaries’ practices of taste for the construction and organization of markets. Using the example of the cultural field of “natural” wine, I propose how taste operates as a logic of practice, generating market actions in relation to the aesthetic regime of provenance. Methodology/approach: The paper sets out the conceptual relationship between aesthetic regimes and practices of taste. The discussion draws from interpretive research on natural wine producers and cultural intermediaries involving 40 interviews with natural wine makers, retailers, sommeliers, and writers based in New York, Western Australia, the Champagne region, and the Cape Winelands. Findings: Three dimensions of how taste is translated into action are examined: as a device of division, which establishes a fuzzy logic of resemblance; as a device of operation, which provides an intuitive platform for shaping the means of production; and as a device of coordination, which enables an embedded experience of trust. Originality/value: The paper’s discussion of dispositions, affect, intuition, and pattern identification provide new insights into the translation of taste into action, and the macro-organization of markets. I argue for attention to how cultural producers and cultural intermediaries are mobilized through their habitual sense of taste, shifting the focus away from consumers to those whose market actions are largely self- and peer-referential. This is important for understanding processes of market development and value construction

The Rum Excise Tax Cover-Over: Legislative History and Current Issues

This report provides a history and analysis of the rum cover-over program and current legislative efforts to modify the program. The congressional debate on this legislation could also lead to debate on the broader issue of the cover-over program more generally

110th Congress

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) for individuals was originally enacted to ensure that all taxpayers, especially high-income taxpayers, pay at least a minimum amount of federal taxes. However, the AMT is not indexed for inflation, and this factor, combined with recent reductions in the regular income tax, has greatly expanded the potential impact of the AMT. This report explains legislation for the FY2009 budget compromise, which includes an offset AMT patch