Study On The Consumption Culture Of The Theory Of The Leisure Class

The Theory of The Leisure Class written by Thorstein Veblen is a classic work of luxury cultural consumption theories in modern western society. The conspicuous consumption became a classical term among the relative research. The theorists' study of consumption activities before Veblen focused on social functions and economic functions. It can't make us know the real circumstances of American. Veblen studied on the consumption activities of the leisure class from the aspects of culture, literary and aesthetics. In Veblen's opinion, the leisure class follows the principle of honorific expenditure which goes in the opposite direction of the instinct of workmanship. The conspicuous consumption enables that principle to be conspicuous. All of this roots in the pecuniary emulation. The leisure class set a honorific example to the whole society, so their consumption standards have significant effects on other classes. The society competes for the money and leisure.The higher learning is connected with honorific expenditure, besides, literary and aesthetic judgment included. Veblen's theory makes a great influence upon the later theories of consumption culture.