Taming Consumer Culture: A Contractarian Ethic for Advertising
Jamison, Kathy
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/86597
Description
Title
Taming Consumer Culture: A Contractarian Ethic for Advertising
Author(s)
Jamison, Kathy
Issue Date
2008
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Clifford Christians
Department of Study
Communications
Discipline
Communications
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Business Administration, Marketing
Language
eng
Abstract
This work proposes three principles and one imperative as the philosophical foundations for an ethic in advertising based on the social contract of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762) and the contemporary work of John Rawls (1971). The central claim is that advertising is a social institution of import situated within the broader concept of consumer culture, and as such, its social and cultural influence cannot be ignored. The following chapters provide a descriptive analysis of the classical theorists of the social contract; Rawls' principles of justice as fairness; contemporary theorists and applications; and the historical backdrop of the social contract and consumer culture in early America. Two examples of advertising as a practice of consumer culture are presented in a chapter on media and the dispersion of food myths to the public and a chapter on childhood obesity and the advertising of junk foods. These chapters support the call for an ethic based on the principles of contractarianism by exerting three principles: (1) acknowledge advertising as a social institution that generates textual meanings of significance, influence and impact on society; (2) in light of the first principle, create advertising campaigns in terms of its impact and consequence; and (3) make beneficence a constant priority. Additionally, a separate imperative is presented to emphasize the necessity for a rethinking of terms regarding the consumer versus the individual.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
