UNSW Handbook Course - A History of Technology, Consumption & Comfort

A History of Technology, Consumption & Comfort - ARTS3302


	Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
	School: School of History and Philosophy
	Course Outline: Contact School
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Undergraduate
	Units of Credit: 6
	EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Prerequisite: Enrolment in a major or minor in History and Philosophy of Science and 72 uoc overall including 12 uoc at Level 2 in the major or minor
	CSS Contribution Charge:Band 1 (more info)
	Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

Subject Area: History and Philosophy of Science

This course explores the complex nexus of influences encompassing not only technology but also political economy, philosophy, literature, and popular culture that fused to make mass consumption what it is today. It looks, in particular, at the emergence of contemporary notions of domestic comfort and examines the cultural contemporary pervasiveness of shopping. The course shows that rather than reflecting given human predispositions contemporary consumption was invented and is constituted today through technology, broader material infrastructure, everyday practices and deeply entrenched cultural and broader intellectual norms. The course concludes by exploring the implications emerging from this for the imperative to reduce the material throughput of industrial civilisation in order to ensure future sustainability.

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.