Kaleidoscope of Consumption — A Compendium
With what kind of signs and symbols do everyday products constitute lifestyles?
Linguistic and pictorial signs compete for attention in the consumer world. Packages of everyday products convey messages aimed at particular value systems and lifestyle groups. Wherever supply and demand meet, a range of options are opened up for each and every person from among the wide range of goods on offer. This phenomenological compendium presents a selection of such semiotic categories. The main focus is on pictures and symbols as well as labels, slogans and sales arguments. Packages and their pool of signs serve as a resource to illustrate analogies and contrasts. As a result, these visual dimensions form a kaleidoscope of current opposing trends such as artificiality versus nature or reduction versus maximization. Thus, the collection is able to point out social sensitivities and lifestyles.
