Fragmentary consumption = Fragmentary Identity?

So in summary, the focus on FRAGMENTATION OF IDENTITY can be argued to be linked to FRAGMENTARY CONSUMPTION as two outcomes of a very FRAGMENTARY ALIENATED WORLD that focusses on surface rather than content, style over substance.

This new POSTMODERN WORLD is globally linked, but locally divided. In other words, we are more linked and interdependent on each other as global citizens and yet removed from each other at both the global and the local level. In effect, another key characteristic of postmodernism is the development of fragmented, alienated individuals living (precariously) in fragmented global societies.

Another way to understand this approach is to reflect on the emergence of, often off-shore, leisure and theme parks which are ‘highly commercialised, with many simulated environments more ‘real’ than the original from which they are copied’ (Urry 2014:81).

Illustrating this point with references to ‘newly constructed sites of consumption excess’ (79) Urry highlights Macao described as ‘a laboratory of consumption, as the Chinese learn to be individualised consumers of goods and services being generated on an extraordinary scale’ (81). Or Dubai, which up to 1960 was one of the poorest places on earth and yet by the 2000’s was the number one global site for ostentatious shopping’ and other forms of hyppereal consumption – a domed ski resort, and copies of the ‘real’ more perfect than the originals – the pyramids, Taj Mahal, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a snow mountain etc. .

The shifts in modern society from an economic perspective – ie the ‘financialisation’ of the modern world are explored in John Urry’s book, Offshoring (2014).

So is there a way in which can understand and contextualise these shifts? One approach would be to look at the key conceptual ideas and thinkers that articulate arguments and key approaches to this topic.