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From Tradition to Consumption: Construction of a Capitalist Culture in South Korea

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"From Tradition to Consumption" deals with the process of cultural changes required by capitalist development. This book addresses many inter-related questions: How do Korean men and women respond to the new physical environments, new social roles, new daily routines, and new disciplining of the bodies? How does the state "prepare" its citizens for the new capitalist order? What is the role of mass media? And, how is the popular culture constructed according to the market needs? Dennis Hart wove in a dazzling array of perspectives including feminist theories and discourse analysis in this work. Hart maintains that what is seemingly a result of "natural" development flows from a set of policies meticulously calculated and orchestrated by the state and capitalist interests. The past is "museumized" and the modern consumerism is touted as necessary and desirable new culture. Yet, it is not an entirely harmonious and flawless process. There are contentions and maladies rising from this.
The wide range of literature and data Hart employed is also impressive-- government statistics, theses and dissertations from Korean universities, TV and magazine advertisement, and insightful personal interviews. Recently, several different ethnographic studies about Korean middle-class and consumption were published in the US, but this book stands out among them because of the theoretical depth and fluency, as well as the extensive use of Korean literature.

At once erudite and witty and compassionate, this book is a rare pleasure to read. There are many parts that compel the readers stop and think, and reflect on something familiar and ordinary, and there are some parts that are funny and deeply moving. This book could be used as a textbook for advanced undergraduate students, but it would be also approachable for non-academics who are interested in modern Korea. I recommend this book very highly.