Toys, Consumption, and Middle-class Childhood in Imperial Germany, 1871-1918 (Paperback, New edition)

Drawing on a variety of techniques from history, anthropology and literary criticism the author argues toy consumption helped adults negotiate the transmission of middle-class values regarding modernity, technology, gender roles and nationalism to their children. Practices of consumption permitted self-fashioning from above and below; women used their control over childhood to insert themselves into political debates about the future shape of the nation at a time when they lacked the vote. Although the project to build a middle-class utopia via shopping never succeeded, millions of Germans happily bought toys at Christmas and birthdays showing their faith in the ability of modern society to make the world a better place. To understand why ordinary consumers made these choices, the book draws on a variety of sources including periodicals, trade journals, advertisements, pedagogical literature, memoirs, and toys.

General

Imprint:	Verlag Peter Lang
Country of origin:	Switzerland
Series:	German Life & Civilization, 48
Release date:	April 2009
First published:	2009
Authors:	Bryan Ganaway
Dimensions:	220 x 150 x 17mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	287
Edition:	New edition
ISBN-13:	978-3-03-911548-8
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > General Books > Humanities > History > General Books > History > General
LSN:	3-03-911548-0
Barcode:	9783039115488

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