The idea that culture can be employed as a driver for urban economic growth has become part of the new orthodoxy by which cities seek to enhance their competitive position. Such developments reflect not only the rise to prominence of the cultural sphere in the contemporary (urban) economy, but how the meaning of culture has been redefined to include new uses in order to meet social, economic and political objectives. This significant book focuses on the ability of cultural investment to meet the rhetoric of social inclusion and the extent to which it offers sustainable solutions to the problems of the city. To this end it focuses on the meanings and practice of culture-led policy within the city and its evaluation is proposed. Paddison and Miles have edited an innovative book which presents a series of diverse case studies to challenge the 'one size fits all' model of culture-led urban regeneration - a key concern being the extent to which culture-led regeneration can genuinely fulfil the expectations that policy-makers and urban commentators have of it. This book was previously published as a special issue of Urban Studies.

The idea that culture can be employed as a driver for urban economic growth has become part of the new orthodoxy by which cities seek to enhance their competitive position. Such developments reflect not only the rise to prominence of the cultural sphere in the contemporary (urban) economy, but how the meaning of culture has been redefined to include new uses in order to meet social, economic and political objectives. This significant book focuses on the ability of cultural investment to meet the rhetoric of social inclusion and the extent to which it offers sustainable solutions to the problems of the city. To this end it focuses on the meanings and practice of culture-led policy within the city and its evaluation is proposed. Paddison and Miles have edited an innovative book which presents a series of diverse case studies to challenge the 'one size fits all' model of culture-led urban regeneration - a key concern being the extent to which culture-led regeneration can genuinely fulfil the expectations that policy-makers and urban commentators have of it. This book was previously published as a special issue of Urban Studies.

Contents:
1. Introduction: the meaning of consumption; the meaning of change? Steven Miles, Kevin Meethan and Alison Anderson 2. Setting the Scene: changing conceptions of consumption Alan Warde 3. Consuming Women; winning women? Janice Winship 4. Consuming Men; producing Loaded Ben Crewe 5. Producing TV; consuming TV Steve Spittle 6. Consuming Advertising; consuming cultural history Liz McFall and Paul du Gay 7. Consuming Retro; consuming design Adrian Franklin 8. Consuming Symbolic Meaning; consuming alcohol 9. Consuming Technology; consuming home computers Elaine Lally 10. Consuming Youth; consuming lifestyles Steven Miles 11. Changing Consumer; changing disciplinarity Russell W. Belk

The consumer ethic is ubiquitous. Everything we do, see, hear and even feel appears to be connected in some way to our experience as consumers. The increasingly high profile of debates over consumption, consumer culture, consumer behaviour and consumer rights reflects a world undergoing rapid change. The Changing Consumer charts thenature of that change, as well as discussing why consumption has become so important and what role, if any, it plays in underpinning social, economic and political transformation. Featuring contributions from some of the leading theorists of consumption from across a range of disciplines, this collection includes chapters on:
* Men's consumption and men's magazines
* The changing profile of women as consumers
* the representation of consumption on popular TV shows
* Consuming retro chic
* The symbolic and emotional role of alcohol consumption.
Drawing on fascinating case studies throughout, this book will be essential reading for students and academics interested in the study of consumption.