Critical theory and the singular instant of luxury:: on contemporary conceptions of luxury customer experience

Armitage, John (2021) Critical theory and the singular instant of luxury:: on contemporary conceptions of luxury customer experience. In, Poullard, Veronique, Roberts, Joanne and Donzé, Pierre-Yves (eds.) Oxford Handbook of Luxury Business. 1st ed. New York. Oxford University Press. (In Press)

Record type: Book Section

Abstract

Critical theory is a central concept in the study of society, politics, history, and business, as an innovative academic field and intellectual tradition. This chapter offers readers an encounter with leading critical theorist Theodor Adorno’s crucial writings on an important philosophical debate of the twenty-first century: the dual character of luxury. In exploring Adorno’s ideas concerning luxury and their possible impact on what I call “the singular instant of luxury”, the chapter traces Adorno’s engagement with other key thinkers of luxury such as Thorstein Veblen. Investigating a significant business text on luxury by Wided Batat, the chapter presents an in-depth understanding of contemporary conceptions of luxury customer experience from the perspective of critical theory.

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