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Re-humanization through conspicuous consumption in four African masculine sartorial subcultures – from diamond field’s dandies to Izikhothane

Bibliographic Data

ID6030381
AuthorsJabulani Goodhope Mnisi (University of Johannesburg), Mthobeli Ngcongo (0000-0002-9309-7483, Department of Communication Science, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume21
Issue2
Pages341-354
Publication date2023-04-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAfrican Identities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1472-5843 • E-ISSN: 1472-5851
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14725843.2021.1913094
OpenAlexW3157049145
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited32

This article argues that the Via Daveytons, a sartorial subculture of Izikhothane from South Africa, which is infamous for its supposedly brazen destructive conspicuous consumption practices, can be rather usefully read as articulating practices that seek to rehumanize members amidst lives that are otherwise bereft of dignity. Among other conspicuous practices, Izikhothane behavior involves purchasing expensive designer clothing labels and favorite foods which are subsequently destroyed in full view of an audience, in ritual mock battles. In South Africa, it will be argued that the Izikhothane subculture can be interpreted as evidencing a resurgence of conspicuous conmsu merist cultures that include the South African ‘diamond field’s dandy’ of the mid-1880s in Kimberly and Johannesburg migrant Zulu miners called Oswenka of the 1950s. It can also be read to be related to the practices of other conspicuous consumerist cultures such as those of the Sape of the Congo. The study draws on relevant literatures on conspicuous consumption and rehumanization, tying these to Tullock’s tripartite structure of style-fashion-dress. It does this in order to make the argument that Izikhothane rituals and norms are communicative practices that rehumanize otherwise marginalized and discarded humanities

Aesthetics · Art · Clothing · Conspicuous consumption · Dignity · Ideology · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Tying · Veblen good · Crafts, Textile, and Design · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · Law

  • Tapping imaginaries

    Open Access•Jordanna Matlon•International Review of Sociology•2024

  • Africa's Middle Classes

    Open Access•Henning Melber•Africa Spectrum•2022

  • Conspicuous Consumption and Race

    Kerwin Kofi Charles, Erik Hurst et al.•The Quarterly Journal of Economics•2009

  • Mundane Consumption and the Self

    Open Access•Robert E Kleine, Susan Schultz Kleine et al.•Journal of Consumer Psychology•1993

  • Consumption and Identity

    Jonathan Friedman•Consumption and identity•2005

  • Consumer Culture

    R Sassatelli•Consumer Culture•2007

  • After Identity

    Open Access•Georgia Warnke•After Identity•2008

  • How Blacks Use Consumption to Shape their Collective Identity

    Open Access•M Lamont, Molnar•Journal of Consumer Culture•2001

  • Interpersonal control, dehumanization, and violence

    Open Access•Arlen C Moller, Edward L Deci•Group Processes & Intergroup…•2009

  • Style—Fashion—Dress

    Carol Tulloch•Fashion Theory•2010

  • Fashion, Time and the Consumption of a Renaissance Man in Germany

    Open Access•Gabriele Mentges•Gender & History•2002

  • Conspicuous consumption and “race”

    Open Access•Wolfhard Kaus•Journal of Development Economics•2012

  • De- and rehumanization in the wake of atrocities

    Rianna Oelofsen•South African Journal of Philosophy•2009

  • Sartorial excess in Mary Sibande's ‘Sophie’

    Mary Corrigall•Critical Arts•2015

  • Agency and affordability

    Mehita Iqani•Critical Arts•2015

  • Playfulness, “World”-Travelling, and Loving Perception

    Open Access•María Gabriela Lugones, María Lugones•Hypatia•1987

  • "Race" and Racism

    Open Access•Robin Perry, Richard J Perry•Race and Racism•2007

  • From Intractable Conflict Through Conflict Resolution To Reconciliation

    Open Access•Daniel Bar-Tal, Daniel Bar‐tal•Political Psychology•2000

  • The New Black Middle Class in South Africa

    Busisiwe Khaba•Politikon•2017

  • Veblen, Bourdieu, and Conspicuous Consumption

    Andrew B Trigg•Journal of Economic Issues•2001

  • Blatant benevolence and conspicuous consumption

    Vladas Griskevicius, Joshua M Tybur et al.•Journal of Personality and Social…•2007

  • The Economic Lives of the Poor

    Open Access•Abhijit V Banerjee, Abhijit Banerjee et al.•The Journal of Economic…•2007

  • Paying the Piper

    Anne Case, Anu Garrib et al.•Economic Development and Cultural…•2013

  • Conspicuous Confusion? A Critique of Veblen's Theory of Conspicuous Consumption

    Colin Campbell•Sociological Theory•1995

  • Race and Race Theory

    Howard Winant•Annual Review of Sociology•2000

  • The cinematic township

    Jordache Abner Ellapen•Journal of African Cultural Studies•2007

  • Races to consume

    Deborah Posel•Ethnic and Racial Studies•2010

Unique citing works2
Citations per year0,5
Citation span2022 - 2024 (3)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 2
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