Approaching Consumer Culture

Evgenia Krasteva-Blagoeva, Ph.D is Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, New Bulgarian University, Sofia. Her research interests are in consumer culture, ethnography of socialism and postsocialism, urban anthropology, communities and identities in the Balkans, names and name giving. Member of the Executive Commitee of InASEA - International Association of Southeast European Anthropology (2007-2014, 2016-2018) and elected President of InASEA (2014-2016). She was twice guest lecturer in the Institute of Ethnology, University "Ludvig Maximilian", Munich (2006,2008) and in Konitsa Summer School of Balkan Anthropology (2006,2008). Leading scholar in several research projects such as "Fast Food and Slow Food Culture in the Beginning of 21st century" and "New Consumer Practices: Anthropological Perspectives". Author of The Personal Name in Bulgarian Tradition (1999, in Bulgarian), editor in chief of Total Sale. Consumer Culture in Bulgaria (2014, in Bulgarian) author of more than 30 articles in refereed journals and edited volumes in English and German.

Consumer Culture and its Futures:  Dreams and Consequences.- "You are a Socialist Child like me": Goods and Identity in Bulgaria.- Consumer Culture from Socialist Yugoslavia to Post-Socialist Serbia: Movements and Moments.- Overview of Consumer Culture in Bulgaria: From Perestroika to Facebook.- Consuming "Others": Post-socialist Realities and Paradoxes of Appropriation in Serbia.- The Meanings and Practices of "Consumer Activism" in Post-Socialist Bulgaria.- Preserves Exiting socialism: Authenticity, Anti-Standartization and Middle Class Consumption in Postsocialist Romania.- The Pleasures of Being Global: Cultural Consumption of Pizza and Sushi in a Bulgarian City.- Consumption of the Past: Constructing Antiquity of an Archaeological Site in Bulgaria and Marketing the Ideological Narrative.- Modernization and the Department Store in Early 20th Century Japan: Modern Girl and New Consumer Culture Lifestyles.- A Cultural Reading of Conspicuous Consumption in China.- Middle Strata Consumption Patterns as a "Key" for Understanding Japanese Society.