Physical System

Le Système des objets

Objects are ubiquitous in our daily lives. It's fair to say that all our activities involve objects. Baudrillard attempts to distinguish between these myriad types of objects and outline a hierarchy and system. He argues that modern furniture represents a series, while antiques or extremely expensive luxury items represent models. Ordinary people, limited by their living space, can only choose modern, foldable and disassembled furniture, while only the wealthy can afford the heavy, ornate solid wood of classical furniture.
The distinction between series and models actually represents a distinction between social classes, between the ordinary and the wealthy, and serves as both a symbol and a language. For those with limited funds who crave luxury goods, installment payments or credit loans offer a boon. The old model of accumulating wealth before purchasing luxury goods has been abandoned, and the practice of preemptively acquiring luxury goods based on anticipated income has become widespread. Today, ubiquitous advertising promotes models and brands, leveraging sentimental values. Objects have become symbols of consumer power and social status. Purchases made out of free choice, by consuming anticipated future income and life, render people less free. Thus, people produce and consume objects, ultimately becoming enslaved by them and the capital behind them.

2019-01-01

上海人民出版社

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