The aim of the seminar Transformation of Consumer Society is to promote multidisciplinary history related consumer studies. The seminar focuses on the birth of the Finnish consumer society and the changes it undertook during the 20th century but of interest are all topics concerning consumption and consumers in a historical perspective. The seminar has been built around two disciplines at the University of Helsinki (Consumer Economics and Economic and Social History) but scholars and students from all disciplines are welcomed to join the group.
The seminar convenes approximately every sixth week. It gives its participants an opportunity to e.g. present their own papers and book reviews and get feedback. The main aim is to exchange ideas in an informal way.
More detailed information on the project Transformation of Consumer Society can be found on the Research expertise database TUHAT.
The leaders of the seminar are Professor Visa Heinonen (Consumer Economics) and Professor Matti Peltonen (Economic and Social History). The participants’ interests include e.g. co-operative systems and their importance in the building of the Finnish consumer society, the position of the youth as an actor of cultural modernisation in the Finnish consumer society from the 1950s onwards, media studies, Finnish design and hedonistic consumption in a Finnish context. Several of the seminar’s participants are at the moment working with their doctoral theses.
The seminar is related to several other projects:
- The Transformation of Consumer Society Graduate School and Research Project (2005-2010)
The graduate school and the research project is financed by the University of Helsinki (2005-2008) The aim of this project is to study the forming up of consumerism both as a historical and as a post-modern phenomenon in the Finnish consumer culture.
Researchers in Consumer Economics: Professor Visa Heinonen (leader together with Professor Matti Peltonen), Kaisa Huttunen (doctoral student), Minna Autio (post doc)
Researchers in Social History: Professor Matti Peltonen (leader with Professor Visa Heinonen), Riitta Matilainen (doctoral student), Sari Rauhamäki (doctoral student), Jukka Kortti ( post doc), Hanna Kuusi (post doc)
- Designing Everyday Life: constructing national identity, Finland 1950s-1980s
The project is funded by the University of Helsinki and The Academy of Finland. Its project leader is Professor Matti Peltonen.
- The Myths of the Finnish Consumer Society. The project aims at (re)considering the myths and ideologies related to the Finnish consumer society. Its project leader is Professor Visa Heinonen.
We are interested in creating international contacts with researchers and research institutions working in the same field. If you would like to have more information please don’t hesitate to contact us:
Mr Visa Heinonen
Professor (Consumer Economics)
Department of Economics and Management
P.O. Box 27
(Latokartanonkaari 9)
FI - 00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Tel. +358-9-191 58085, Fax +358-9-191 58096
E-mail: visa.heinonen(at)helsinki.fi
WWW: http://honeybee.helsinki.fi/~vheinone/
Mr Matti Peltonen
Professor (Economic and Social History)
Dep. of Social Science History
Economic and Social History
P.O. Box 54
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Tel.+358-9-191 24950
E-mail: matti.peltonen(at)helsinki.fi
WWW:http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/staff/mpeltone/
Ms Kaisa Huttunen
Master of Science in Agriculture and Forestry, Doctoral Student
Department of Economics and Management
P.O. Box 27
(Latokartanonkaari 9)
FI - 00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
E-mail: hannakaisa.huttunen(at)helsinki.fi
Mr Jukka Kortti
D.Soc.Sc.(Ph.D)
University of Helsinki, Dept. of Social Science History
P.O. Box 54 (Snellmaninkatu 14)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
phone: +358-9-191 24956
fax: +358-9-191 24924
mobile: +358-40-5275153
e-mail: jukka.kortti(at)helsinki.fi
WWW: http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/blogs/kortti/
Ms Riitta Matilainen
Master of Social Sciences, Doctoral Student
Dep. of Social Science History
Economic and Social History
P.O. Box 54
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Tel. +358 0 191 24946
E-mail: riitta.matilainen(at)helsinki.fi
WWW: http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/blogs/rmatilai/english/index.htm
Mr Toni Ryynänen
M.Sc (Economics and Management), Doctoral Student
School of Design
University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH
Hämeentie 135 C, 00560 Helsinki
Finland
switchboard +358 (0)9-756 31
tel. +358-(0)9-756 30402
fax. +358-(0)9-756 30345
E-mail: toni.ryynanen(at)helsinki.fi