The categories of real and symbolic, material and meaning have for a long time bothered not only cultural theorists but also prominent philosophers (e.g. Hegel, 1979; Heidegger, 1978) and sociologists (e.g. Baudrillard, 1983, 1993). Often the relationship between the two has been characterised in terms of ‘opposition’, ‘contrast’ or ‘incompatibility’. It can, however, be argued that this theorizing has – at least in cultural theory which is the strand of discourse that is dealt with in this paper – been replaced by a ‘unity’. More precisely, it is practice theory that has in several ways overcome the opposition and replaced it with an ‘inclusive view’ (e.g. Reckwitz (2002); Shove&Pantzar (2005)).
Going beyond the debate of ‘practice theory’ in its different forms (comparing for example Bourdieu with Schatzki) and also exceeding the comparison of practice theory with other forms of cultural theory (see Reckwitz (2002) for an overview), this paper will make two arguments: First of all, if we focus on the more recent forms of practice theory (what Postill (2010) calls the ‘second wave’), it is indeed possible to abolish the above oppositions in favour of an inclusive notion of practice regarding material and meaning. We will try to provide a common theoretical understanding of practice in the first part of the following essay. Secondly, the main part of this paper consists of an applied case study, the ‘Revolution of the Practice of Payment’. We follow the approach developed by Shove and Pantzer (2005) towards Nordic walking in order to depict the development of payment practices from coin and paper to plastic money.
In the last chapter of this paper, however, we will debate the notion whether it should do so. In this critical part, we will take into account arguments formulated on the one hand from material culture studies and on the other from language and representation studies in relation to payment practices in particular. Without questioning the general claim of practice theory, we show two alternative ways of describing payment. On the one hand we argue in the tradition of Shell and Baudrillard that payment became already with the advancement of paper money inherently immaterial and symbolic, whereas following Miller’s material studies on the other hand, payment will always be deeply linked to materiality – even in its most immaterial forms.
Table of Contents
Practice theory – an overview of the ‘Second Wave’
Body & Mind
Objects & Meanings
Performance
Summary
The Revolution of the Practice of Payment
Scene 1
Scene 2
Framework – A short historical overview
Materiality
Institutions
Symbolic meanings
1 Authority
2 Affluence & Debt
Synthesis: Practice as Performance
Critique
Conclusion
Objectives & Core Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine whether the traditional opposition between materiality and meaning can be overcome within cultural theory by applying the concept of "practice theory." The research explores how payment practices have evolved and whether they demonstrate a unified integration of material and symbolic elements.
- Theoretical overview of "second wave" practice theory
- Application of practice theory to the evolution of payment methods
- Analysis of the interplay between material objects and symbolic meanings
- Critique of practice theory from language, representation, and material culture studies
Excerpt from the Book
The Revolution of the Practice of Payment
December 1380. London. 8 o clock on a Thursday morning. I am on the farmers market in the town centre surrounded by market criers praising their fresh food and clothes. Cackling, mooing, mowing – I can not only hear the unsettling sounds of the cattle next to me, but feel their half-frozen excrements and bowels under my feet. Eased by the heavy coins in my pocket, I approach one of the chatting merchants. Potatoes, carrots, cabbage, a piece of pork – it is not much that you can get in wintertime and this little is most expensive. Two half-guineas with the head of George III change their owner – only three are left for this week in the tinned box.
Scene 2
Late August 2010. Jersey, Channel Islands. 2am on a Sunday. In the very warmth of my home. The only remaining sound this late at night comes from the open fireplace opposite my rest on the sofa. My computer on my lap, I always start with Amazon (especially by the end of the month – I love my credit card). Originally on search for books that are not available at the local library, I end up finding not only a first edition of Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘Gold Bug’ on the net, but order several shirts and a new desk light. Thank you, flexible friend!
Summary of Chapters
Practice theory – an overview of the ‘Second Wave’: This chapter defines the theoretical backbone of the study, emphasizing the unity of body, mind, objects, and meaning within routinized activities.
The Revolution of the Practice of Payment: This section presents a case study analyzing the evolution of payment methods across four historical phases, tracing the shift from physical coins to virtual transactions.
Critique: This chapter challenges the unified view of practice theory by presenting counter-arguments from the perspectives of simulation studies and material culture studies.
Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the arguments and reflects on whether practice theory successfully resolves the tension between materiality and symbolic representation in light of modern digital payment trends.
Keywords
Practice theory, Materiality, Symbolic meaning, Payment, Dematerialisation, Performance, Second wave, Consumption, Institutions, Simulation, Affluence, Debt, Social practices, Technology, Digital revolution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper investigates whether practice theory provides a successful framework to overcome the traditional philosophical opposition between material reality and symbolic meaning.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The study centers on cultural theory, the history of money and payment, consumption patterns, and the interplay between institutional frameworks and individual behavior.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if payment practices can be understood as an "inclusive" phenomenon where materiality and meaning are not contrasting, but intertwined elements.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a combination of theoretical analysis of "second wave" practice theory and an applied case study approach to trace the evolution of payment practices.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section details the "Revolution of the Practice of Payment" through four stages, covering material aspects, institutional changes, and the shifting symbolism of wealth and debt.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include practice theory, materiality, symbolic meaning, dematerialisation, and the digital revolution of payment.
How does the author define the 'Second Wave' of practice theory?
The 'Second Wave' is characterized by scholars such as Reckwitz, Schatzki, and Shove, who argue for an inclusive account of social practices that unites acting, thinking, and material components.
Why is the case study on 'Payment' particularly relevant?
Payment is used as a case study because its history clearly demonstrates a shift from tangible metal coins to immaterial digital digits, providing a perfect test case for the theory of dematerialisation.
- Quote paper
- Johannes Lenhard (Author), 2012, The Revolution of the Practice of Payment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/187366
