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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Veblen say causes an item of clothing to be seen as inferior?

2. What principle does Veblen say guides the consumer's habits?

3. What do silver spoons have that machine-made spoons do not?

4. Where does Veblen say scholars fit in the social spectrum?

5. How do the clergy indicate the honor of their employment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the purpose of leisure?

2. What kinds of feats replace productivity for the leisure class?

3. What are the two conditions necessary for the development of the leisure class?

4. In what way is dress an example of conspicuous waste?

5. What status is attributed to scholars?

6. How does the standard of wealth change over time?

7. How are habits formed?

8. What is the relationship between the necessities of life and an individual's standard of living?

9. Where does the institution of a leisure class appear in the development of culture?

10. How does the leisure class view work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Are status symbols necessary? If social status is a fact of life for middle-class (leisure-class) people in industrial society, are status symbols necessities, or are they luxuries? Is Veblen being puritanical to see them as luxuries when pragmatically they are requirements for participation in culture?

Essay Topic 2

Are members of the leisure class the pacesetters and leaders of a culture, or are they the most conservative members, slowest to change and adapt to new cultural conditions?

Essay Topic 3

Describe how "The Theory of the Leisure Class" applies to two professions: one where the profession fits Veblen's language very well, and another where Veblen's language does not apply as neatly.

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This section contains 745 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample