While doing a sequence of readings on capitalism and its discontents, this assignments tasks students with considering how things became commodities (like water, land, animals’ bodies, etc). To familiarize students with the idea that commodities are a social construct, and that there are innumerable social processes of crafting these commodities, they are invited to create their own commodity. The assignment instructions suggest a step-by-step approach that can be done in different weeks. It goes from a few theoretical questions, to a brainstorm of ideas, and finally the instructions to pitch their product to the class.
Courses: Anthropology 101, Sociology 101
Author: Ana Badue
