Geographies of consumption: engaging with absent presences

Abstract

For geographers and others studying landscapes of consumption, sustained engagements with ‘absent presences’ — be they historically constituted or exhibited as more contemporary silences — have prompted researchers to reflect on contradictions and biases in narratives, exposing taken-for-granted assumptions about the research endeavour and the subjects of research. Focusing on research related to consuming, branding imaginaries, material and relational geographies, I outline how researchers have examined existing categorizations and conceptualizations of consumption practices and places to reflect on the power and politics ‘at work’.