Romancing material culture in urban public spaces: the case of valentine's day in Pune
- 2006
- p.649-54.
- 16 Feb
India, since the 1990s, has witnessed a strong urban-centric pattern of high growth. Urban India is, however, not just about economic change. The social and cultuural aspects of economic growth, though subtle and difficult to capture, are an integral part of his process. This paper attempts tp explore the changing dynamics of an urban Indian environment in conjunction with material culture as observed in public spaces. It focuses on the complexities of economic and socio-cultural processes that indicate or lead to a culture centred on consumption. The paper discusses the results of a survey conducted in 2003 on Valentine's Day in Pune, providing evidence of the emergence of material culture. It explores the issues of acceptance and incorporation of an imported celebration like Valentine's Day, and discusses the evolving consumption patterns. - Reproduced.