Material Culture and Mass Consumption: the impact of Daniel Miller’s work in Brazil

Abstract

This special issue reflects on the impact of the work of the English anthropologist Daniel Miller, trained in archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, on diverse research fields of the social sciences in Brazil. In this introduction we present an interpretation of the arguments set out in the book Material culture and mass consumption, first published in 1987, a fundamental work for comprehending the theoretical framework proposed by Miller, never translated into Portuguese. Additionally, we also offer a critical reflection on the continuing relevance of this theory about consumption for debates in the social sciences today. We also present an interview with Miller in which we were able to discuss some of our impressions concerning his career and writings. In the articles that follow in this special issue, different authors were invited to discuss the relevance of Miller’s work for their own theoretical production. Finally, in the section Research Records, Brazilian researchers who worked directly with Miller provide a brief account of their experience.