The object: an investigation into luxury

We live in a culture flourishing with objects. These objects – pervasively powerful in their proliferation – demand critical analysis and investigation. This thesis, through an interdisciplinary textual analysis, interrogates the object in the consumer society. The authentic luxury object is analysed through application of the early work of Jean Baudrillard. By positing luxury as a concept, and a macroeconomic sector, this field of cultural and economic production is investigated from an interdisciplinary cultural studies perspective.The distinction between authentic, and inauthentic object is addressed in this thesis. This is shown through an investigation of the luxury sector, as well as the counterfeit sector. This thesis utilises a Baudrilllardian perspective to analyse the rigid macroeconomic sector of luxury.