Accounts of atmospherics often begin with Kotler in the 1970s. My recent paper recovers earlier discussions of retail, advertising and designed environments, tracing a much longer and stranger history of commercial atmosphere. doi.org/10.1080/0267...
Beyond Kotler and Böhme, towards postmaterialism? Tracing neglected theorisations of atmospheres and atmospherics
In this paper, we trace the thinking around atmospheres and atmospherics. Initially our focus is upon Franz Anton Mesmer. We next examine atmosphere construction in retailing during the nineteenth ...
doi.org
September 15, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Accounts of atmospherics often begin with Kotler in the 1970s. My recent paper recovers earlier discussions of retail, advertising and designed environments, tracing a much longer and stranger history of commercial atmosphere. doi.org/10.1080/0267...
On the other hand, this could just suggest that the fixation on words is a response to something broader (postmaterialism?) that both forms of identity politics have in common, independent of intellectual origins
August 24, 2026 at 12:48 PM
On the other hand, this could just suggest that the fixation on words is a response to something broader (postmaterialism?) that both forms of identity politics have in common, independent of intellectual origins
it's funny how postmaterialism for conservatives doesn't mean upholding a more moral, spiritually fulfilled society but instead somehow establishing a police state that guarantees your niece won't roll her eyes at your sexually inappropriate jokes at the thanksgiving dinner table
June 8, 2026 at 10:27 PM
it's funny how postmaterialism for conservatives doesn't mean upholding a more moral, spiritually fulfilled society but instead somehow establishing a police state that guarantees your niece won't roll her eyes at your sexually inappropriate jokes at the thanksgiving dinner table
yeah you had a lot of talk of climate change as the kind of postmaterialism nonsense that was killing left wing parties but I can't think of an issue more material than "do we think New Orleans should still exist by the end of the century"
I know I’m a broken record on this but I cannot get over how our political classes came to the quiet consensus that climate change was woke frivolity right out the time entire municipalities started getting swallowed by fire and peak oil actually became real.
May 15, 2026 at 3:27 AM
yeah you had a lot of talk of climate change as the kind of postmaterialism nonsense that was killing left wing parties but I can't think of an issue more material than "do we think New Orleans should still exist by the end of the century"
Wanting the success of domestic oil production (Which really will only exist at a large scale when an everyday necessity is really pricey) is a very weird form of postmaterialism.
this shit is so fuckin funny to me bc every conservative coded white person over 25 has seen Landman, which in the very first episode Billy Bob Thornton explains how fucked American oil producers are if it's too cheap to sell
January 6, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Wanting the success of domestic oil production (Which really will only exist at a large scale when an everyday necessity is really pricey) is a very weird form of postmaterialism.
One of my most consistent takes is that a constant obsession with moderation on cultural issues is itself also postmaterialism lol
November 19, 2025 at 1:13 AM
One of my most consistent takes is that a constant obsession with moderation on cultural issues is itself also postmaterialism lol
Tbh I’m highly sympathetic to the idea that postmaterialism is the driving factor of the decline in center left parties across the developed world, the problem is that climate change poses a huge threat to material thriving in a way that like, traditional conservation doesn’t
If there’s no shale gas then there’s no shale gas, but I still think environmentalism is basically bad and politicians should focus more on material prosperity.
November 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Tbh I’m highly sympathetic to the idea that postmaterialism is the driving factor of the decline in center left parties across the developed world, the problem is that climate change poses a huge threat to material thriving in a way that like, traditional conservation doesn’t
Most theories of popularism worked because of postmaterialism, turns out voters are staring at the price of burger all the time and you can’t exactly distract them if they’re mad about it
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Most theories of popularism worked because of postmaterialism, turns out voters are staring at the price of burger all the time and you can’t exactly distract them if they’re mad about it
Tbh I think the kernel of truth here is that Dems are too Postmaterial but the fact is that whining about 7 SF progressives saying advanced track math is racist and the death of meritocracy is not not postmaterialism
November 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Tbh I think the kernel of truth here is that Dems are too Postmaterial but the fact is that whining about 7 SF progressives saying advanced track math is racist and the death of meritocracy is not not postmaterialism
Postmaterialism in theory: now that our basic needs are met, we can focus on higher goals like justice for all and realizing the promise of American democracy
In practice: we bailed out the Teamster’s pension so they’re free to align themselves with biotech billionaires against wokeness
In practice: we bailed out the Teamster’s pension so they’re free to align themselves with biotech billionaires against wokeness
September 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Postmaterialism in theory: now that our basic needs are met, we can focus on higher goals like justice for all and realizing the promise of American democracy
In practice: we bailed out the Teamster’s pension so they’re free to align themselves with biotech billionaires against wokeness
In practice: we bailed out the Teamster’s pension so they’re free to align themselves with biotech billionaires against wokeness
I really see it much less of a battle of left vs center, than postmaterialist vs materialist. Bernie 2016 was a very good force in combatting postmaterialism in the party.
September 17, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I really see it much less of a battle of left vs center, than postmaterialist vs materialist. Bernie 2016 was a very good force in combatting postmaterialism in the party.
And of course there’s plenty of people whose postmaterialism is performative cruelty to economically productive immigrants
September 12, 2025 at 6:07 PM
And of course there’s plenty of people whose postmaterialism is performative cruelty to economically productive immigrants
Don’t make me tap the sign
The sign: “whining about wokeness is as much focusing too much on postmaterialism over kitchen table issues as being woke is”
The sign: “whining about wokeness is as much focusing too much on postmaterialism over kitchen table issues as being woke is”
No, fuck you, in fact, we're gonna talk about woke issues MOAR
August 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Don’t make me tap the sign
The sign: “whining about wokeness is as much focusing too much on postmaterialism over kitchen table issues as being woke is”
The sign: “whining about wokeness is as much focusing too much on postmaterialism over kitchen table issues as being woke is”
Postmaterialism in theory: Now that our basic needs are met, we can focus on higher issues, like limitless self-expression, or realizing the promise of liberty and justice for all
Postmaterialism in practice:
Postmaterialism in practice:
it's going to be somewhat hilarious when americans are paying 50% more for coffee because trump wants bolsonaro free
July 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Postmaterialism in theory: Now that our basic needs are met, we can focus on higher issues, like limitless self-expression, or realizing the promise of liberty and justice for all
Postmaterialism in practice:
Postmaterialism in practice:
Postmaterial politics in theory: with basic needs being met, we can focus on higher goals
Postmaterialism in practice: psychiatrists who make mid six figures voting for redistributionary policy the working class does not want
Postmaterialism in practice: psychiatrists who make mid six figures voting for redistributionary policy the working class does not want
June 23, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Postmaterial politics in theory: with basic needs being met, we can focus on higher goals
Postmaterialism in practice: psychiatrists who make mid six figures voting for redistributionary policy the working class does not want
Postmaterialism in practice: psychiatrists who make mid six figures voting for redistributionary policy the working class does not want
Postmaterialism in theory: now that our basic needs have been met by industrial abundance, we can focus on the higher things that truly matter
Postmaterialism in practice:
Postmaterialism in practice:
June 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Postmaterialism in theory: now that our basic needs have been met by industrial abundance, we can focus on the higher things that truly matter
Postmaterialism in practice:
Postmaterialism in practice:
I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism
April 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism
TBH this was less postmaterialism as it was the Liberal-Segregationist marriage of convenience falling apart
March 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
TBH this was less postmaterialism as it was the Liberal-Segregationist marriage of convenience falling apart
welcome to postmaterialism buddy, being able to sexually harass 19 year old interns is worth millions in equity
March 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
welcome to postmaterialism buddy, being able to sexually harass 19 year old interns is worth millions in equity
Postmaterialism in theory: Now that our basic needs are met, we can focus on higher goals
The higher goals in practice: Colombian-Americans for latino genocide
The higher goals in practice: Colombian-Americans for latino genocide
NYT: “As Republicans Search for Answers on Immigration, A Final Solution Makes Headway”
March 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Postmaterialism in theory: Now that our basic needs are met, we can focus on higher goals
The higher goals in practice: Colombian-Americans for latino genocide
The higher goals in practice: Colombian-Americans for latino genocide
I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism
March 3, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism I hate postmaterialism
I hate postmaterialism because what do you mean Democrats built the best postwar economy and then lose to George Bush
February 11, 2025 at 2:19 AM
I hate postmaterialism because what do you mean Democrats built the best postwar economy and then lose to George Bush
It is legitimately insane how education has just totally fallen out of salience as the issue has gotten actively *worse*. Postmaterialism is crazy
January 30, 2025 at 6:11 PM
It is legitimately insane how education has just totally fallen out of salience as the issue has gotten actively *worse*. Postmaterialism is crazy
Tbh postmaterialism is relevant here because blue collar unionized employees are kinda the platonic ideal of cross pressured economically liberal, social conservative voters. They are liberal when their contracts and pensions are under threat, but when they’re secure…
January 29, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Tbh postmaterialism is relevant here because blue collar unionized employees are kinda the platonic ideal of cross pressured economically liberal, social conservative voters. They are liberal when their contracts and pensions are under threat, but when they’re secure…
postmaterialism. It’s like Marxist postmodernism.
October 28, 2023 at 10:52 PM
postmaterialism. It’s like Marxist postmodernism.