How can people find a sense of the good life through voluntary simplicity?
B. What is "voluntary simplicity"?
A. What is a "good life"?
lifestyle or a movement?
F. Where are the gaps/opportunities in existing literature?
definitions
history
overview of challenges/benefits
a continuum: radical versus mainstream
politics, economics, ecology
Canadian focused research is limited
existing research dominated by realms of consumer studies, economics, psychology | opportunity to bring the interdisciplinary nature of communications to this space
D. Theory & Method
Performance Theory
history
key factors
Brief overview
Why it is a fit - what unique insight does it have to offer?
disaffection with consumerist lifestyle
desire to be versus have
other labels for this way of living #
satisfaction, happiness, well-being
connection to voluntary simplicity
(auto)ethnography using reflexive dyadic interviews
alternative hedonism / sustainable hedonism #
Post-materialism / post-consumption
anti-consumption
sustainable consumption / sustainable living
citizenship & community
roots
emergence of minimalist lifestyle
often misunderstood
consumerist norms i.e. advertising, raising a family, peer expectations
benefits: the "more" of less
(auto)ethnographic study limited, and mostly to radical simplicity (i.e. off grid lifestyles, etc)
Paradigm: interpretive, leaning into critical
kindness (self, others) rooted in empathy and acceptance