As we reflect on 2023, we have a lot to celebrate in CCTC. We continue to have representation in editorships and ERBs of our premier journals. We have newly minted PhDs with strong CCT roots. We have wonderful new scholarship coming out of top-tier research venues from researchers around the globe. We congratulate the 2023 Sidney Levy Award winner Christian Eichert. The Sidney Levy Award Committee, Henri Weijo (chair), Amber Epp, and Dave Crockett, selected the 2023 winner Christian Eichert and Marius Ludicke’s “Almost Equal: consumption under Fragmented Stigma,” and runner-up “Practice Diffusion” by Melisa Akaka, Hope Schau and Steve Vargo, both published in Journal of Consumer Research. And… our robust scholarly tradition has again fostered an ACR Fellow: 2024 Fellow Rob Kozinets!
We thank our CCT 2023 Conference organizers Sofia Ulver, Benjamin Hartmann, Peter Svensson, and Jacob Östberg for bringing us together for Utopia Revisited at Lund University in Sweden. It was an intellectually stimulating event set in a beautiful locale with a unique and lively student culture. We made memories we will treasure for a lifetime.
We thank a task force (Lauren Gurrieri, Luciana Walther, Tonya Bradford, Hope Schau, Bernardo Figueiredo and Karin Brondino) for developing the “CCT Reviewer Guidelines.” The initial version was shared with the community for input and the final document serves as both a code of conduct and a guide on how to deliver useful, meaningful feedback for papers submitted to CCT conferences. The document sets clear expectations regarding appropriate and inappropriate reviewing. Spending time to understand and absorb the nuances of this document is not just a procedural step, but a commitment to upholding the standards of excellence and rigor that define our community. It is also a way of demonstrating support and enabling community. By using these guidelines as a foundational tool in your review process, you can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of your reviews, contributing positively to the academic work at the CCT Conferences.
Get ready for our upcoming annual conference set to take place in beautiful, sunny San Diego from July 11-13 2024. Hosted by co-chairs Cristel Russell from Pepperdine University, Colin Campbell, and Justine Farrell from the University of San Diego, this conference promises an exciting exploration of how consumption and markets intertwine with sociocultural patterns, institutions, and more. The theme, “Welcome to San Diego," embodies the inclusivity of this event, inviting quality submissions from all themes, domains of inquiry, and approaches within consumer culture theory. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or a newcomer, CCT San Diego will provide a platform to engage, learn, and contribute to this dynamic field. San Diego's sunny beaches, vibrant culture, and welcoming atmosphere make it the perfect backdrop to embrace the warmth of California and of our dynamic academic community. Submissions close February 1, 2024 so don't miss your chance to be a part of the conference.
The Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Workshop organized by Ela Veresiu, Tonya Bradford and Andre Maciel immediately precedes the CCT 2024 conference and will be held on the campus of the University of San Diego. Attendees should plan to arrive in San Diego by late afternoon on July 9, 2024. The QDA Workshop is a biennial event offering hands-on mentoring and practice in the analysis, interpretation and writing of qualitative consumer research. Working with senior mentors, teams will tackle issues such as: interpretive problems, iterative cycling from data/literature/theory, and moving from findings to theoretical contributions. Participants will 1) gain knowledge and practice active mastery of skills in analyzing and interpreting qualitative data; 2) pursue solutions to specific, thorny issues within their research projects; 3) forge relationships with participants and mentors within the CCT community; and 4) improve the quality of their research submissions for publication outlets. Prospective participants must apply. QDA participants typically are those who have research agendas that relate to the work broadly described under the rubric of Consumer Culture Theory (Arnould and Thompson, 2005). Priority is given to doctoral students; if space permits, faculty applicants from those in the early stages of their careers (e.g., tenure track, but not yet having achieved tenure) may be accommodated as well. Applicants must submit a 5-page (maximum) synopsis of one research project, including what type of data has been collected, what are the research question/s, and any preliminary analysis, by February 1, 2024, to: QDAworkshop@gmail.com.
We look forward to a wonderful 2024!
Hope Schau (President) and Giana Eckhardt (President-Elect)