Household Appliances and Consumers in Cold War Southern Cone.
Javiera Letelier (UC Irvine)
Pablo Pryluka (Princeton University)
This presentation will explore the expanded access to domestic goods that took place in South America in the decades following the end of World War II. Economic planning and political development gained traction globally over those years as tools to support modernization and welfarism. This happened in South America with a particular flavor: developmentalism launched an industrialization crusade to leave behind the region’s past as an exporter of foodstuff and raw materials. Thanks to local production and a rise in the standard of living, more people gained access to a broader range of domestic goods in the postwar years, which peaked over the 1960s. In their joint presentation, Javiera Letelier and Pablo Pryluka will explore the social and cultural changes this new access to durable goods brought about. By analyzing sales, advertisements, and public policy, they will explore how consumers experienced access to a variety of durable goods that would transform their everyday lives.
Date
-