Luxury is a cultural phenomenon...

Luxury is a cultural phenomenon; there is a long-standing consumer culture worldwide, connecting many trades, groups, individuals and even countries together. It is clear there is a natural evolution of society progressing. ‘From the earliest times the concept of luxury was associated with ‘foreignness’, archaeologists and anthropologists have explored the connection between luxuries and foreign goods and their traders in ancient and primitive societies’ extensively.’ Rare and valued objects were the incentive of long-distance business in the ancient world. Countries like Asia provided us with certain materials like muslins, porcelain and lacquer which are becoming an ever increasing imported luxury within Europe’s market. ‘Eastern and Oriental imports were part of the classical, western definition of luxury’ and China today is still thought to be further advanced in technology than Britain. If it wasn’t for a strong evolved contact with other cultures a lot of materials and goods we have today would not exist and strong transport links nowadays makes this possible, by providing and making available new goods distributed evenly.

Understanding the importance of personal ‘luxury’ in other cultures is important so not to cause offense, or appear naive. View points from across the world are completely different and will always contradict. All countries have a different cost of living, different laws and a different way of life. A person from Zimbabwe for example, would have completely different expectations of a ‘luxury’ than somebody from the heart of the capital city of England. A ‘luxury’ to a British individual for example, ‘Sky HD’ would not be a comfort to poverty-stricken Africans and is likely to represent gluttony. Children in third world countries are lucky to make their teenage years. A daily achievement can become making it through the day alive, or being able to afford food. Effortless tasks and everyday occurrences we (as reasonably wealthy Westerners) take for granted, become a ‘luxury’.

A number of third world countries depend on tourism as an income for their families. As a result children are typically made to take-up native hand-made arts and crafts to enable an income for their family. Unobtainable luxuries are something which unprivileged people have to deal with everyday. All thought of ‘luxury’ would seem beyond their reach, or non-existent. Most under-privileged communities are oblivious to a better-quality way of life. This results in them being content with their lives – despite the rest of the world living in much safer, comfortable and richer societies.

Tourism is seen to be in some people’s eyes an ‘un-sustainable luxury’. Holidays abroad, and weekends away came up frequently in questionnaire (one I created on the topic of luxury) results. Scientists and environmental activists believe that the tourism industry is flawed, mainly because of the global warming produced, as well as other ways worldwide travel causes major harm to our natural environment. Nine hundred million international trips took place in 2008 and these trips seem to be ever-increasing by the year. ‘Tourism can damage coral reefs, pollute beaches and destroy the habitats of wildlife’ and ironically, there is no luxury associated with that. If the tourism boom did stop however, poorer countries that rely on tourism for their livelihood would become worse off. Once a balance of self-control takes place regarding travel within our lifestyles, all countries could then foresee a benefit.