Research On Baudrillard’s Symbolic Exchange Theory

Symbolic exchange is one of Baudrillard’s core ideas,which is a means of resistance against capitalism from symbolic society to simulated society.The idea of symbolic exchange not only carries on its early research on the system of things,but also analyzes the consumer society and the value of symbols from things to people to explore the relationship between people,technology and symbols;At the same time,it also starts the interpretation and criticism of the super real world of postmodern society based on the characteristics of three-level imitation.Combined with the early symbolic exchange model,the new symbolic exchange constructed by Baudrillard was defined.Based on the Marxist position,this study attempted to explore the origin and development of symbolic exchange theory through the text analysis of Baudrillard’s work and the perspective of his historical era,and think about the essential significance of symbolic exchange and its specific value and limitations in contemporary society.This study was carried out in four parts.The first chapter was the introduction,which not only expounded the background and significance of the topic,but combed the research status around the world and gave the research ideas and main contents.In the main body,Baudrillard’s inheritance and criticism of Marx,Moss,Bataye and Lacan,and clarifies the relationship between Baudrillard’s symbolic exchange theory and "gift exchange","consumption thought" and "mirror theory" were clarified;According to Baudrillard’s early work,the source of the theory consumer society and criticism of symbolic political economy were explained,the social problems of Western capitalist society was analyzed,the current situation of consumption in the capitalist world and the economic operation logic from production society to consumer society were summarized,.Then,Baudrillard’s symbolic exchange theory was analyzed and the concept and characteristics of symbolic exchange theory were explained;Combing the evolution process of "gift commodity authenticity" under the symbolic exchange theory,it explained that modern symbolic exchange is generated according to the transformation of social order,value structure and operation logic;Finally,the realization path of modern symbolic exchange and grasp of symbolic exchange theory were summarized to deepen the understanding.The contemporary value of Baudrillard’s symbolic exchange theory was summarized in the last part,ewhich critically reflected on its limitations.Taking the era of consumer society ushered in by western developed capitalist countries as the background,it was obvious that China has entered the era of market economy after completely opening the door at the beginning of this century,;Western means of oppression and exploitation leaded to new thinking on Marx’s critical theory and exposed the new way of capital "symbol" oppression;In view of the universality of western consumption ideology and the current consumption phenomenon in Chinese society,symbolic consumption needed to be vigilant against.In terms of its limitations,this study discussed the feasibility of Baudrillard’s symbolic exchange theory and its rationality in contemporary social culture,and then summarized its historical experience.