Caracas residents in the marathon for prestige
What's the plan this weekend in Caracas? Whether it's going to a clandestine bar, eating at a new restaurant, or attending a sports event, everyone seems to want to do or try the same thing: something recommended by a friend or seen on social media. In these situations, where people run simultaneously in the same direction, one must ask: what are they going after and what are they fleeing from?, said the English sociologist T. H. Marshall.
TL;DR
- Caracas residents are collectively pursuing trends and consumption, driven by post-crisis recovery and a need to belong.
- The 'boliburguesía,' enriched by the crisis, influences social prestige through their lifestyle and consumption patterns.
- This consumption is also a way to escape the deep uncertainty and instability of Venezuelan reality.
- Many engage in a 'freudian denial,' participating in consumption linked to the elite while criticizing corruption.
- The ultimate goal of this race is to join the elite that defines prestige, highlighting the triumph of hedonism and status-seeking over collective values.