THE PHENOMENON OF «ECOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM» IN THE CULTURE OF CONSUMPTION OF A GLOBALIZED SOCIETY: A SOCIO-PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF GASTRONOMIC PRACTICES

Abstract

This article examines the phenomenon of ecological symbolism in the culture of consumption of a globalized society from a socio-philosophical perspective. In contemporary conditions of globalization, the processes of food production, distribution, and consumption acquire not only economic or utilitarian significance but also a symbolic and cultural dimension that increasingly influences everyday social practices. Food in the modern globalized world functions not merely as a basic resource necessary for human survival, but also as an important cultural marker that reflects social values, ethical orientations, and lifestyle choices. Gastronomic practices therefore play a significant role in contemporary societies, as they represent new forms of social identity, value orientations, and worldview attitudes that emerge in the context of global cultural interaction and the expansion of consumer culture. In this study, the author interprets the concept of «ecological symbolism» as a cultural phenomenon that reflects the aspiration of individuals and social groups to demonstrate their ecological awareness and responsibility through the choice of food products as well as through the ways these products are prepared, presented, and consumed. Such practices often function as visible indicators of environmentally oriented lifestyles and ethical commitments. The article explores the relationship between the culture of consumption and the transformation of gastronomic culture under the influence of globalization processes. The author emphasizes that the globalization of food encourages the spread of new gastronomic practices that integrate local traditions of consumption with global trends and standards. In this context, consumers increasingly perceive environmentally labeled products, organic food, farm products, and practices of conscious or sustainable consumption as symbols of a particular lifestyle, cultural identity, and social status. These practices also become part of broader cultural narratives about environmental responsibility and sustainable development. The analysis demonstrates that ecological symbolism functions as an important mechanism for the formation of cultural meanings in a globalized society and also serves as a tool of social communication, symbolic representation, and self-identification. Based on the results of the research, the author argues that gastronomic practices in the contemporary culture of consumption not only satisfy basic human needs but also act as a means of symbolic expression of ecological, ethical, and cultural values.