Definition:
The process by which something not originally produced for exchange is transformed into a product that can be bought, sold, measured, or exploited for profit.
Usage Context:
Appears in discussions of identity, creativity, labour, emotion, relationships, and increasingly, mental health and self-expression.
Critical Note:
Commodification strips context and meaning in order to standardise value. What is gained in market legibility is often lost in authenticity, autonomy, and human nuance.
Related Terms:
Value Extraction, Identity Commodification, Consumerism, Surveillance Capitalism, Cultural Capture