Secrecy and consumer culture : an exploration of esotericism in contemporary western society using the work of Simmel and Baudrillard

Esoteric knowledge seems no longer secret in Western contemporary society. It is part of consumer culture and 'secret wisdom' is no longer the privilege of an aristocracy of culture such as mystics or dervishes; it appears to be within every individual's reach. Exploring this issue with the works of Simmel and Baudrillard, this article will attempt firstly to understand the notion of secrecy, secondly to assess its place in consumer culture - or what Boudrillard would call hyperreality - and finally to evaluate its implication - that is that the proliferation of 'secrel wisdom' might lead to a re-enchantment of Western society. However, the overproliferation of this wisdom might have a totally reverse outcome in hyperreality. It could lead to a blase attitude amongsome (over)consumers of secrecy and thus, paradoxically, towards a feeling of disenchantment.