This research paper will discuss the various concepts of consumerism; predominantly regarding the therapeutic characteristics central to consumer culture. The paper will firstly introduce the reader to the culture of consumption, commodity excess and the success of consumerism in the modern era. The paper will then deconstruct four crucial consumerism theories, namely Proximity, Modernity, Flânerie and Globalised Consumerism. This paper will lend detailed descriptions, as well as deliver critique on its therapeutic abilities to the consumer and provide visual examples to illustrate each of the above mentioned theories. This paper will conclude with a brief commentary on said theories while simultaneously delivering a holistic address on consumerism. …show more content…
These advertisements predominantly push the message that the viewer’s life is in need of some new product, hence the existence of commodity excess. (Quarc [Sa]). The advertisers create somewhat of a limbo effect where customers are caught up in a dissatisfaction with their previous and current purchases, while craving to acquire a newer (often lacking any significant improvement) commodity. Theoretically; in an anti-consumer culture based on economic or psychological consumption choices, the free choice of consumers intensively orient the production of goods by manufacturers. (EBO 2008. Sv “consumerism”). In current consumer culture; however, the supply of goods controls the consumer, leading the individual to consume a larger quantity of specific goods due to the abundant availability thereof. For example; after sugar became a relatively easy commodity to acquire in the 18th century, Britain’s consumption of the goods increased by close to 20 times the original rate. We can thus see that wasteful consumerism, or commodity excess occurs when the consumption factor is based off the supply, rather than the demand. (Jackson 1994) Now that we have a basic understanding of consumer culture and the factors that influences it, we can deconstruct the main theories that constitute the culture of consumption, namely Proximity, Modernity, Flanerie and consumer culture on a global scale. Each of these concepts will be extensively analysed and critiqued based on their socio-psychological …show more content…
The noticeable affect window shopping has on consumer culture becomes noticeable when taking window displays into account. The presence of luxurious items, print and televised advertisements adoring the windows and visible consumer movement within the retail space all gravitate towards enticing the consumer to enter. The ideas of mass following and a better quality of life are centre points to manipulating the consumer’s willing mind. (Walter [Sa]) All the Flâneur needs is a nudge into the right direction - which is exactly what the advertisers are doing on an interpersonal psychological level with each and every consumer. Ethics and consumer morality considered, Proximity and Modernity include aspects favouring the consumer to a relative degree, whereas Flânerie departs these conventions by becoming a tool of commodity
Many Americans love shopping, especially during the holidays, with its captivating discounts and sales, which lead to uncontrollable splurges on irrelevant things. According to Quindlen, this is an example of America’s crazed consumerism and it is absolutely absurd. In her article, “Honestly, You Shouldn’t Have”, she states that there is currently an assumption that purchasing American merchandises symbolize an act of patriotism and at the same time, build a strong economy. She also states that we, as Americans, need to acknowledge important spiritual values such as friends and family rather than material goods.
The concept of consumerism was first brought to my awareness in First Year Writing. I admit, before this intro course, I was indeed ignorant of the negative impacts that consumption had on society. FYS opened my mind to the dangers of over-consumption, and more importantly, helped me see beyond what meets the eye. Take for example, Disney, a seemingly innocent corporation, a company’s whose name is practically synonymous with the notion of childhood innocence. Upon initial judgement, one would assume that Disney is merely harmless family entertainment.
Some of the things in commercials could be useful and fun; for example, a birdhouse that sticks to your window in which you can see inside of. Although it may not be the most practical thing, it is a good experience for children to watch how birds live and build nests. Although a few commercial products could have benefits, many are useless items that will never be used. People that have trouble budgeting and controlling themselves would be more and more influenced to buy these useless items, and end up spending lots of money on products that they don’t even really want. This same philosophy goes for other forms of entertainment as well, such as buying many new CD’s and DVD’s.
A consumerism makes the community and economy stable which is the goal of the society. In Brave New World, the motto of the government is “community, identity, and stability” (6). Claim: A consumer economy makes the society of Brave New World which is when the most important in the economy is buying and selling of goods and services overall. Establish Evidence: In the Western civilization, Huxley would realize that consumers still make up most of the economy.
In the 21st century, we consume so frequently that we do not take notice; consumerism consumes us. Consumerism is an integral
I’m astounded by how different the views on consumerism are for people living in a developing country compared to a first world country like Canada. I only noticed how unacceptable my addiction to consumerism is when it was time to pack my luggage for the flight home and I wasn’t able to fit everything and thus I’m forced to leave nearly 70$ worth of goods behind. It was the first time where I legitimately felt unintelligent with what I was spending my money on and my relatives to this day create no shortage of teasing about it.
Consumption In Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”, the concepts of consumerism and utopia are continuously compared and discussed in tandem with one another to decide if any correlation between them is present. Although people may argue that the humans belonging to the World State are happy, their lack of simple human pleasures such as love, religion, intellect, free will, etc, denies the people of actual joy. Since the government is what controls these pleasures by glorifying consumption, the World State’s culture and consumerism must interrelate. The government's control of common human experiences and characteristics such as love, pain, religion, and free will result in the total dependence on the state.
1 - Consumerism developed in America during the early twentieth century in large part due to the boom in industry created by Europe 's inability to create goods after World War I. Combined this with American inventions such as Henry Ford’s assembly line and Americans had money to spend (Schultz, 2013). With the advent of an electrical distribution system, Americans had electricity in their homes for the first time, which led to the desire for all types of electrical appliances to make life easier. All these new products meant that companies had to get the word out about their products which ignited the advertising industry, which led to even more consumerism. Mix into this recipe, the growing credit industry, and you had consumerism like
The average American is exposed to 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements a day (Marshall). This can include emails, commercials, billboards, and many others. Advertising is a means of informing choice to its viewers, and it is vital to the success of any business. Although advertising is necessary, over the past fifteen years, advertising has had a negative effect on culture by encouraging conformity and having harmful effects on self-esteem as well as financial status.
Commentary Essay on Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today The American people are focusing more on materialistic items, people are shopping for pleasure more than necessity. This article comments on how people are shopping to release stress or to gain pleasure. Even though the article was written in 1984, it is still pertinent to modern time. In Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today by Phyllis Rose, varied sentence length, different point of views, and anaphora are utilized to prove that society is becoming consumed in materialism.
Huxley describes the “New World” as being controlled by mass production and based around the idea of over-production. Huxley predicted that a world economy based on an endless growth model of disposable consumer goods and disposable energy to run the machines would lead humanity to environmental and existential crisis. John the Savage initially reacts to the “New World” with the words of Miranda, from Shakespeare’s Tempest, when she first encounters visitors to her island, “O Brave New World that has such people in’t.” John eventually sees the evil in over consumption and flocks to an abandoned lighthouse.
Consumerism intrudes with the workings of society by overthrowing the standard judgment wish for an adequate supply of life 's necessities, a steady family and solid associations with a manufactured continuous journey for things and the purchasing power with little respect for the genuine utility of the item purchased. In today’s World World, there is a high level of consumption which has been described as a major threat on sustainability. Even though consumerism has positive effects like motivating people to work harder in order to improve their social status and well being, it has adverse effects on the environment and the social aspect of life. Consumerism, according to the new Oxford English dictionary, means the preocccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods. Sustainablity, on the other hand, according to the ‘brudtland report’ was broadly defined as Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Everyone in the world in the world seems to know who the Kardashians are, wherever you look they seem to appear, on billboards, magazines, in salons, on the internet, pictures of them are plastered everywhere. The Kardashian family is popular culture. In this essay I will be discussing consumerism, the role of technology in consumer culture and materialism in accordance to the show Keeping Up With The Kardashians and the Kardashian family, and explaining it through conflict theory. Conflict theory dictates ideas coined by Karl Marx (1818-1833) who has divided the social groups into two classes, the bougeousie and the proliteriate. He states that because of the inequality in the power balance and the bourgeousie having a capitalist hold over the proletariates, they abuse their power over the proletariates.
This sociological study will analyze the problem of commodity fetishism in American consumer culture. Karl Marx’s theory of commodity fetishism is a major problem in the United States due to the inability of consumers to see the intrinsic value of a commodity. American consumer culture tends to become trapped in the “magical qualities” of a product, which makes them unable to understand the object as it was made by a laborer. This abstraction of the commodity is part of Marx’s analysis of capitalist products that is separated from the labor and become valuable objects in and of themselves. This is an important sociological perspective on commodities, which creates an irrational consumer culture in the American marketplace.
Do companies create consumer demand or simply try to meet customers’ needs? I believe advertising shapes as well as mirrors society. A case in point, advertisements can shape society's perception of ‘beauty." For instance, in magazines and movies, quite often young girls strive to look-like and emulate the digitally enhanced images of women in magazines. As such, some critics argue that advertising abuses its influence on children and teenagers in particular, amongst others.