America is built around a fast paced society, people go to work for hours on end and go home, then the cycle repeats. This has become the social norm for most people, thus creating a society of mass consumerism. All of this has ties to a successfully rich economy, without people going to work 40 plus hours a week and splurging on unnecessary items, the economy would come crashing down. Two main points are discussed in the article, “Your Lifestyle Has Already Been Designed”, David Cain talks about mass consumption and the reasons for working long hours.
The first point discussed is that society is built around people carelessly throwing away money. Companies depend on the consumers to survive, therefore they will do whatever it takes to keep the system going. Marketing strategies aimed at children is one of the
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All of the popular problems in America such as “obesity, depression, pollution and corruption” exist because how our economic society is structured (Cain). Consumerism is as problematic as it seems, and sadly, this is what it has come to. What happens when people have money but no time? They will end up spending most of that money to satiate their hunger for satisfaction. Most of the time, people resort to mall shopping and buying things that do not have real value to them, just to keep up with everyone else. He effectively points out that “For the economy to be ‘healthy’, America has to remain unhealthy”
In this essay, "In Health. We 're Not No.1," Robert J. Samuelson argues that it turns out that being American is bad for you health, relative speaking. An exhaustive statistics and studies show that Americans ' health is at the lowest levels in compared to most advanced countries. The United Sates possess a higher death rates 15 over 21 illnesses and a lower life expectancy of 78.2 years in compare of 83 years by Japan.
In Eric Schlosser‘s essays, the author shows how the social media are targeting children by their ads and advertisements. He exposes the negative side of advertising especially when children are implicated. The author explores children’s cooperation with these companies whether consciously or unconsciously through their behavior and ways of convincing their parents to get them what they want. He mentions how these same parents by lack of spending enough time with kids pamper them and don’t refuse their desires. Schlosser gives more explanations by introducing several examples of these companies such as Disney, McDonald, clothes, oil, and phone companies, too without openly blaming neither of them.
Nevertheless, the interviewees frown upon being labelled as someone that values luxury over reasonable spending. Hence, they expressed their emphasis on the importance of needs over wants, and that practicality should triumph over extravagance. They see “limited” consumption as a form of self discipline, where excessive spending was only justifiable when it is spent on the family and invested in the children. If
The intake on “cheap” daily food are slowly killing the human race. As social incomes decrease, obesity increase. Fat is no longer a rich man’s disease (Saletan). William Saletan the author of, “Please Do Not Feed the Humans: The Global Explosion of Fat” tells a vivid story of how the human race allowed themselves to fall into the hands of a pig. His arguments stayed strong next to him side by side.
Kids can be taught that what’s on an ad isn’t necessarily what they need.” At the end, marketers must maintain an appropriate structure or strategy without using people in a bad way. If it’s possible for a child being obsessed with a toy and food box, then it’s possible for him to like a sweet fruit box with an interesting book or comics, magazines etc. if we can support or teach them. We must accept that healthy food, exercising, protecting environment, enjoying beautiful sides of life, even choosing the best music or watching the proper advertisement - they are the best solutions for a good future even though they may be hard for some people to adapt.
In Schlosser’s article, “Kid Kustomers” the main argument is that major ad agencies are focusing to much time advertising to children. He uses multiple topics and threads to portray the negative effects of marketing to children. Using the example of Fast Food industries partnering up with toy companies to appeal to the younger consumer and goes into the effects the children have on their parents as a consumer. Using the example of fast food Industries backs up his claim when marketing to children can be bad. Fast food companies are already unhealthy and when they paired up with big toy companies the influence on the child is even greater.
America is more today than ever before a consumerist society, which saw its start in the 1920s. Present day Americans just like in the 1920s do rely on the production of goods to keep up with their demands and are spending their money on more than just their household necessities. Another thing that has stayed the same from the 1920s to present day is Americans constant need to be entertained. Because of the boom of the 20s more and more people had more money to spend an that spurred the start of people having more freetime and using their money for entertainment. American society especially right now is obsessed with immediate satisfaction which all saw its start in the 1920’s as an entertainment based culture as well.
Statistics show that today there are over 1.7 billion members of the “consumer class”- half of them being in the developing world (2011, the World Watch Institute). Being part of the consumer class myself, I believe it is crucial to dispense a great deal of money on goods and services to improve the economy here in Canada. Does this mean I’m considered to be a consumer as a result of my views on world consumption? Yes, I fit into the category of a consumer due to the fact that I’m part of the endless cycle of supply and demand. From the moment I leave my house and walk the two minutes to the bus stop I’m already thinking about what I’m going to buy.
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.
This statement is so true because when my little brother sees toys or junk food on television he immediately begs my parents to buy either one for him. The majority of commercials during programs aimed at children are for unhealthy high-fat, high sugars or high-salt foods with little nutritional value. Not all parents are aware of how their children are exposed to marketing campaigns that influence their children. Some top food choices for kids attack kids by their appealing commercials. The commercials use bright colors, a funny icon cartoon character, older kids, and catchy phrases.
More than three billion people, nearly half of the world’s population, has an income of less than $2.50 a day. In addition, more than 1.3 billion live in extreme poverty their income is $1.25 a day. Additionally, this mind-blowing statistic stress the fact that consumer behavior may be the main reason behind poverty. The first use of consumerism term is in 1944 mutual movement in the USA in 1930s.
Consumerism is a major theme in MT Anderson's 2002 novel FEED. Consumerism is the belief that it is good for people to spend a lot of money on goods and services. When people buy things and spend lots of money they are doing it to impress there neighbor and 'Keep up with the Jones's'. As Titus puts it, "It was like I kept buying these things to be cool, but cool was always flying just ahead of me, and I could never exactly catch up to it." (Anderson, 279).
Over the past twenty years, the amount at which advertisers are advertising to children is astonishing. Advertising directed towards children has estimated at over 15 million annually that’s almost three times more than what it was 26 years ago! Toy companies, fast food places, and retail stores are very eager to target children-maybe even a little too eager. Advertisers are consciously targeting children. Most advertisers are targeting children because they're easier to get hooked on a product.
Compulsive consumers are the target audience of the essay “Buy Nothing Day 2012 is Approaching, Could You Stop Spending for One Day?” but in general it is addressed to all residents. The purpose of Mark Boyle is to explain his readers how important is that obsessive consumers begin to reduce their spending. To achieve his goal the author tries to persuade his audience with the use of examples that show the most important benefits of living “completely moneylessly.” For example, workers would not be forced to work in places where they are not satisfied because of the need to have higher wages.
Using the “Four Ps” of marketing Product, Place, Price, and Promotion, advertisers use paid public presentations of goods and services in a variety of media to influence consumers’ attention to, and interest in, purchasing certain products. Television has long been the medium of advertising to children and youth. Children view approximately 40,000 advertisements each year. The products marketed to children, sugar-coated cereals, fast food restaurants, candy, and toys have remained relatively constant over time. But marketers are now directing these same kinds of products to children