Consumerism can be defined as an economy, social order and ideology, which encourages the buying of goods and services in even greater amounts. It is also a market concept based on supply and demand forces, covering the entire range of goods and services necessary for maintaining and continuing human existence on earth. From the very first day of life in this universe, man depends on consumption. The culture of consumerism ties the human being to the things, such that he or she becomes dependent on them. However, it is one thing to consume so as to live and a completely different thing to live for consumption. Living for consumption shows a dependent lifestyle reliant on consumption. Consumerism, which is this excessive dependent consumption, is a trend and a spirit of the contemporary society that excessively borders on materialism. Recent research shows that the consumerist society begins from the man and ends outside the man with his attachment to material values (Malpas 21). The consequence of adapting to this culture is that we have become so entangled in it and the human relationships we once held dear have been degraded both near and far. This culture is addictive and it has become a part of us. We have unknowingly become trapped in a downward spiral of both mental and financial consumer debt. It is a death spiral for the human race. The question at hand, however, is what drives or motivates us towards this consumerist culture? What are we hoping to achieve at the end of it all? In our postmodern or contemporary society consumerism has taken up a very big role in our lives and few things play such an influential role in our lives. Sociological analyses and studies have shown that consumerism is very intimately tied to the...
... middle of paper ...
...oric, and Postmodern Culture.” Philosophy and Rhetoric 40.2
(2002): 211-290 Web. 20 Nov. 2011
Campbell, Collin. Modern consumerism. New York: John Wiley, 1995. Print.
Cohen, Lisabeth. “A Consumers’ Republic.” The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America. New York: Appleton, 2000. 17-32. Print
Garcia Lorca, Frederico. “Cry to Rome. “Collected Poems. New York: Farrar, Straw and Giroux, 1988. 725-729. Print
Hedger, Dick. “The Function of Subculture.” The Cultural Studies Reader. New York: Routledge, 1989. 432-450. Print.
Malpas, Simon. The Postmodern. New York: Harper Collins, 2004. Print
Stromberg, Peter. “The Ideology of American Consumerism." Journal of Popular Culture 30.2 (1990): 11-8. Web.
William Leach. “Land of Desire: Merchants, Power, and the Rise of a New American Culture.”American journal of cultural studies 10.2 (1985): 310-52. Print
Lizabeth Cohen’s books “A Consumer’s Republic” argues that post-war America was deeply affected by mass consumerism and new trends in marketing, purchasing, home-ownership, and personal identities. This report describes the goals and source material of the author, as well as providing a summary of her narrative, a personal reflection on it, and an analysis of her place within historical and scholarly study of this period.
The chosen article is Two Cheers for Consumerism by James Twitchell. In this article he talks about consumerism, commercialism, and materialism. He argues the stand point of consumers and the role they live by every day. In other hands the critics, Academy, gives the consumers and overview description to their consumers.
Holt, D.B. “Does Cultural Capital Structure American Consumption?” In Schor, J.B. and Holt, D.B. (eds.). (2000). The Consumer Society Reader. (pp. 212-251). New York:The New Press.
The industry rapidly establishes consumerism in Americans. For instance, Disney since the age of three drives children to own collections of films and merchandise in order to fulfill satisfaction in the idealistic fairytale living. Americans do not realize these material goods are not necessarily important, instead, it becomes a routine of material objects to have a sense of completeness; these buying habits are perpetual. America is now defined as materialistic rather than over-consumption. People deliberately purchase material goods constantly and frequently without needing it. Shopping has become a lifestyle, there is no appreciation or sense of value to what we own, and instead it is depicted and seen as a “retail therapy.” The consumption of materialistic goods is what makes America feel happy and complete.
Van Den Haag, Ernest. "Conspicuous Consumption of Self". National Review VI (April 11, 1959): 656-658.
Works Cited Faulker, William. The. American Studies at The University of Virginia. 1 April 1997. Online.
During the Progressive Era, America experienced a shift from the production of capital goods, such as railroad equipment or steel, to consumer goods. As a way of subliminally enforcing the belief that mass consumption was a freedom, many companies began to name their products with the word “liberty” or “…used an image of the Statue of Liberty” (Foner 686). This devious method of advertising made consumers associate products with freedom, which sparked the belief that consumerism was associated with their rights and freedoms as an American citizen. Because of this, there was also a shift in political activism, urging the United States to indulge in the world of consumerism. Much like voting, the ability to take part in mass consumerism was beginning
Consumerism is global; it occur every part of the world. It’s viewed as the social movement where people buy goods in excess just to find pleasure and enjoy life. It happens mostly in the western world though it still happens in the Japan as put forward in the novel. Yoshimoto has dealt with the theme of consumerism in many in many instances; it is more evident in the purchase of the juicer as well as the word processor. It has led Mike to believe that the Japanese have the taste in buying the new things. However, the authors also emphasize on the negative aspect of the consumerism through some of the impacts it has on Japanese tradition and culture. It’s through it that people have no value and the respect for the family. Due to their busy life, they find no time to spend with their families.
Swimme, Brian. “How Do Our Kids Get So Caught Up in Consumerism”. The Human Experience: Who Am I?. 8th ed. Winthrop University: Rock Hill SC, 2012. 155-157. Print.
Many theorists suggest that consumption is correlated to the identity of an individual, that by purchasing goods from the mass market, it enables us to visibly establish our position within society. This differs from previous times in which a range of factors such as family histories, character and personal achievements played a significant role (Gabriel and Lang, 2006). Instead, there is the idea that the consumer has the ability to gain pleasure over objects, not just solely by the manipulation of objects, but through the degree of control over their meaning. The degree of control is developed and achieved through imagination and provides greater possibilities of pleasure experiences. This suggests that modern consumption can be seen as device that enables individuals to ‘dream’ about the desires they wish to fulfill. (Campbell, 1989: 79) (Cited in Gabirel & Lang, 2006)
Many people become victims of consumerism, often aspiring to unrealistic heights or being unable to sustain the financial implications of passive consumerism. The difference between essential consumerism and euphoric consumerism is a very fine line that can be easily crossed over if control is not maintained.
Sassatelli, R. (2007). Consumer Culture: History, Theory and Politics, London: Sage, Page 30, Page 126, Page 132, Page 133
Stearns, Peter N. Consumerism in World History : The Global Transformation of Desire. Themes in World History. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2006.
According to Slater (1997), Consumer Culture is the culture of market societies and is defined though market relations. It predominantly is the product of capitalism. He believes that this new culture is a pecuniary culture based on money. The central claim is that the values from the realm of consumption will spill over into other domains of social action. He further argues that Consumer Culture is in principle, universal and impersonal. He simultaneously agues, that there is an ultior claim towards this definition, as although it seems universal and is depicted as a land of freedom, in which everyone can be a consumer, it is also felt to be universal because everybody must be a consumer. ...
James, Fredric. 1988. "Postmodernism and Consumer Society." In Studies in Culture: An Introductory Reader, ed. Ann Gray and Jim McGuigan. London: Arnold, 1997, pp. 192-205.