Two new TV shows debut the week of October 15. While both are focused on extreme consumer lifestyles, the groups of people …
consumerism
Sad but True? Shopping Promoted as a Way to ‘Fill the Void’
Your life sucks. But it’ll suck less if you buy this thing we’re advertising. That, in a nutshell, is the message behind many advertising campaigns. It’s just that usually the message comes across in a fairly subtle way. Few ads …
Even the Economy Can’t Escape the ‘Zombie Apocalypse’
Braaains — as in, have we collectively lost ours? Yes, the recent instances of drug- or psychosis-fueled cannibalism are horrific, but suddenly everyone seems to be obsessed with the reanimated dead. The buzz got so loud that …
Should We Stop Referring to People as ‘Consumers’?
The term “consumers” is routinely used in place of “people” and “citizens.” While most people (consumers?) don’t notice or care much about the terms being used interchangeably, there are those who resent being labeled as …
Why We Can’t Buy Happiness — But Try to Anyway
In 1972, the percentage of Americans who said they were “pretty happy” was about 50%. In the years since, the U.S.’s standard of living has risen dramatically, and our gross domestic product per capita has increased by 96%. That …
How Shopping Is Good for the Economy—And Your Soul
Forget about diligent saving, careful spending, and avoiding debt. Forget about tax cuts and private investment. For the economy to blossom, it is essential—and morally, the right thing to do—for consumers and the government …
Survey: The Frugal ‘New Normal’ Has Become the Norm
Throughout the recession and the slow, meek recovery that has followed, there has been much discussion about a “new normal.” After the financial collapse, there was a widespread shift among consumers, a tendency to scale back on …
How the Internet Is to Blame for Your Overspending
For eons, the concept of keeping up with the Joneses fueled people’s desires to acquire the markings of wealth and show them off. With the rise of the Internet, the Joneses aren’t just next door or around town—they’re …
“The most miserly people in the United States right now would look incredibly self-indulgent by the standards of the U.S. 100 years ago.”
The Evolution of Keeping Up With the Joneses, as Seen in 17th Century German Villages
When was consumerism, in the modern sense, born? Researchers say it was at least a century before the Industrial Revolution brought cheap, mass-produced goods to the world. Hoarding, and the popularity of storage units, came a bit later.
How Oprah Winfrey Implicitly Endorses Consumerism and Materialism
“For her, transformation is about self-esteem and about buying stuff.”
