Sociology 2172A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Consumer Debt, Planned Obsolescence, Kfc
10 Apr 2018
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Document Summary
Consumption is the way we purchase and use goods/services. Consumerism is the preoccupation with the acquisition of goods to satisfy needs through material things. The average american now uses 30x the goods of a resident in the developing world. 20% of the planet uses up 80% of the natural resources: we are contributing to 80% of the trash as a result of our over-consumption. The cycle continues after you feel alienation you see another ad purchasing continues etc. etc. etc. To manipulate us into buying with little reflection. People want us to buy things right away, without giving it any serious thought. The role of ads is to get us to forget about the unpleasant parts of a product. Marketing experts: associated success & social standing with a product. Consumerism has led to widespread, out of control spending on material goods. The store is born: malls are no longer places you go to buy things you need.
