SOC 202 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Carpe Diem, Media Culture, Consumerism

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 202
• Professor: Lock Rebecca

Document Summary

Concerned with the events and their political and economic consequences. Debate on the underlying values of western societies and appropriateness of these values. Something disturbing of the central role-played in our lives by consumption and consumerism. Decline in consumption caused slowdown in the u. s. economy. Tragic events of 9/11 offer an example of the importance of consumption to contemporary culture. Consumer spending patterns are monitored by both businesses and governments b/c they have a direct impact on overall state of economy. Exchange of goods and services by institutions and individuals is necessary. Further consumption, whether in the form of practices of consumption that express a desire for more authentic forms of consumption: organic food, fair trade coffees, holistic medicines, massages. Common enough to discount these criticisms by pointing out the simple contradiction produced by the sale of goods that criticize consumption. Problem is not that consumption has made their lives empty, but there is too little.