Media, Information and Technoculture 2151A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Financial Times, Migraine
14 Apr 2021
School
Department
Professor
MIT 2151B
Reading Note
Confessions of a Shopaholic – Kinsella
- Becky receives 3 letters from the bank:
o 1) tells her that she can spend a certain amount above her means if she opens
an account with them.
o 2) tells her that she has significantly gone over the agreed spending limit and
to call the bank immediately to discuss this matter.
o 3) tells her to call the bank as she is in debt and still hasn’t arranged a
meeting with them to figure this out.
- Upon opening these letters, Becky first tells herself not to panic because she knows
how much she spent and it really wasn’t that much.
- She then continues to justify all of her purchases that she can see appearing on her
statement.
- Finally she realizes that what she has spent is a little more than she actually realised.
- At the end of the statement she sees a purchase made from Millets and is in shock as
she claims she would never purchase something from there.
o Initial reaction → believes someone stole her card as she would clearly never
be caught dead wearing something from this brand.
- Realizes that she actually did purchase something from this store; a leaving present
for Michael (deputy editor).
- Doesn’t tell her friend Clare about her financial situation as she is clearly
embarrassed.
- Even thinks about writing a letter to the bank to tell them that they have obviously
mistaken her for someone else as she couldn’t have spent this much money without
realizing, and that in fact it is their fault because they never sent her a bill.
- Goes down her statement to see everything that she has purchased; a lot of which
are definitely not essentials/needs-based items – but still continues to rationalize
her purchases.
- Tells us that she is a journalist for a financial magazine.
o Ironic as someone who clearly cannot manage her own finances is advising
others on how to do it.
o Tells us this isn’t the career she always wanted.
o Also tells us she actually doesn’t know anything about finance and is
surprised no one has noticed; says people at the bus stop and even children
know more than she does.
▪ At least she admits to it!
- Her boss, Philip, asks her to attend a Brandon Communications press conference in
his place.
o When she came in, she thought she was getting a raise and was excited about
all the new things she could buy with her extra money.
Document Summary
Upon opening these letters, becky first tells herself not to panic because she knows. She then continues to justify all of her purchases that she can see appearing on her statement. Finally she realizes that what she has spent is a little more than she actually realised. Goes down her statement to see everything that she has purchased; a lot of which. Even thinks about writing a letter to the bank to tell them that they have obviously. Realizes that she actually did purchase something from this store; a leaving present. Tells us that she is a journalist for a financial magazine. her purchases. others on how to do it: at least she admits to it! Times because she claims that it will make people think she is a heavy-weight intellectual with a wide variety of interests who should be taken seriously.
