Consumerism and Relationships

             Consumerism is the myth that the individual will be gratified and integrated by consuming. This myth is deadly, and can poison everything from our intellects to our relationships. This paper will explore consumerism and its ultimate effects on our relationships and friendships.
             The traditional cultural values of Western society today are degenerating under the influences of the power of corporate politics, the commercialization of our culture and the impact of mass media. Our society is merely beginning to awaken from its fascination with television entertainment to find itself stripped of the traditions we once held dear. We are finding ourselves controlled by an oppressive power structure and bound to the credit card bills that symbolize a defunct American dream. What is worse is that we see the actual problem as our only way out. The problem of consumerism bothers us, though we do not actually know why or how. Because we are unaware of the cause of this "uneasiness," we see buying things and consuming as a "medication." This just pushes us deeper into the pit of consumerism, where popular culture, under the guise of "all things cool and phat," has set a clever trap for us.
             Consumerism has been imposed on our lives, economy, society, and our environment layer by layer. It can become a disease. This means that one of the only ways to control the problem is to begin by removing one layer at a time. Small, everyday changes are easier to implement than a broad philosophical revolution, but can very well lead to a clearer path to the kingdom.
             People who fill their intellectual horizons with nothing beyond sports statistics and fashion magazine quizzes, who know nothing of "real matters" such as justice, service, and gaining independence from mass culture, are in for a hard future. These people have allowed the noose of the anti-kingdom to get tighter and tighter, forming a cultural "death grip." Soon their hopes, t...

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Consumerism and Relationships. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 17:08, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/36633.html