Consumerism

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the conflicting theories that money can't buy happiness and yet the importance placed on material goods and the gratification from them as a source of happiness. The author points out that, within modern culture, consumerism has become a sort of micro-culture of its own with a set of beliefs and values and a way of life, which places the obtaining of material possessions and the actual process of obtaining them as the top priority. The paper states that people must not become materialistic buying machines but rather enhance their lives through the joys of human interactions.

From the Paper:

"There is a great deal that can be said about happiness as an element of pop culture as it relates to consumerism. Within the complex, dollar-driven world of modern America, happiness is often measured by the size of the vehicle in one's driveway, or the memory that their I-Pod contains. Happiness is a commodity that seems to be able to be bought as an accessory with every item that is piled into the home or locked away in the personal storage lockers of people from coast to coast. The instant gratification that comes with material possessions..."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Annas, J. (2004). Happiness as Achievement. Daedalus, 133(2), 44+.
• Brennan, T. (1997). Social Evil. Social Research, 64(2), 210-234.
• Sussman, C. (2004). Consumerism in World History: The Global Transformation of Desire. The Historian, 66(1), 211+.

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• Essay # 84071 : "Consumerism and Advertising"
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• Book Review # 126980 : "'White Noise' and Consumerism"
• Essay # 87480 : "Consumerism"

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