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Consumerism

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Consumerism

Consumerism has become a way of life for people in the postmodern society. In a broad sense it provides some of the aspirations people live in order to try and create a better life.
Religions and traditions have been overshadowed by consumerism, which reinforces the worst aspects in us, an obsessive desire to consume more. This society is driven by materialistic things “The more we consume the better our lives will be”

The short story”To Feed the Night” by Philip illustrates how people are affected by consumerism.
The young couple in the story barely have enough money to live on, but the husband insists on buying a new house as soon as he gets the opportunity.
Whenever the couple buy a house they seem satisfied in the beginning but after a couple of months everything starts looking dull and boring. The husband has no limit to satisfaction, and he is a victim of the consumer society.
Consumerism makes a person aim for the best even though they have something that’s good enough. Replacing the old with the new becomes a pattern, for example when women claim they have nothing to wear for a special occasion although their wardrobe is full of clothes. The real estate agent Mr. Bell sells the houses by persuading and manipulating the husband and making him believe he needs more, to create a better future. Just like Mr. Bell the media bombards people with all the advertising from message billboard, TV and magazines. When the media tries to sell a product, they make promises about the kind of person you will become by using the product. By buying expensive clothes people with low self esteem are “promised” they will look and feel just as confident as the model in the magazine.
Because of all the opportunities in the postmodern society poor people can break out of poverty, and have access to the things they lacked in their childhood. Parents often say that they want their children to have, what they never had, which leads to some parents spoiling their children or parents who have to make every dream a reality, by working overtime so the family can go on vacation.

Consumerism has become the global language that everyone understands. The society and the media have a big influence on people’s fantasy about “The perfect life” which leads to some going through extreme lengths to achieve their dreams. The postmodern mentality is that money can buy happiness and without money you can not reach a personal fulfilment.

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