Explain the term consumer culture and explore its rise and negative effects. Why does the author suggest we might be in a postconsumer culture?
What will be an ideal response?
Varies, but will define consumer culture and how it has changed from previous forms--that consumption is the primary source of meaning in life and receives a high value. In the past, production and religion were two examples of the driving organizational principle of society. Marketing to children has been considered a taboo in the past and in other cultures, and there are norms against it. This is because we do not think children can make informed choices about consumption, and we generally protect children against exploitation. Now, marketing is pervasive generally, including marketing to children. Market research has figured out how to get children to pester their parents to purchase items. However, we may be in a postconsumer culture since the recession that began in 2007. Even as employment rates and the stock market have improved, many people are not purchasing as much, are saving money, and are participating in "sharing economy" items made possible by use of new communications technologies. Some people have moved away from a norm of extravagance in consumer culture to being more economically frugal and environmentally friendly as new norms.
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