Barber, Benjamin R. Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow

Works Cited

Barber, Benjamin R. Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007. Print. Through all this fact-packed, extremely informative book there is a lot I can summarize from what the author was saying. One reason for the rise in consumerism is partially because of the government (and president). Consumerism began to really thrive when the government began telling people to shop because it was imperative. Along with this push, there was several things that had to be taken into consideration when promoting this consumerism: advertising. It had to be easy to understand, so a range of the U.S. population could understand or relate. Simple over complex was the main idea. Basically, privatization, branding, and total marketing buttress consumerism. As consumerism spreads throughout the world, the idea of liberty seduces us into thinking we have to the right to choose from a selection, but the real power goes to though that come up with this selection for us, making us believe we have the power, but we have actually proven to be succumbed to the ever-growing powers of consumerism.

Barber is the Kekst Professor of Civil Society as the University of Maryland and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos in New York City. He is a consultant with political and civic leaders throughout the world on democratization, citizenship, culture, and education. This past and present of Barber’s life leads me to believe he is a reliable source. His publisher, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. is a trusted publisher and very well-known; it is reputable.

This book has changed my thinking on the effect of who is “in charge” and their effect on the production and advertising business has changed immensely. The idea that they give people the liberating feeling which leads them to consume more, when in reality they are just giving the sellers more power, was eye-opening to me. We have less control then we think we do. “The powerful are those who set the agenda, not those who choose from the alternatives it offers.” We may have a variety or multiple options, but that does not make us any more in control. Through consumerism we are unknowingly losing more and more power to sellers.

“Cultural Transformation for Sustainability.” The Futurist 44.5 (2010): 56-61. Gale Power Search. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. < In this journal, the main argument is that the large increase in material consumption (which has been going on for decades) is resulting in the deterioration of the planet’s resources.

In my research on The Futurist Magazine, I have come to the conclusion that it is very reliable. The Futurist is part of (published by) the World Future Society. The World Future Society is a “.org” website and it is a nonprofit educational and scientific organization in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S., founded in 1966. The World Future Society is in partnership with the American Society for Public Administration, Institute for International Research, The Millennium Project, and the International Alliance for Women; all reputable publishing and activist groups.

We need to recognize and work toward anti-consumerist social movements.There are villages, for example, like eco-villages that promote the principle of living contentedly with less. If we promote this social responsibility of recognizing consumption’s bad intents, we can move toward a more healthy economic system and planet. Not only will our planet and society be healthier, but so will the hope for future generations. If we start now, we can get the next generation prepared and aware of their consumption for years to come.

Jordan, Chris. Chris Jordan. PBS. Public Affairs Television, 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. < In summary, in the video Jordan takes the effects of consumerism and turns it into art to get his message of a wasteful world across. He takes pictures of large amounts of things/‌products (such as trash or batteries, for example) and zooms out the photo to make it look like art. He also has a photo of it focused in so it is apparent what it is in actuality: waste. What looks pretty farther away is actually killing our planet. Through his actions Chris Jordan assists in bringing awareness toward consumption around our globe.

This video is extremely reliable because it is broadcasted by well-known, trusted PBS Video. PBS has nearly 360 member stations; Copyright© 1995 – 2009 Public Broadcasting Service. PBS is one of the nation’s most trusted broadcasting stations. The video, “Chris Jordan” is published on “Bill Moyers: PBS Video.” All this evidence proves this video to be extremely credible.

Through what I saw in the video, Chris Jordan’s artwork has really changed my thinking. From a distance, consumption looks pretty and shiney and new. When you get up close you see exactly what you don’t want to see: toxic metals, waste, etc. This video made me repulsed by how much we people use and waste. In five seconds, for example, we waste millions of plastic bags that are extremely harmful to our planet. This idea that we are living in the waste we create is disgusting to me and is extremely motivating me towards change. As an activist/‌artist Chris Jordan turns this beautiful thing, and promotes a realization of how ugly our reality can be. Jordan’s art sparks ideas and a notion of our vast consumption and it encourages us to look at what we doing and strive toward a better world; one that’s beauty isn’t made through waste, but beauty that comes naturally.

Lieberman, Trudy. “In the Beginning: From a Consumer Movement to Consumerism.” Columbia Journalism Review 47.3 (2008): 34-38. Gale Cengage Learning Power Search. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. < In summary, there is evidence of a decline in the consumer movement, and a rise of consumerism which replaces it. Consumerism proves to benefit the individual shopper but not the “systemic reform that might benefit everyone.” During this time, consumerism is rising fast. Loan rates and debts are rising and this does not, overall, benefit the economic system because the money is spent, but the money to back is not coming in so quickly.

There is no specific author noted, but the Columbia Journalism Review has proven to be extremely reliable. The Columbia Journalism Review was founded in 1961 under the auspices of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.Both online and in print, Columbia Journalism Review is in conversation with a community of people who share a commitment to high journalistic standards in the U.S. and the world. Many of the funders for this Journal include: the Arca Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Brunswick Group, The Cabot Family Trust, Carnegie Corporation, The Challenge Fund for Journalism, Citigroup, etc. Through this journal support and experience in the support I am very convinced this journal is reputable.

This journal article has really altered my thinking. We need to speak out about the need for publicity of the consumer movement. If we broadcast this, we can make the American people, and people worldwide, more aware of what too much spending is doing to our country (and countries around the globe). Consumerism has promoted a more self-centered outlook, rather than looking more toward “we” notion. If we can convey a message or get across a message of consumer importance, there could be a possibility of positive change.

Masci, David. “The Consumer Culture.” CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press, 19 Nov. 1999. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. < Overall, this website analyzes the realities of consumerism. Consumerism is a huge problem, though isn’t seen as one through some of the eyes of the consumers. Critics accuse these spenders as some sort of brainwashed zombies; they have no control over what they buy. The truth is people make conscious decisions, whether necessary or not. Consumerism’s effects are much more global than just the spender.

David Masci, author of this web page, specializes in social policy, religion and foreign affairs, which leads me to believe he is a reliable source. His writing also shows extensive research and examples from multiple reliable resources, which proves him to be a responsible source. His lengthy bibliography continues to prove he is a reliable source. The CQ Press (the publisher) proves to be a reputable publisher. It is an independent publisher that is the “leading publisher of books, directories, subscriptions, and Web products on American politics, federal and state government, American institutions, campaigns and elections, current events, and world affairs.” It is a division of SAGE Publications. All this is more than enough proof of reliability.

This website has successfully changed my thinking. Now, adults have basic control over what they buy and consume. This is not the case for their children. Because of their young, inexperienced minds, advertisers take advantage of them, which then leads them to asking their parents for unaffordable gifts, that then leads to their future programmed minds of “want, want, want.” The webpage’s main argument that really got to me was consumption’s ability to create an illusion of happiness and fulfillment. The natural byproducts of consumption are feelings of well-being, although it might be the opposite.

Rampell, Catherine. “Big Spenders: The Consumer Economy.” The New York Times 3 May 2010: 1. Gale Cengage Learning: Power Search. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. < In summary, consumer spending is one of the main “drives” for expansion. The growth of the consumer sector it not going to be sustainable. If we are going to double the export growth for the U.S. we need to start saving more, or we won’t be able to “fill in the whole” (debt).

Catherine Rampell leads me to believe she is a reliable source. Is an economics journalist for the very reputable New York Times. She edits the Economix blog, and before working for the New York Times she wrote for the Washington Post editorial pages and financial section. She also worked for The Chronicle of Higher Education, and more of her works appeared in Slate, Smithsonian Magazine, The Village Voice, USA Today, NPR, MSNBC.com, The Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, and many other publications. To further her qualifications, she is a graduate from Princeton.

After reading this, it changed my thinking on the average person’s contribution to our economy. Consumers are the “biggest players” in the nation’s economy and are continuing to grow. Consumer spending is largely connected to overall growth rate in the U.S. After reading this I have come to the realization that we need to take action immediately before our economy plummets. This could happen because it is highly unlikely for the growth of consumer spending to continue to grow. We need to be able to take action and be aware of the debt the U.S. is in before we dig ourselves into an even deeper hole.

- - -. “Consumer Spending Up as Incomes Fall.” The New York Times 1 Nov. 2010: 1. Gale Cengage Learning: Power Search. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. < There is a noticeable link to consumption increase and income decrease. The result of this is overall debt. The result of this is a desperate economy.

This article is posted on The New York Times Newspaper web page, which leads me to believe it is reputable. The author, Catherine Rampbell, is a specialist in her field, and has written many other writings on similar subjects.

The chart shows that as personal income goes up, so does personal spending, which is a huge result of consumption in America. To save our economy we need more jobs, which results in a larger income, which then allows spenders to spend, whether on neccessities or not. This consumption is what the economy relies on, and we need to find another way to keep or economy from failing. We can’t have people continuing to waist their money on unneeded supplies; there needs to be a more healthy and productive way of dealing with money crisis rather than just spending more money.

Rosenblatt, Roger. Consuming Desires: Consumption, Culture, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Washington, DC: Island Press, 1999. Print. Industrialization led to the spring in consumerism. The industrialization and consumerism crisis is destroying the natural beauty of the world. People have gone past feelings of natural happiness (family, love, nature, etc.) and have pushed through to a more obtainable happiness, that is, unknown to them, less satisfying and less persisting. The happiness is short-lived, and once it wears off, consumerism kicks in; the motion to buy.

Rosenblatt is a journalist (essayist for Time magazine), author, playwright, and a teacher. He has won two George Polk Awards and awards from the Overseas Press Club and the American Bar Association. He has multiple television essays on PBS (very credible). These qualifying traits of Rosenblatt lead me to believe he is extremely reliable and very knowledgeable in the subject. The Harper Collins Publisher is reputable.

Rosenblatt conveys the message that to many economists consumerism is the opposite of a problem. Who is seen as “powerful” tells us that consumption is a solution that “ensures well-being.” This message that says consuming solves all our problems infuriated me. We are being told to spend because it is “good for us.” The only reason we are led to believe this, is that it means more money toward our economy. Greed is the main power source of consumption, and we need to push the voices of power out of heard and learn to think and focus was what we need.

Schwartz, Barry. The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2004. Print. In summary, Schwartz explains that people today are slowly losing their filter. This filter filters out “extraneous information” and assists in our consciousness, and our ability to think for ourselves and establish necessities. Consumerism is a result of this loss of filtration. Overall, we are losing self-knowledge. This leads to a false belief that we need to maximize. We are given the sense that we make our own choices consciously.

Schwartz teaches Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College, and he also writes many articles that appear in leading journals in his field. These traits lead me to believe he is a reliable source. Harper Collins Publisher is reputable.

In reading this book, I can reflect that Schwartz assisted in bringing across the point that consumerism and consumption has resulted in a spoiled society. We want the highest, most expensive, biggest things, and when we don’t get that we feel we have no other choice but to sulk and show we don’t like it. Though consumerism is full of a variety of options, there is really only one we want; the best.

Shaw, Charles. Shopping Addiction Promotes Consumerism. New York University, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. < In summary, consumerism can be a result of an identity compulsion. People feel they need to be “themselves”; their own person. Through this, they feel a need to buy more clothes that appeals to them or “their look.” Their clothing says who they are without saying anything at all. This need for a distinct look results in the consumption of more and more clothing, leading to an addiction. The consumption is not realized as a sort of obsession until far down the line; until it is too late.

This resource has proven to be reliable because New York University is one of only 60 member institutions of the distinguished Association of American Universities. Founded in 1831 gives it a high level of credibility, along with its past of magazine production and reliable journalists.

Before reading this, I never fully realized how large of a consumption clothing were. The amount of material needed for the thousands of brands and the same kinds of shirts. It has really opened my eyes. This article has motivated in promoting the idea that we don’t need new clothing when what we have is perfectly fine. We, as a society, feel we need to be our own people, but this is not the case. Our personalities and who we are should be able to do that. Promoting uniforms in schools could promote this anti-consumption, as it takes away from the need for new clothing for school. Small changes in what we buy and wear can make a difference in our society, economy, and next generation.