How to Escape from American Consumerism and Materialism Essay

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley depicts a future world that has mechanized and removed all sense of life to being human. In this world, people work for the common good of the community and are conditioned to dislike what, today, we would consider common and healthy relationships with people and environments. The story follows a man, John, not born into the culture and his struggle with the unfamiliarity with the “Brave New World”. Published in 1932, Brave New World often leaves roots back to the world Aldous was in when he was writing the novel. I believe the genius of Huxley’s writing was his ability to effectively select the traits of 1930’s society that would later become a staple for Americanism in the coming century and, in time, allowing for a relatable story to the modern day while giving us warning to the future.

Heather Roger claims our current garbage disposal methods are short term and etiquette. Rogers’s position is clear that we need to minimize the use of landfills and create better means to discard trash. In supporting Rogers’s environment views I think that we need to create a more economic and environmental friendly garbage disposal system. Heather Rogers and Lars Eighner both acknowledge the issue with society’s throwaway mentality. Eighner proves that we throw away perfectly working stuff, having survived off others discarded materials. Eighner argues against excessive waste we create but does not have any prospected solutions. Whereas Rogers acknowledges the obvious need to minimize our consumption of waste but argues the need

Producers are enablers. They encourage people to spend money on things they don’t need and aren’t necessities. Consumers are like drug addicts, they shop for things they don’t need and are constantly striving to acquire what they don’t have. “We Americans are beyond a simple, possessive materialism.” (Rose) Americans have developed a shopping problem. We buy things simply for the

Only a couple of decades ago, hard work and determination guided people to obtain a piece of the opportunity America is all about. Lately there is a surge in having our fifteen minutes of fame and work less, buy more. There are Americans who feel that materialism is the way to obtain true American happiness. TV ads bombard the population with information on what is truly needed to be the best. All media outlets convey how to be more like the famous. Commercials inform on how this star uses this phone and this athlete buys this car. In trying to assimilate to others, some continue to spend even though they cannot afford it. In “Framing Class, Vicarious Living,

“But the prospect of an end to plenty has uncovered what maybe a pernicious problem, an addiction so out of control that is qualifies as a sickness.” (paragraph 2) In the famous essay “Why Stuff Is Not Salvation” by Anna Quindlen, Quindlen denounces the consumer values of the modern century. She states in paragraph 6: “Now much of the country is made up of people with the acquisition habits of a 7-year-old, desire untethered from need, or the ability to pay.” This quote unveils that a large amount of the United States population spends more money on desired items, that they can’t afford, rather than necessities. This addiction shoves consumers down a rabbit hole of debt and bankruptcy. With this, she expresses her opinion that people would

In today’s society, there is an abundance of waste. This is clear in observing how people live, we often throw out items because we want something better. Lars Eighner, author of "On Dumpster Diving," writes about his experiences being homeless and how he survived on the waste of others. This provides insight on how the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure," is true. Jeremy Seifert, who directed the documentary Dive!, also talks about how he survives off of other people's waste, but this was a decision he made. As they tell of their experiences, Seifert and Eighner both come to the conclusion that society is wasteful. While both individuals provided good information, I believe Seifert presented the better argument. Both of

Wasting is something we’re all fond of doing; it has become a very popular issue in my city. Whether arising from lack of time to consume, or greed driven. The council is stopping land fill, and having household waste collected in groups i.e. Glass, metal, food waste, plastic and paper. This assures quick delivery to recycling plants to be materially

As we are constantly exposed to mass media and popular culture in our modern society, the insidious nature of consumerism has allowed it to penetrate into every aspect of our lives, dictating our very beliefs, values and wants. Nearly every individual in our society subconsciously conforms to the shallow and superficial mindset that characterises our consumerist culture. This idea is highlighted by the following texts; the poem “Enter without so much as knocking” by Bruce Dawe, an extract from the sermon “The Religion of Consumerism” delivered by Peter House, the poem “Breakthrough” by Bruce Dawe, and the

As a country, Americans love to shop. Whether in malls, grocery stores, on the Internet, or elsewhere, the culture of buying is deeply ingrained in American culture. Fueled largely by advertising and the current credit system, America’s consumer culture is depleting our planet’s finite natural resources and polluting our environment. Consumerism has instilled in Americans an artificial, ongoing, and insatiable desire for mass-produced and marketed products, and the money with which to buy them, with little regard to their actual usefulness or necessity. This constant desire to acquire more possessions is poisoning the planet, as it can never be sated and thus results in the never-ending exploitation of the Earth’s natural resources, and

Consumerism is the center of American culture. Americans tend to confuse their wants with their needs. With new advances in technology, as well as the help of advertisers, people are provided with easy access to new products that seem essential to their everyday life, even though they have survived this long without them. People cannot live without food, clothing, and shelter. But realistically, according to people's different lifestyles, more than food, clothing, and shelter are needed. Most people need to work to survive. Unless a job is either in their own home, or within walking distance, a means of transportation is needed. Whether it be a vehicle, money for a taxi-cab, or a token for a ride on the subway, money must be spent

There are many discussions that show belief that we do in fact live in a throw away society. There are numerous ways they are trying to prevent that, such as recycling more different varieties of products, and finding out which are most harmful to recycle more. Then there’s also ways around the idea of helping out the environment, but in the long run it doesn’t benefit as much as we think it is. But majority votes that we are a throw away society but there are a lot of different ways to help that.

Consumers also know that usefulness can fade, and the pleasure that came from new purchases can be fleeting. Apart from the usual solution to this problem, which is to buy more new items, it’s worth thinking that getting rid of items that are no longer needed or wanted can feel as good as getting it. Freecycle.org has made a name for themselves by doing just that. The concept has worked so well and because of word of mouth, many people want to become more “eco-friendly”, everyone cares about the environment and they want to do their part. One of the reasons they’ve been so successful, is because everybody wants to do their part to help the environment.

A superficial materialistic culture that focuses on what we possess than What we really are is largely responsible for misleading the masses. Beguiled by an endless array of ads, slogans and culture trends prompting us to switch to a high and luxurious lifestyle that we don’t need and can hardly afford, we are gripped with desire and then with frustration and dismay when we either fail to achieve this, or if they fail to satisfy us. Hence, we see spiralling statistics of depression as well as an upsurge in use of alcohol and drugs, big time contributors to crime. Because having more becomes the criteria for success and

We need self-discipline when shopping to not overspend. For example, planning to go to the grocery store to buy a couple of items for dinner, you thought a simple rice and bean and some vegetables on the side will do; however, oreos, ice-cream, and a new pot seems appealing. Suddenly your budget of $60 increase to $115. Holidays like Black Friday is a way for companies to make money while consumers are lacking in self-control. Furthermore, stuffing or keeping our lives busy cannot fulfill our voids. The life of many wealthy individuals proves that money cannot buy happiness. Whitney Houston’s busy life wasn’t able to satisfy her voids. Obsessing over our careers cause us to miss many opportunities. Some people depend on drugs and alcohol to enjoy life such a the young college student that recently committed suicide. A couple of weeks ago a college student committed suicide at his campus because he was getting tired and the drugs didn’t bring him satisfaction anymore. Self-control helps us prioritize and differentiate between wants and needs.

Also, there is a pronounced materialism of the consumer society in which we live, and it brings some new forms of behavior, norms and fashion. Impose its desires and needs, which is not realistic, and the people are raised vanity, as the main motivation and driving force of all activities. Someone managed to find happiness in the accumulation of material goods that he really should not, but many remain empty and dissatisfied with such life. People are always saying that life is one and that we should grab it from you and many more getting lost in the seizing: entertainment, people, business, travel, shopping ... once you meet their material needs in full, or at least in so extent that existence is