Video Games: The Consumption of Escapism

In her essay “Stuff is Not Salvation”, Anna Quindlen speaks on the topic of Americans’ ridiculous addiction to purchasing products. Quindlen believes that this addiction is a bigger issue than losing jobs, and even homes. She explains how American’s tend to frequently replace undamaged items and leave old items to gather dust. With the use of credit, one can now purchase items without physical money, resulting in the accumulation of debt. Important things, such as bills and medicine, are often put behind the wants of new items. Her conclusion is that salvation, or happiness, cannot and will not come from purchased items. With the use of various aspects within her piece, Quindlen makes a valid argument towards her statement of “stuff is not

This paper explores the encouragement of conspicuous consumption seen in the popular TV comedy series ‘Modern Family’ using sociological theories such as those of Thorstein Veblen and Zygmunt Bauman. By looking at consumption using Veblen’s theory as our main approach it becomes clear that “we partake in consumption that reflects our habits and taste, what we consume is an expression of our likes, dislikes and a broad range of interests and motivations,” (Reynolds, 2012). By analysing the Medias role in the encouragement of conspicuous consumption and the role it plays in Modern Family it becomes clear that this concept of consumption is a dominant part of our consumer society. Together these theorists look at this idea of consumption from their own unique point of views by looking at it from different perspectives and giving us an understanding of what consumption is and how over time, conspicuous consumption has become a dominant part of our daily lives.

In the beginning of her essay, she declares that consumerism is a “pernicious problem, an addiction to consumption so out of control that it qualifies as a sickness” (Quindlen 159). The author’s statement could easily offend anyone who is a part of America’s consumer culture and seems very vague in her statement. What qualifies as out of control consumption; buying toys or clothes or is there a limit where it becomes out of control? Quindlen also states that “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” (160). This is a very generalized statement that cannot be effectively given because, again, she does not verify exactly what she means. Are the acquisitions of a 7-year-old the desire to buy everything you see? Maybe they are the desires to own every fun new gadget, regardless of need. She also says “much of the country” but leaves her remark at that; how much is “much”? Without any sources, it can easily be assumed she is using her own personal relationships to come to this conclusions which is a biased group and does not represent the country as a whole. Shopping and consumer consumption is a necessary part of the American economy, and Quindlen’s arguments regarding a majority of the country and their reckless spending may only be extreme in a few cases, and reasonable in

In this essay I will be outlining consumerism and claims that a consumer society is always a throw-away society. Consumption plays a big part in our lives and causes us to live in divided societies. It may make us feel like we fit in buying new gadgets and clothes and also give us that sense of belonging but we don’t take into account what happens to the old items and packaging. People do not want to look at the problems caused. I will use this essay with the evidence I have read

Anna Quindlen, a novelist, social critic, and journalist wrote an intriguing essay “Stuff is Not Salvation” about the addiction of Americans, who splurge on materialistic items that have no real meaning. The ability to obtain credit is one of the main reasons to blame for society’s consumption epidemic. However, Quindlen feels the economic decline due to credit card debt is insignificant compared to the underlying issues of American’s binging problems. Quindlen’s essay gives excellent points regarding the differences in America’s typical shopping habits. Additionally, she mentions how people acquire all this “stuff” but seem to never realize, “why did I get this?”(501). Quindlen makes her

It is without a doubt that consumerism has taken over our society today. Everyday people constantly go shopping for materialistic items that they may not need such as the “hottest” pair of

Transactions at a local corner store, the purchase of a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, and the credit card debt accumulated through the buying of miscellaneous objects on the internet, are just a few contributors to the most powerful “ism” that powers America. From the 1920s to the present day America has been driven by consumerism. Consumerism- in its simplest form- is defined as the buying and selling of products. When tracing the evolution of consumerism in America, one must explore many factors that led up to today’s consumerist culture; the economic ups and downs of the 1920s through the 1950s, the anti-consumerist movement in the 1960s, and people’s obsession with material items in modern society.

A consumer society is increasingly organized around consumption of goods and leisure, rather than the production of materials and services. It rests on consuming material goods as a supreme characteristic of value. Therefore individuals who do not consume are viewed as undervalued. Peoples consumer choices (taste and style) are seen to be indicators of who they are as a person and of their moves within the games of class, prestige, status, hierarchy, fashionability (“Features of a Consumer Society” McGregor 2011). Many spending and investments are committed to consuming, regardless of whether it is good for the environment and health, for example the

Instead of one focusing on a single issue, such as money, we focus on items to simply make everyday life easier. American Consumers lack to focus on the overall effect of the products they buy will have in homes, not to mention in our community. This is one reason we have a consumer based country that leads to many other problems of various origins within the economy. However the controversial topic being determined is whether or not consumerism is for the best. This can be addressed from two views, for instance Juliet Schor speaks of the recent struggle in debt our country has throughout her writings, which in return asks the question, should we really be spending? Schor doesn’t think we shouldn't and it’s been proven that shoppers today may consume as much as twice as of what people only 40 years ago may have. Schor views consumerism to be okay when moderated because you have to buy and sell to create newer societies with a modern appeal. Although this doesn’t mean take away some of the wonderful moments in life, just to go shopping. For instance, four billion square feet of America’s land is simply shopping centers, making it almost impossible to live and teach an independent lifestyle that is necessary when explaining how our country was

Although many Americans shop for the good to make themselves fit into the standard of society, others buy things because they have too. Some believe that America over consumption of unnecessary goods is making us very simple. Many critics of America's materialistic habits like author Juliet Schor, she discusses consumer culture in the United States. She writes “families experience pressure to keep up, both for themselves and their children…The growing prominence of the values of the market, materialism, and economic success make financial failure more consequential and painful.”(Schor, pg

Escapism describes the desire to circumvent the circumstances of one's current reality and is one of the major appeals of television in the modern age. Wilbur Schramm, an scholar of mass communication, “lists escape as one manifestation of the entertainment function of (mass) communication” (oxford). Escapism can be centered around any number of fantasies, however each one caters to some desire or shortcoming in our everyday lives. Escapism is directly tied to ideas of a paradiscal existence through the Pollyanna principle, which is a behavioral theory that states people seek out pleasant stimuli and avoid unpleasant ones (Matlin 1). The theory applies itself to both memory, perception, and imagination all of which are crucial to constructing

On a daily basis people are confronted by numerous genres of entertainment e.g. drama, comedy, sport, game shows, reality t.v, advertisements and many more (Fourie:2007,216). Entertainment provides a preliminary answer from 3three perspectives: rhetorical, behavioural and sociological (Fourie:2007,216). Entertainment specifically deals with phenomenological nature of film and television entertainment as well as focus on fictional content of feature films(Fourie:2007,216). However, news, documentaries and sport are also considered as entertainment

In this American society, Americans have grown a fascination with possessions and have become the biggest spenders. They continuously spend more than they earn; we always find an excuse to spend money. Regardless, of our financial means allow us to to purchase a product. . Unfortunately, the American society has become completely monopolized by consumerism and an obsession with shopping. We always find ourselves buying more each day and completely disregard the usefulness or necessity of the product. Consumerism has become part of the American culture and the new American dream. With people constantly judging our daily activities on social media, we have come to believe materialism is

The idea of purchasing unnecessary items is exemplified in Jacks condo. Jack identifies his condo as an “ikea nesting instinct”, and he feels compelled to purchase materialistic items he does not need. When browsing through a catalog he states “[I] wonder what kind of dining set defines me as a person?” Consumerism holds a strong force upon Jack, he feels that he owns defines him as a person. Jack works at a job he does not enjoy simply to supply fads that have been instilled by society.

Immersing yourself in a fictional world, in which your fantasies and imagination runs rampant; leaving behind a monotonous and redundant life to become a part of a new enchanted, lively world of excitement and intrigue. The present digital era, a technological advance generation which grants endless possibilities, with access to a plethora of television shows. We become engrossed in our fictional shows due to the different array of characters; awe inspiring settings; and themes, that compelled people to binge watch. “Just one more episode” are the inner thoughts of most when doing a marathon through their favorite television programs, doing this enthralls the populous to escape reality and venture into any new realms. And when visual stimulus