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The roots of consumerism
Why did women start to smoke? Why did people start buying lots of stuff they didn't actually need? What led to the Wall Street Crash? What led to Hitler's anti-democratic ideas? Where did the idea come from that capitalism and democracy cannot be separated?
A major part of the answer to those questions is: Edward Bernays (1891-1995).
He realised that people's inner desires could be used to make them do pretty much anything, if they were led to believe that performing that action might satisfy those longings. So, by a powerful PR stunt, smoking became seen as a "torch of freedom" for women, for example. These ideas about people's inner longings came from his uncle, Sigmund Freud (whom Bernays made famous).
Adam Curtis presents this frightening story in his 2002 documentary, The Century of Self, episode 1 (of 4), Happiness Machines. Or here:
The Century of The Self Part 1 of 4 from Kia Ora Media Group on Vimeo.
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about 10 months ago
And what led to people thinking that it's democracy which is important and not capitalism?
about 10 months ago
Haven't reached that bit yet...
about 10 months ago
Have you come across Andrew Fellows' talks on narcissism and the worldview of self? It ties in well with Adam Curtis's documentary. Andrew Fellows' 4 talks on the subject are on Bethinking: http://www.bethinking.org/resources/narcissism---the-worldview-of-self---living-inside-my-head-part-1-of-4.htm
Consumerism is an outworking of the idolatry of self-image. What you're worshipping is not the thing consumed in itself (so it's not straightforward materialism), but how what you consume shapes your self-image.
about 10 months ago
Hi Caleb - I certainly do know Andrew Fellows' talks. They had a very strong influence on me a few years ago when I first heard them.
about 10 months ago
Yes, Andrew Fellows' talks really helped shaped my thinking - very helpful and insightful. It's scary just how much of a hold individualism and narcissism has on us as a culture and individuals.
I have mixed feelings about Adam Curtis' documentaries. Curtis makes very good postmodern documentaries, with all the strengths and weaknesses that implies. On the one hand, I really like the way in which he deals in big themes and ideas. On the other hand, they're often not really arguments in the logical, evidence-based sense - they're very much image and emotion based in just the kind of way that Neil Postman critiques television in "Amusing ourselves to death".
about 10 months ago
Postman is certainly very good. Anthony, if you've not read the title Caleb mentions, you should. He nails a lot of modern television (never seen Curtis, so can't comment) long before it happened, and raises important questions about the effect of the internet on the way we understand, assess and handle information about the world around us.
about 10 months ago
Thanks both. "Technopoly" by Postman is on my wish-list; I think it featured prominently in Andrew Fellows' (third?) narcissism talk. If I had to choose that or "Amusing ourselves to death", which should I read first?