Defination of a 'consumer society'

[pitstopbunny]

How best would you summerise what a 'consumer society' is?

[AB Editor]

The consistent application of a capitalist lexicon to all aspects of life. A society which talks about all things, even things which needn't be thought of in that way, as material, subject to market forces, brought and sold etc.

Example: "buying time" - time obviously can't be brought but we think of it of a commodity with a value attached to it.

That's what I'd go with.

[wildwood]

To me, a consumer society is one that uses non essential items that they do not really need. While a very basic mobile phone is all we need, they have an immense variety of other extras that we are duped into believing that we need by industry. The frequent renewal of 'up to date' models with more non essential facilities is a successful ploy to dump our old phone to buy a new one.

A fridge is often replaced with a newer model well before it stops working. This is very much a industry generated desire through advertising and is employed with many items.

[DTCwordfan]

"Dog eats Dog"

[classylady60]

Buying things just because you can, even if you don't need them. Replacing good items just because they don't match your decor, wasting money on things you don't need and constantly buying clothes that won't be used to be thrown away at a later date.

[DTCwordfan]

dare you to write just that in your term paper, whatever the marking format is.

Just like a student when examined at Oxford, got the question, "What is the Philosophy of Being Brave?," he wrote two words as his answer.

"This is."

[sandyRoe]

Where people are bombarded with propaganda telling them they need more.

[beso]

In the words of kead singer Poly Styrene of the incredible seventies band X-Ray Specs in their song Art-I-Ficial.

I know I'm artificial
But don't put the blame on me
I was reared with appliances
In a consumer society

When I put on my make-up
The pretty little mask not me
That's the way a girl should be
In a consumer society

My existence is elusive
The kind that is supported
By mechanical resources

My existence is elusive
The kind that is supported
By mechanical resources

I wanna be instamatic
I wanna be a frozen pea
I wannna be dehydrated
In a consumer society

In a consumer society
In a consumer society

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaEZQd0BPn0

[heathfield]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism

[heathfield]

No. ;-)

[brionon]

What IS a Defination ? Please.

[Manwithnoname]

Where want out strips need created by consumers who are easily lead into believing these consumer goods a must have & will go to any means to obtain them (debt)
It is now cultural markets which lead the way by way of media saturation of the so called neccesities.

[DTCwordfan]

Brionon - a defination is a "country that has no defined international borders in which a society, such as a consumer one, lives at large."

I hope that helps you.

[brionon]

But What is a Defination of a Consumer Society ? Or did Pitstop mean Defination ,perhaps ?

[chelle7272]

Or definition.....

[DTCwordfan]

Thuddddddddddd to Brionon's response.

[pitstopbunny]

Yes social science through Open Uni...somehow ended up being a compulsory module for my psychology & criminology degree : (