Keeping Up With The Joneses Twitchell Analysis
Kiairus Dixon
Mrs. Iken
Comp 112
Essay 2
Who Do I Have to Keep up With?
"Keeping up with the Joneses" is an idiom which refers to the comparison to one's tendency their neighbor’s accomplishments as a benchmark for their potential social caste or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is to be culturally inferior, since the Joneses are referred to as a wealthy family. But are the Jonses even relevant in today’s society? It’s all about “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” however, is it real to immatate their life style when you are not of their class? To live outside of one’s means will result in debt and unpaid bills. Have we truly become a materalistic society? Has the name brand become more important …show more content…
Twitchell a professor of English at the University of Florida, Gainesville. And the author of several books, including Adcult USA: The Triumph of Advertising in American Culture (1996), which is adapted from Lead Us into Temptation: The Triumph of American Materialism, by James B. Twitchell, in 1999. In Twitchell’s essay, “Needing the Unnecessary,” he speaks on how society obsession with price tags and name brands. He states that in the “1950s luxury objects were lightly tainted with shame. You had to be a little cautious if you drove a Cadillac, wore a Rolex, or lived in a house with more than two columns out front. The rich could drip with diamonds, but you should stay dry. Movie stars could drive convertibles; you should keep your top up. If you've got it, don't flaunt it” (319). This is the total opposite of what happens today. If you have a lot of money now most people know it because of the things you are seen with. Your car, house, clothes and even the activities all reflect something about you and affect how others think about …show more content…
Our generation is exposed to a lot of high priced products but that does not mean we should feel compelled to own it all. Many people see popular brands as statements, items that say “I am greater that you “and buy product for that reason. Twitchell makes a remarkable point about his father driving a Plymouth: a car not associated with wealth. “Today I wouldn’t go to a doctor that drove a Plymouth. I would figure if she doesn’t drive a Lexus than she is having trouble with her practice”. (322) True in life, this is how we pass judgment today. We live in a world where our competency and morality is determined by whether or not we wear a Rolex or drive a Lexus. I agree with Rosenbloom and Jacobe, I feel that there is nothing wrong with working hard and buying nice things. One should not have to hide hard earned wealth but they should always keep in mind that bills and essentials come first. Many people to day tend to forget that bills com first. However I do understand where Twitchell is coming from considering he was raised in a different era. Desires and want should never be confused with wants and as a society we have lost sight of what is truly
Mrs. Iken
Comp 112
Essay 2
Who Do I Have to Keep up With?
"Keeping up with the Joneses" is an idiom which refers to the comparison to one's tendency their neighbor’s accomplishments as a benchmark for their potential social caste or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is to be culturally inferior, since the Joneses are referred to as a wealthy family. But are the Jonses even relevant in today’s society? It’s all about “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” however, is it real to immatate their life style when you are not of their class? To live outside of one’s means will result in debt and unpaid bills. Have we truly become a materalistic society? Has the name brand become more important …show more content…
Twitchell a professor of English at the University of Florida, Gainesville. And the author of several books, including Adcult USA: The Triumph of Advertising in American Culture (1996), which is adapted from Lead Us into Temptation: The Triumph of American Materialism, by James B. Twitchell, in 1999. In Twitchell’s essay, “Needing the Unnecessary,” he speaks on how society obsession with price tags and name brands. He states that in the “1950s luxury objects were lightly tainted with shame. You had to be a little cautious if you drove a Cadillac, wore a Rolex, or lived in a house with more than two columns out front. The rich could drip with diamonds, but you should stay dry. Movie stars could drive convertibles; you should keep your top up. If you've got it, don't flaunt it” (319). This is the total opposite of what happens today. If you have a lot of money now most people know it because of the things you are seen with. Your car, house, clothes and even the activities all reflect something about you and affect how others think about …show more content…
Our generation is exposed to a lot of high priced products but that does not mean we should feel compelled to own it all. Many people see popular brands as statements, items that say “I am greater that you “and buy product for that reason. Twitchell makes a remarkable point about his father driving a Plymouth: a car not associated with wealth. “Today I wouldn’t go to a doctor that drove a Plymouth. I would figure if she doesn’t drive a Lexus than she is having trouble with her practice”. (322) True in life, this is how we pass judgment today. We live in a world where our competency and morality is determined by whether or not we wear a Rolex or drive a Lexus. I agree with Rosenbloom and Jacobe, I feel that there is nothing wrong with working hard and buying nice things. One should not have to hide hard earned wealth but they should always keep in mind that bills and essentials come first. Many people to day tend to forget that bills com first. However I do understand where Twitchell is coming from considering he was raised in a different era. Desires and want should never be confused with wants and as a society we have lost sight of what is truly