The Impacts of Commercialism and Materialism on Society

Commercialism and materialism are major flaws inherent within modern society. Consequently, as satirical texts, Nick Hornby’s 1998 novel “About a Boy” and Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein’s episode of “The Simpsons: Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy” written in 1994 critique this. Both texts are used as vehicles to demonstrate to the audience the detrimental impacts that commercialism and materialism have on society, through the use of a range of textual and satirical techniques. Through the juxtaposition of two opposing stereotypes, the protagonists Marcus and Will, Hornby exaggerates and criticises the effect that commercialism has on the social life and personality of an individual. Marcus is introduced in the text as a social outcast who is bullied at school. His mistreatment can be partly attributed to his complete lack of “cool” and materialistic possessions. As he explained in Chapter 3: “the [bullies] patrolled up and down school corridors like sharks…on the lookout for…the wrong trousers, or the wrong haircut, or the wrong shoes, any of which sent them wild.” Through the use of simile and the repetition of “wrong”, Hornby emphasises the enthusiasm with which the bullies search for and harass others on the sole basis of materialistic reasons. Hornby portrays an exaggerated environment where even children form social hierarchies based upon the principles of materialism. These techniques are used to ridicule contemporary society and the effect that commercialism has on one’s social life. Hornby use the characterisation of Will Freeman as an allegory of materialism to demonstrate the detrimental impact that mindless consumption has on an individual’s personality and identity. Ironically, despite his “trendy” and decadent lifestyle, Will is as socially isolated as Marcus, demonstrating the negative effect of supporting a materialistic ideology on one’s social life. Consequently, Will is portrayed as a shallow and selfish individual who places value into possessions