Consumer Society Is A Divided Society
Write an essay that outlines the view that a consumer society is a divided society.
Consuming plays a very important part in making and re-making our society. Over the years, we have learnt how to express our personalities and image through consuming. It provides us with a sense of belonging, as well as being able to create jobs, and means of living. We live in a society that depends a lot on consumer spending, in order to maintain a stable and economic environment. Nowadays, many people are able to spend money beyond necessities, and consume more luxurious products. However, we must remember that not everyone can consume equally- one person's necessity may be another person's luxury. There are two very important concepts that will be used throughout this essay : status and power. Through these concepts, I will outline the ways in which a consumer society is a divided society.
The success of a consumer society depends on the amount of disposable income within it. The amount of money we make plays a big part in what we can buy,what we wear and how we can express ourselves through consuming. The American sociologist, Thorstein Veblen (1899) produced a theory that outlines the view that those people of the nineteenth century who could participate fully in consumer society, or had recently aquired wealth, would …show more content…
However, it has now received a proposal for a Tesco superstore and in contrast to Partick, this proposal has been greeted with excitement and support. The residents believe that their small town can be shaped and improved by the superstore, resulting in long term jobs for the unemployed and "act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the area by attracting new shops, bars and restaurants to the plaza" (Making Social Lives,
Consuming plays a very important part in making and re-making our society. Over the years, we have learnt how to express our personalities and image through consuming. It provides us with a sense of belonging, as well as being able to create jobs, and means of living. We live in a society that depends a lot on consumer spending, in order to maintain a stable and economic environment. Nowadays, many people are able to spend money beyond necessities, and consume more luxurious products. However, we must remember that not everyone can consume equally- one person's necessity may be another person's luxury. There are two very important concepts that will be used throughout this essay : status and power. Through these concepts, I will outline the ways in which a consumer society is a divided society.
The success of a consumer society depends on the amount of disposable income within it. The amount of money we make plays a big part in what we can buy,what we wear and how we can express ourselves through consuming. The American sociologist, Thorstein Veblen (1899) produced a theory that outlines the view that those people of the nineteenth century who could participate fully in consumer society, or had recently aquired wealth, would …show more content…
However, it has now received a proposal for a Tesco superstore and in contrast to Partick, this proposal has been greeted with excitement and support. The residents believe that their small town can be shaped and improved by the superstore, resulting in long term jobs for the unemployed and "act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the area by attracting new shops, bars and restaurants to the plaza" (Making Social Lives,