Scribd
Upload
27 views22 pages

Material Economicself 230215144002 Ac7c0695

This document discusses the relationship between material possessions, consumerism, and identity. It addresses how consumer culture portrays consumption as central to happiness and identity, yet this focus on acquiring goods can be unsustainable and manipulative. While consumption allows self-expression, basing one's identity primarily on possessions risks becoming trapped in consumerism. The document advocates developing a positive self-image through intellectual independence rather than material goods alone.

Uploaded by

Cefrin Louise L. Adora
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views22 pages

Material Economicself 230215144002 Ac7c0695

This document discusses the relationship between material possessions, consumerism, and identity. It addresses how consumer culture portrays consumption as central to happiness and identity, yet this focus on acquiring goods can be unsustainable and manipulative. While consumption allows self-expression, basing one's identity primarily on possessions risks becoming trapped in consumerism. The document advocates developing a positive self-image through intellectual independence rather than material goods alone.

Uploaded by

Cefrin Louise L. Adora
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

Material

/Economic Self
To be happy in life, we must learn the difference
between what we want and what we need.
1. If you were given a credit card with no
limit, what are you going to buy? List as
many as you want.

2. From your list, which among them do


you like the most? Why?

3. Which among them do you consider


important? Why?
Material Self:
pertains to the objects, places, or even people
which have the label “mine”. The sum total of
all you call “yours”, not only your body psychic
powers, but your clothes, house, husband/wife
and children, your ancestors and friends,
reputation and work, all these things give you
the same emotions. Such possessions are
viewed as extensions of individuals' identities.

If they prosper, you feel triumphant, if they


dwindle and die away, you feel cast down- not
necessarily in the same degree for each thing,
but in much the same way for all.

-William James
“We are what we have”
The Meaning of Things

“The things people use, own, and surround


themselves with might accurately reflect their
personality. Not surprisingly, the clothes one wears,
the car one drives and the furnishings of one’s
home, all are expressions of one’s self and
sometimes, even act as disguises rather than as
reflections”.

-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
In this age of digital technology,
everything in our society is based upon
the idea that consumption should be as
easy as possible.

These ads carry the message that we


become happy by buying, buying,
buying. Shopping has become a leisure
and a way to pass the time without
considering that our consumption
contributes to our garbage problems,
pollution, and the depletion of our
natural resources.
“I shop, therefore I am: I
have, therefore I am?”
Consume- is defined as “use up, to spend wastefully, to destroy”
(Gusdorf, 1978). The definition shows that consumption has a negative
connotation. There is, however, a positive side to consumptions that
is often neglected.

Behind consumption, there is


Production- the act of making or
manufacturing from components or
raw materials, or the process of
being so manufactured.
Roland Barthes- Barthes was particularly
interested in our relationship with consumer
goods in capitalist culture. He argued that in
capitalist cultures, the commodity becomes
magical, containing properties normally
bestowed on sacred objects (fetishes or Gods).

Through advertising, products become


irresistible - perfume, not just a sweet
smelling liquid but ‘an essence of allure’
making the user irresistible
Consumers are often portrayed as “victims”, exploited by greedy
companies. However, we should take note that every person has “free
will”. Therefore, choices are important. As a consumer, free will
comes with responsibility and obligation. Conscious consumption is
about practicing responsible buying habits.
IDENTITY & CONSUMER CULTURE

Identity is a symbolic idea (Mach, 1993). It is an image


we build for ourselves through social interaction. It is
dynamic and context-dependent.

Consumer Culture is a form of material culture


facilitated by the market, which thus created a
particular relationship between the consumer and the
goods or services he or she uses or consumes.
IDENTITY

Identity may refer to:


1. A social category defined by membership
rules, characteristic attributes, or
expected behavior.
2. Socially distinguishing features that an
individual takes pride in having
CONSUMER CULTURE

Consumer culture is:


1. A culture of consumption
2. The culture of market society
3. Universal and impersonal
4. Identifies freedom with private choice and life
5. Needs are insatiable and unlimited
6. A privileged medium for building personal
identity and status
The problem with Consumerism
It is intrusive It is unsustainable

It cannot provide
many of the things
It is manipulative
that are important
to us

It affects worldviews and It restricts our


characters choices and lives
Let’s avoid the trap!
Let’s avoid the trap!

Exercise intellectual
independence

Consume less, live more!


A positive self-image has little relationship to our material
circumstance.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy