Cohen concludes her “Prologue” to A Consumers' Republic with: “I hope that readers, aware of how my life has conformed to the large patterns set out in this book, will begin to contemplate how their own lives may also have been shaped by these economic, political, social, and cultural structures that reigned over the second half of the twentieth century and still are with us in many ways today… If we all are citizens and we all are consumers, how we choose to mix the two reveals a great deal about who we are as individual Americans as well as about the virtue of the America we live in at any particular moment in time” (15).
Please watch the video (see below) while thinking about the following questions:
(1) During discussion section we addressed different consumer ideologies. According to Annie Leonard, what is the current relationship between citizenship, consumerism, and nationalism? Is this an extension of the “consumers’ republic,” or something entirely different?
(2) How is our current government responding to our economic crisis?
(3) Is it un-American or un-patriotic to resist consumerism? Think of examples in your own life or around you (i.e. in the media).
(4) Any comments on the gender or racial logics addressed (or not addressed) in this film? Can you make connections to Cohen’s arguments?
(5) Any comments on the solutions Annie Leonard proposes?
You may also propose additional discussion topics/questions. And please feel free to comment on other student’s comments to this post as well.
-Isabel
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Annie Leonard makes an interesting argument in explaining how consumerism works within this country. The illustrative approach is helpful, however I believe that some of the topics were a bit oversimplified and failed to capture the true idea behind what was really occurring. One thing I found very interesting was the fact that 99% of products purchased are disposed of in six months. I have personally felt that products are sometimes manufactured to last only a certain amount of time, and it was interesting that she brought up the point. As far as gender roles, there was only a short segment which talked about variations in high-heel shoes and the rational behind continuing to purchase that type of product. Other than that, there was little to reference the stereotype that women are the dominant shoppers, often with a frivolous nature implied. As far as solutions go, I somewhat agree with her statements regarding responsibility and refining production processes, etc. It is our responsibility to make the best effort we can to produce in an environmentally responsible way, as well as looking out for these products when shopping. However, we must also take into account the complexity of the economy and the need to take an active role. Especially given the current economic situation, it is imperative that consumers remain confident and continue purchasing at regular levels if we are to correct the situation at hand. While the banking and housing markets will need time to recover, a sustainable economic recovery will not be possible without the participation of the average consumer.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this video I realized that I had never really thought about what our economy is actually based on. I thought that Annie Leonard made some very interesting points about consumerism in America. I was surprised to find out that corporations have grown and are gaining more power than the government. The cycle that Annie says we go through was very simplified and yet very interesting. The idea that we don’t actually pay for what we purchase caught my attention. She said that it’s the natural resources, people, and polluted air that are sacrificed so that we can buy products at reasonable prices. I also thought that the idea of making products in a way that makes them break faster was absurd. When Annie talked about how the only difference in updated computers is a little chip in the modem, I was shocked. I can’t believe that they change the shapes of these pieces just so people will buy a new computer every few years. The idea of getting products in and out of stores as fast as possible is killing our planet. The fact that Americans spend most of their time working, watching TV, and shopping is nuts. At the rate we are going we really don’t have time to slow down and to just enjoy life. Annie is right in saying that many of us consume to stay in style and to have the most updated technology. But at the end of the day, is working 6 days a week to buy things that are designed to be thrown away in 6 months really worth our time? I agree with Annie that something needs to be done. We really need to get the government back on our side and to get corporations out. Now I know that our economy is very complex and that changing the way we buy and produce goods will take some time. But if we slow down and try to implement more environmentally safe chemicals and materials in creating products, it’s a start. Americans are always on the go and have never slowed down, and look where our economy is today. We are on the verge of a second depression so obviously we need to do something different. This is going to take some time but hopefully we will see some change soon.
ReplyDeleteI thought Annie Leonard's video on literally how stuff is made and its effects on the people and the environment was really interesting. By bringing in a wide array of information, she helps the people to understand both the small details of consumerism and the overall picture with the purpose of challenging us to reevaluate how we consume, thus changing the way we choose to live our lives. In class, a question was posed on whether or not consumerism after the war shaped national identity. I agree with Annie in that our nation is defined by this consumerism. The emphasis on a consumers republic post-WWII has shaped the United States into the nation that it is today, driven by the desire to buy more and have more, even though the majority of what we buy is completely useless in the fact that we don't need them to live. Homes were made in the first place solely for protection (huts, teepees, etc). Now, it's main purpose is to hold our "things." With that in mind, we, the public, are encouraged to to stimulate the economy by amassing more things to add to our already excessive collection of things. Sadly, this is only a quick fix for a problem that will only get worse, and I think Annie is on the right track to getting at the deeper issues in our economy and consumerism.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it's a common argument recently, it was disheartening to see the how central and devastating this production system is. I think what struck me as the most troubling was the concept of this consumer system being linear and how at every stage along the way, human life and the environment are being destroyed and damaged. Yet, as Annie pointed out, this is not just an economic movement or trend, it is a way of life that is on a runaway track.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that consumerism and an American identity are necessarily dependent events, although they have been since post WWII. As Annie said, before stewardship and frugality used to be American ideals; ideals that we lived by and still had a sense of a national identity. One could argue that for America to be the global "power" that it is, they need to have a strong economy fueled by consumerism. Yet you can still have this consumerism and not play into the damaging linear production system that Annie describes. Merely the products that we buy need to things that give back to the economy and the environment in renewable and nonmaterial ways.
I thought this video did a great job of explaining, in the simplest of ways, our consumption based economy. Through her interactive drawings and straightforward speech she was able to clearly demonstrate the American cycle and the effects each step of the consumption cycle have on the other steps. Although she really didn’t teach me more than I already knew, her calm yet concerned demeanor made me feel as though the U.S. must immediately change its ways.
ReplyDeleteThe most convincing part of her criticism on consumption was when she talked about planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence. To know that companies intentionally create defective products so that the naïve consumer will go buy more is sickening. The worst part is that Americans fall for this scheme. As she mentioned with perceived obsolescence, we get rid of perfectly functional products simply because they look out of date. As my other reflection discussed, everyone is scared to look poor or unpatriotic, so they “keep up with the Jones” in order to prove their wealth and American loyalty. Basically, these corporations prey on our deepest insecurities to bring us into stores where we will attempt to fill our void with more junk.
This coincides with her discussion of the consumer who works all day to come home and relax and only be bombarded with television commercials telling him that he sucks. This causes him to go out and buy things to make him feel better, causing him to work more hours to pay the bills for his new purchases and feel bad about himself when the next commercial comes on. Corporations and advertisers work together in creating a society without leisure where everyone is only concerned with money and stuff. Sadly, American happiness is in drastic decline suggesting that we must change our system as it is not only detrimental to the environment and our physical well-being, but also our emotional state.
The best part about this video is the optimistic ending. Unlike many videos which basically tell its viewers that the world is doomed, Leonard leaves us with a hope for change. She mentions that since people created this system, they too can create and alternative, healthier system. Therefore, a hope for a brighter future does exist, and it is up to the present generations to set forth the precedent of an environmentally friendly and leisure focused world.
I think this video is great. Annie Leonard explains the problems with consumerism in a very simple way. I found it interesting how she sets aside the government and corporations and sort of makes them look like the 'bad guys'. I like how she talks about products being made to stop working after a certain amount of time, which reminds me of my dad's claim that American cars crap out at the 100,000 mile mark. It makes me want to be wary of products I'm buying, as I may be lured into the trap that producers set.
ReplyDeleteWhen she talked about fashions and how people are pressured into buying new shoes, etc. just because of the way they look- it made me think about the fashion industry and its huge role in influencing consumers.
As consumerism (or resisting it) pertains to patriotism, the idea of being patriotic in consuming may be changing. It was interesting that Annie Leonard mentioned how Bush advocated shopping as the best way to boost the economy after 9/11, because that made consuming very patriotic. Now that 'living green' is becoming popular, it may be more patriotic to conserve for the benefit of the environment, which not only affects America but affects the whole world.
This video really made me think about my own consumerism. Buying high quality products that last a long time can be very beneficial in the process of changing our ways as consumers. I liked how the illustration started as linear and Annie ended up proposing a cycle of less consumption and more recycling, rather than dumping and trashing the planet.
I think Annie Leonard raises many valuable concerns. I agree that her idea of this materials economy is in full force in the United States. And I agree that with her worry with "running a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely" is legitimate. As a country, we are aware that we use too much energy and waste too much water and throw too much in the trash can; many people are concerned with "extraction" and "disposal". However, her speech gave a new perspective on many things I haven't considered before such as distribution and consumption. These pieces of the system are obviously just as harmful as the disposal and the extraction, but they aren't as highly recognizable.
ReplyDeleteI found Annie Leonard's most interesting point to be the strategy to boost (and maintain) consumption. She named the two strategies: planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence. I (as well as most people) have been aware that consumption is an on-going process, and that most durable goods are obsolete shortly after the purchase. However, I never gave it much thought (beyond the fact that I needed to get a job to keep up with all the things I needed to buy!). And I think that this planned and perceived obsolescence is a byproduct of our capitalism. Our nation's emphasis on business and free enterprise and Keynesian economic stimulation has pronounced the business sector (production, distribution, and consumption) as the strongest economic force. By and large, it is socially acceptable, maybe even encouraged, to buy the newest and the most expensive products. It is 'normal' to toss one computer for a sleeker, faster model. These are the side effects of living in a nation where the free market (individualism) is our foundation; it only follows that consumerism would be the reaction.
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ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this video because it speaks to a lot of our cultural norms. We never really think about why Apple comes out with a new model laptop every few years or why some of our goods break down after only a few years use. We do not think that the companies make products the way they do for a purpose; if they make products this way, we continue to buy and the companies keep making money and we keep creating waste. Perceived obsolescence, as described earlier, is when the company makes the same good look different so consumers will buy another good exactly like it feed into American patriotism because if a consumer does not buy the updated version, it shows that he has not helped our market. This applies to times such as now when our economy is in shambles and some economists say that the best way to give the economy a boost is to go out and buy something. Leonard describes this pattern also when the nation has gone through a crisis. For example, George W. Bush wanted everyone to go out and buy something after 9/11.
ReplyDeleteOur media also keeps this national consumer identity going by pressuring people to buy goods. The media makes people feel like they need to buy stuff so that they can feel better about themselves, but Leonard comments that this system keeps going because we are never satisfied with our goods. We are never satisfied because we do not have time to enjoy them since we spend most of our time at work or shopping for new goods. It is interesting that she says Americans feel less happy than they did in the past. This is directly related to the fact that we do not have time to enjoy our friends and families because we are always trying to buy new things.
I felt that Leonard's analysis could have been stronger if she explicitly commented on race or gender. However, she does explain how American consumerism affects people in other countries. For example, the children in the Congo drop out of school early to mine metal for American disposable products. We deny these children educational success because we have to be surrounded by things. It is interesting how we can hurt our environment, others, and ourselves by continuing our consumerism.
After watching this insightful video, the main concepts that come to mind are manipulation and contortion and how the obvious theme, consumerism, is contrived through these techniques. We are a nation, a people, a species, fixated on conformation. This idea has continuously skimmed the surface since our first discussion on 'Playing Indian' and has continued through the bus boycotts in this weeks reading. This sense of conformation to the latest ideology is incredibly powerful, but in both good and bad ways.
ReplyDeleteWe look to others for advise and council on how to run our own lives. Manipulators, obviously have studied such trends in order to understand ways which reach a desired populace movement.
This idea of consumption after WWII, which Leonard discusses in her video, is a great example of what can come of dirty lies in order to shape a culture. Some more obvious conforming mechanisms are the 'go green' fad and the latest fashion and material goods obsession. Also, the latest election of President Obama. We can see that great changes can occur from mass involvement, but we as a people need to censor those contortionists who are poisoning our minds. At the end of the day it comes down to us, as individuals, finding other individuals, both of which know right from wrong, coming together, in order to make ethical and just decisions.
I agree with a lot of what Annie Leonard says in the video but I disagree when she starts talking about how we are a consuming nation and we must buy new things to contribute to our nation. She mentions that the heels on high heels change frequently from skinny to large every year and if you don't have the new model, you are looked down upon for not contributing to the economy. I have absolutely no sense of fashion or know what drives women to buy these new shoes each year but I do not believe its because we feel we need to contribute to the economy. I have never in my entire life felt like I have had to go out and purchase new products just for the sake of helping my nation or even as an after thought. I may be an exception or just unpatriotic but I personally believe that mentality is being eroded away and was more a post WW2 concept. Other than that I found the video very insightful and linked may questions I had about why the costs of products were so cheap, which was perfectly illustrated in this video.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this film brought up some very interesting points. I had never thought of the consumer cycle in the way that Annie Leonard had described it. I agree with her in the fact that the government is worrying to much about big time corporations and their wants and need,rather than the citizens of America.I also agree with the fact that products are only made to last a certain amount of time, so that companies can make them "better" and people will buy a new one. I also feel that our economy today is an extension of a Consumer Republic. Since the end of WWII we have had a world wide reputation of being a consumer society and I feel that, that hasn't changed. Even though our economy is considering to decline people are continuing to buy the newest and best products on the market. Although it is considered "American" to be a consumer, I do not feel that by not taking part in consumerism that you are being un-patriotic. Annie Leonard makes numerous good points in her video and I think that it gives a good visual of consumerism today, and how over 50 years "stuff" is important in the eyes of the American people.
ReplyDeleteJudging from the way it is presented in this video, I think it is looked at as un-patriotic to not take part in consumerism. Leonard brought up a good point about President Bush's comment after 911 telling everyone to go out and spend money because of the crisis. In a time where money was probably the last thing on Americans' minds, that's how he proposed the problem to be solved. As a matter of fact, i feel that the economy plays a larger role in declaring Americanism than many other entities. To be patriotic means to be supportive of your country and in the eyes of the government, the economy helps move the country. Therefore, if we do not participate in consumerism, we are being un-patriotic.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a consumer's republic is definitely evident in Annie Leonard's video. As some have said previously, I agree with the fact that we, as U.S. citizens, have built a society in which purchasing more and better stuff is the key to our happiness and demonstrates our patriotism to a certain extent. However, I do agree with Adam in that when I purchase something new, I rarely consider my new buy as a contribution to the nation and thus a raise in patriotism points. I also agree that the government has used this idea of consuming as a way to manipulate the public. As we talked about in discussion, post-WWII was a time devoted to (re)building the market, thus, the government posed the citizen-consumer as the optimal citizen and an excellent contributor to our nation. In other words, just like everything else that we've discussed in this class, the idea of consumerism is constantly changed to fit the needs of the times and to help the "greater good" of the nation.
ReplyDeleteI thought this video was interesting and quite relevant to our recent discussions and readings. In response to one of the questions raised, I don't think it is unpatriotic to resist consumption. Does that mean if I don't go out and buy new stuff everytime a new phone or ipod or computer comes out I'm being unpatriotic? No, I just don't want it or need it. Not everyone falls into the generalization Annie Leonard makes in her video. While I agree with a lot of things she said and I found it quite interesting and eye opening, I can't help but disagree when she said all we do is go to work, go home and watch tv, realize we suck and go buy something, then repeat the next day. Yes, a lot of people do that and it is because advertisements on tv manipulate people to buy things. But if someone goes out and buys something just because it is new and they do not have it or someone else thinks they should have it, that is the consumers fault for being easily manipulated and wasteful. I also agree with Adam in that when people do buy stuff, I don't think they are doing it because they feel the need to help out the nation or because their country wants them too, it's just because they want it themselves.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I thought the video was very interesting, but I do think she generalized a bit much, in that not everyone fits into that mold or buying every new thing possible and wasting everything just because the governments wants them to.
I recognize that in our current state of the economy and in the past the necessity of buying and being a consumer. However, I feel that today our society is so wrapped up in material goods, that a refocus on being a “citizen-consumer” is needed, moreover, a “conscious-citizen consumer” would be better. We need to reflect on why we buy things and make conscious choices in our purchasing. I am personally not an organic food or product buyer necessarily (because in college its hard due to the cost), but if I can buy organic or eco-friendly items, I will. I feel that a new wave of consumer activism needs to occur in that citizens should be requesting natural or non-toxic goods and demand for better ways to get rid of the stuff we don’t need.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Annie Leonard decided to use a person to symbolize the government instead of money or something else, and that she said she wants to hold true the foundations of our democracy as of the people for the people, and by the people. I think that she stated her political views just through that statement. But it is an important thing to mention because we have lost sight of this over the past years.
Old cell phones and other electronic goods can be “recycled” for other uses. I know that SAPAC at U of M and other “Safe-house” organizations collect old cell phones, or ones that people are not using for one of their goals in protecting and supporting survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Also, I have given many of my clothes that I do not wear anymore, or do not need to Plato’s Closet, which is a retail store that buys back your lightly used clothes to sell in their store for a lower price than the original. Thus, I get some money for the clothes I give, and individuals who cannot afford pricey “in-fashion” clothes can purchase my un-needed clothes for a cheap price. In this case, I feel that more organizations and fields of work should actively advertise their needs for our “old” or “used” material goods so that we are not wasting or contributing to more pollution and the bad state of our environment. Also, giving our “old” material goods to social organizations that are utilizing them for the good of our citizens is imperative, especially since non-profit organizations, especially during this economic climate of now, do not receive enough funding, and often collapse because of this.
I believe that in the state of our society now, consumerism is needed, but the advertising and marketing needs to change because it is enveloping our culture completely. Also, being a “conscious-citizen consumer,” in my mind, means thinking about the product and where it has come from, and how it will be disposed of, and to not buy products that exploit workers in third world countries. More importantly, American citizens need to be more aware of how our nation is spending money on things that are not needed, leaving less money and support for people in poverty, social reform organizations, and poverty-stricken countries.
I thought the remark that a linear system cannot work on a finite planet was an interesting way to sum up one of the major challenges facing the world as we all more forward. While I agreed with much of what the video said I had a couple of thoughts about some of the things mentioned: first it was wild to hear that 50% of government tax money goes to military spending. While many economists that one of the most effective forms of government spending, in terms of helping the national economy, is military expenditure. However, given how many other long-term problems our country is facing, I feel that it may be a more appropriate investment to redirect a portion of that spending elsewhere. Second, if we were to consume only our own share of natural resources (sharp economic protectionism) we would have to significantly alter the fundamental way our economy worked as the overall price level with a decrease in imports would drastically re-calibrate the economy --also, nearly all third world country's economies are export based, and staunch protectionism would only widen the gap between low income countries and high income countries. Third, I felt that there was an oversimplification of the cause and effect on many issues. For instance, her explanation of germs present in production processes leading to contaminated breast milk through consumption process and women working in factories was vague, generic, and overestimates the number of women working in the primary sector for that to be true. Also, it is absurd to assume that 200,000 people a day are migrating to cities because their home habitats have become decimated, and that is the cause for migration. Overall, I agree that an age of more conscious-consumerism is long overdue, however, responsibility should be placed on the individuals and, as with many infant-industry type movements since the U.S was founded, be enabled by the government through a myriad of creative policies and incentives that would help bring about responsible consumption.
ReplyDeleteWatching this video really made me start thinking more about the state of our country and the true priorities of American businesses and corporations. It was surprising to hear that corporations have grown so much in recent years that they are actually beginning to have more power than the government. I think that although there are many signs that point to this shift in power, people don’t want to believe it. It is easier and more comfortable to keep thinking that the officials that we voted into office are actually controlling our country than to come to terms with the fact that these corrupt businesses with hidden motives are gaining power. Throughout the video Annie pointed out multiple malicious ways that corporations use their influence to increase sales of their products. For example, some businesses purposely sell poorly made products that they know will break easily. By doing this, they can ensure that people will come back to replace the broken product sooner rather than later. Although this process does facilitate consumerism, which in turn boosts our economy, I don’t think it is the appropriate way to do so. I think it’s sad that corporations have become so power hungry that they are resorting to deceitful measures to increase consumption.
ReplyDeleteI feel that she was talking down to her viewers in a way. i admit that she had some really good points, but i felt like i couldnt take her seriously because she wasnt taking me seriously. i found myself almost wanting to laugh at times because she was so oversimplifying things and comletely ignoring the fact that there is another side to some of these arguments. the illustrations were helpfull though, and they made what i took as her main point really clear- that the system doesnt work mainly becuase it is linear and we have finite resources and need a circular system of consumption.
ReplyDeletei feel that maybe i would be better able to talk about this closer to the time that we discussed it in class, but i still stand by what i said before. she does make some interesting points about government and their part in all of this which would fit nicely into our class conversation. I thought it was really interesting what she said about Bush after 9/11 say "go out and shop" as opposed to any of the numerous other things that he could have told americans to do. this does fit nicely into the idea that both she and our class discussion brought up which is consuming being "american"- this video shows (in its own childish way) how this idea is still prominent today. I do think that this is changing though with recent economic conditions bringing thrift back into style. which brings up another thing that she brought up that made me think. i knew about designed obsolesece, but i had never really considered percieved obsolesence untill she brought it up, but i can totally see what she is talking about as far as the computers and phones and everything becoming outdated almsot as soon as you buy them, it is really frustrating.
ReplyDeleteThis video was really interesting and very informative. She starts by commenting on how the consumer system is linear in a finite world, so it will never work. She describes the problems with the system, which or extensive. America is a consumer culture so people are judges on what they buy. Then she proposes solutions. She seems to go more in depth on the problems with consumerism and not so much on the solutions. She claims that there are many solutions and that we are already participating in fixing the pollution problems. How ever, she does not recognize how difficult it is to change a consumer nation where so many jobs and lifestyles are dependent on consumerism.
ReplyDeleteI thought the video brought a lot of ideas together. As a Earth Science major a lot of the environmental issues she brought up was really just the tip of the spear so to speak. I also think that she makes a good point that its really our own faults for excepting how we live as reality and not trying to fix it. We have a lot more power than we think we do.
ReplyDeleteLeonard addresses the problems with consumerism yet barely touches on how to fix the problem. One of her arguments was of the work watch spend treadmill, where people go to work go home to relax by watching television which tells them they need to consume and there for work more. I agree with Leonard that this is a highly stressful cycle for humans to be caught in especially in this economy but, I really wish she would have brought up a way to solve this problem. Her linear model was informative and upsetting. I don't think I ever realized the entire process and how dangerous it is to us. After hearing her argument I want to know what needs to be done to fix it yet, she only touched on the way to change it for one minute out of her twenty minute video. She says that things are being done to fix it yet, they obviously aren't working well enough or things would be changing so a better system needs to be created to fix this problem.
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