Dd101 Tma02 Essay

601 Words3 Pages
Explain the view that we now live in a ‘consumer society’ Unlike in the past, we now have alot more money available to us to spend. Not only that, but there is also a wide range of products for us to spend that money on. If I get paid tomorrow, I could buy an ipod, new clothes, go and book a holiday or decide to go out for a good meal and a drink with friends. So we live in a consumer society. Social scientists are interested in these societies. Economists are interested in the market, while Geographers would be interested in how goods come from all over the World; and in pollution. Social scientists say that this society is very different than those that came before. Bauman argues that some people are seduced by this society while others are rejected by this society. It was Veblen who coined the term ‘consumer society. So what is wrong about such a society? Surely if a person works hard and earns money than they should have the right to spend that money as they wish and as Susman (2003) says, to express their personalities. Perhaps, though, the social scientists are being too deep in their analysis? After all, people have shopped throughout human history. Yes, there are more things available to buy these days, but hasn’t it always been the case that people traded goods? Things have changed, and it was the department store that made all the difference. These are large shops that have a wide range of goods. Unlike before, people do not have to go to different places to buy things. In modern society, supermarkets like Tesco do a similar thing. Shopping is now much more convenient. Add to this the fact that people naturally want to have possessions and department stores made it easier for people to go in for ‘conspicuous consumption’. The new department stores were places that women could go to and feel safe. We also need to remember that there are

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