Today I read the book “Do Americans Shop Too Much” by Juliet Schor. Schor wrote an essay about her thoughts on contemporary American consumerism and consumption and reflected back on her earlier work “The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don’t Need” (which I also checked out from Homer Babbidge). What I liked about DASTM is that there was a variety of essays that responded to Schor’s initial thoughts. There was a variety of opinions and ideas from different scholars. Surprisingly, some of them even had different and more conservative opinions than Schor. I thought it was a good (and concise) read that gave me a more variable insight on my topic.

I’ve also been looking at different artists work and their reactions to Consumerism.

First off is Chris Jordan. He takes objects (LOTS and LOTS of them) and documents them. We consume and waste by the mobs and his work shows that in an immense fashion. The first time I saw his work, I felt both horrified and mesmerized:

I also looked at Kate Bingaman-Burt’s work with “Obsessive Consumption“. Because she was in a lot of debt, she took her debt to artwork and started to illustrate everything she bought. She kept drawing things repeatedly until she paid them off and she even drew bills for her credit debt in a couple situations. It’s not that she is against consumerism (as she says herself) she just wants people to think about it and be more aware of their purchases:

Classmate Nicole R. told me about artist Erwin Wurm last night. His work is a commentary on the excessiveness of consumerism as his series of obese sculptures parody status-symbolizing objects:

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When I leave for Disney World on Sunday, I plan on bringing books with me on the other different aspects of consumerism that I haven’t looked at as much. Oh my gosh, I can’t wait for all the photographs I’ll be taking there!

There are so many documentaries available online!

I watched the documentary “I.O.U.S.A.”. When random citizens were being interviewed off the street, I couldn’t help but feel troubled after people, casually, kept telling the crew how they didn’t save money but would keep spending anyways. There was one woman interviewed that told the crew that she had probably 3 or 4 credit cards maxed out behind her husband’s back (and her husband was adamantly opposed to credit cards) . Ugh. There were other segments where they talked about how the U.S. is, as we all know, importing more than we’re exporting (the deficit) and because of that, China will pretty much own us one day. Here was how they explained that:

Anyway, there’s a ton more to “I.O.U.S.A.” (and if I discuss anymore of it, I might go on a tangent). I really liked it. Even the presentations of statistics and facts themselves were very interesting (very kinetic and graphical) and, overall, I really didn’t think it was so biased either.

I also watched another documentary today title “What Would Jesus Buy?“. Oh. My. God. “Reverend Billy” and his followers from his church, “The Church of Life After Shopping” (they’re really just performance art activists) go around from place to place (usually around places in New York City) and hold demonstrations. During the demonstrations, they’re non-violent and they sing anti-consumerist songs the way a congregation would. Most of the time, the demonstrations end with Reverend Billy getting detained or thrown out by security. It’s so great. In the movie (which seemed to take place mostly around Christmas), Reverend Billy and his followers take a cross country tour to preach the church’s beliefs. Things like buying locally, buying sustainably, being more considerate and aware of what you’re consuming, etc are what they believe in. They visit the Mall of America and get kicked out. Their trip ends with the Holy Land, Disney Land, where they also get kicked out.

Here is Reverend Billy getting kicked out of a Starbucks I’m pretty sure. Like Walmart, the church holds a lot of demonstrations against it.

I loved LOVED this movie. I loved the church and how they get their message out with a sense of humor.

And I am SO going to get this book now:

Holy Moly. Apparently the title was taken from a real Starbucks memo.

Also, I watched this short semi-animated film online called “The Story of Stuff“. This film, as the title says, explained how things are produced. The host then went on to talk about how things are usually produced in linear fashions that don’t work with our finite resources. It had the same information as “I.O.U.S.A.” and “The Corporation” but in a more understandable manner (it was dumbed-down—I think this was meant for kids in school).

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Really nice effect.

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Once again, as I’ve mentioned in my other posts, I’ll be visiting the Mecca soon and won’t be able to post for an entire week while I’m away. However, I did get to go to the library yesterday and I’ve checked out some books to read while I’m away (that will surely help me with my topic). And eventually, I’ll have to narrow down my topic somewhat because consumerism itself is just too broad I think. I’ve written down several facets/aspect relating to consumerism (debt, marketing, sustainability, etc.) that I could shift my focus to. However, in the meantime, I’m going to keep learning about different aspects as I keep researching.

And let me just end my post with saying that I’m super excited about going to Disney World. I’m excited, not only because it’s Disney World but because visiting Disney World will make for some great fodder for my (proposed) Senior Project topic. Yay!

You know, you think you know a topic, but then you find out you don’t.  In the movie, “The Corporation”, they discussed privatization, censorship, globalization, consumerism, marketing, etc. There was a part in the movie where they discussed how protections of the 14th amendment got extended to corporations themselves. You know, I never realized that corporations were also protected by the Constitution as a ‘legal person’, but they are and I loved how the movie defined this ‘person’, mentally, as a psychopath. I also found the part of marketing/advertising to a young age interesting. I’ve always believed and thought that parents had control over what their kids were exposed to. However, how can parents fight a multi-billion dollar sompanies whose goal is to expose their ‘philosophy’ to their target demographic? Companies find different ways to market themselves to children and, as one person said, “manipulating” them into buying their products and inducing consumer loyalty at a young age. Overall, “The Corporation” was a little long (3 hours) but was a great watch.

I also watched the movie Maxed Out today. The movie focused on debt collectors, credit card companies, and people themselves immersed in debt. There was a section in the movie too where they interviewed a parent whose son committed suicide over the stress credit card debt. The parents now fight against the marketing of credit cards on campus because of what happened to their son. And it’s true, that’s how it all starts. There are so many times where Credit Card companies have marketed themselves on/off campus with the allure of a free sub-sandwich or a UConn fleece. It’s just business.

Credit cards have started to affect and change society for the worse. The average amount of credit card debt the American household possesses is around $10,000. And, of course, the credit card companies just keep sending offers to people for more credit cards. The average number of credit cards per person is 4 (geeze, I only have one). Most people carry balances and about 11% only pay the minimum each month (all statistics are here from this same website).

Of course, since more and more people are becoming unemployed, they have to do what they can do get by. However, credit cards, debt, and lending has all morphed into this catch-22. People need money to get by, they don’t have money, they borrow money to get by but they can’t pay back that money that they borrowed. Companies who lend the money make more money off poor consumers and the cycle continues.

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I was at the bookstore today and bought a book for S.P. research called “The Design of Dissent” by Milton Glaser and Mirko Ilic. I bought it mostly for inspiration, idea-forming and insight. However, there’s an informative interview in the back with Glaser where he discusses the “nature” of dissent and the responsibilities of a designer/good person (how designers themselves are like any other good person, they just have a unique set of skills/traning to help them communicate revolutionary ideas that an average person may not). I’ll upload some of the posters from the book later this week.

And with that, I’ll leave some images by Barbara Kruger. After focusing more and more on consumerism, I remembered her work from Art History class last year:

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And woooo! I’m going to Disney World in a week. AND, just another head’s up, I won’t be able to post anything while I’m away that week (or check my emails—ahh!) because I won’t have internet access (and if I do somehow manage to be able to post anything, it will be sparse). However, I plan on checking out books from the library to take with me (and taking lots of pictures as there will be plenty of inspiration for me) so I can keep working. Okay? Okay!

Currently, I’m in the middle of watching The Corporation, recommended by my friend/former comm. design alum, Andrew Bacon.

I’m having an internal conflict, I’m not sure whether I still want to do my senior project on “Cute Aesthetics” or “Consumerism” (again). I’m watching the movie my friend recommended me and I’m going to look at things tonight and tomorrow to brainstorm.

Like I’ve mentioned before, consumerism’s a topic that’s fascinated me for a while. I just need to find a definitive focus.

And, as a note, a few months ago, I was thinking it’d be a cool/fun idea to do a instructional book/manual on “How to Run Your Own Evil Corporation Without ever Having to Leave Your Office” (something like that). This would be a fun take on the consumerist idea I want to play with. I’ve just been trying, in my head, to find a way to go about it.

I’ve also thought about strategies and methodologies like informational graphics/posters/installations related to the cost-of-living, inflation, etc.

I found the following links at College Humor amusing. They’re humorous instructions called “Employee Manuals…Probably” by Streeter Seidell and illustrated by Zack Frinfrock:

http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1796140

http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1794569

http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1794567

Also, on another note, I am leaving for Disney World (consumerist vacation mecca) soon for a full week and won’t have internet access that week I am gone. There’s a 99-100% chance I won’t get to post anything on my blog that week. However, I’ll be back to post up my proposal though. I’m hoping Disney World will provide me with inspiration (and I am planning to make up for the lack of posts when I come back). I will get to observe good ol’ American consumerism first hand and there’s nothing more American than gouging the prices of bottled water because it’s Florida and it’s hot and you know thirsty people are going to pay for it.