Thursday, March 20, 2014

Term Paper Topic: Capitalism and the Culture of Consumption

Blurb:
Capitalism can be considered a political ideology where the market economy is supported by the success of private companies. These companies often collect and keep the majority of the revenue within the immediate benefactors and stockholders, leaving little for the cost of production.

At one point, capitalism was the answer to provide for a booming economic stronghold—a country on the frontline of the industrial revolution.

Today, capitalism has transformed America into a culture of consumption. Presumption of success is measured in material goods—their biggest form of advertisement is jealousy. Every citizen is a targeted consumer, their every opportune consumption met. 

America was born from slavery, and that has never left.

Overview:
My paper topic will focus on the role of a capitalist ideology and how it resulted into a culture of consumption of individuals who cannot afford it. The paper will discuss the role of advertising and how far the message hits—linking needs and values to material goods. I will observe the role of developing countries for our own success and the exploitation of those lands.

Keywords:


- Capital
- Exploitation
- Private
- Revenue
- Market
- Advertising
- Dependency
- Consumer
- Value
- Material
- Slavery
- Consumer
- Social Construction
- Culture
- Laborer
- Producer



Primary Interrelationships:


1 comment:

  1. Nice, Tanya! This is a topic that I am always glad to hear more about. Here is a (multi-parted) question for you to address: You say in the first sentence that capitalism can be considered a political ideology. You'll explain why this is so, right? And capitalism is often associated with democracy, which is undeniably an ideology--what is the relationship between these two? I like the focus on consumerism. Make sure that your paper advances an original argument of some kind, that is, one which is somehow distinct from Robbins' and Jhally's arguments, though you can draw from them. Also, make sure you discuss implications for the environment--if you're talking about consumerism, this shouldn't be hard.

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