Introduction
This paper analyzes impacts of consumer-driven society in the modern culture. Actually, Weeks Linton wrote an article entitled “Burden of the Modern Beast” to explain effects of consumers-driven custom in human community. Weeks Linton made an exciting study when he observed that people normally carry many belongings during commitments. Indeed, the article asserted that many persons carry bags when moving from one place to another or when doing different activities.
In the modern life, people are burdened with much stuff they carry out in their daily events. Actually, modern human being carries much stuff than inhabitants who lived in earlier generation. For example, in 1900s, people who engaged in painting profession never carried complicated stuff. Nevertheless, in the modern time, painting task has become so much sophisticated due to technological advancement. For instance, modern Laptop holders have pouches meant to carry whole lot of stuff.
Weeks Linton viewed that human being carry many belongings because he/she do not want to depend on a fellow being. In fact, such things people carry do not promote community life in human society. Indeed, such people usually become self dependent and isolated from others. For instance, this is evident when modern people engage in portable games, purchase complex Laptop cases, Cell Phones, and IPods (Rosa & Eschhol, 2009).
Moreover, modern human beings carry much stuff due to the fact that they feel insecure. Actually, people perceive that adversary is always out to attack them. In fact, people carry preferred devices for survival means. In addition, Himes asserts that human life, in the modern era, is much liquefied. Thus, they carry belongings in order to be equipped to engage in various activities such as family commitments, school activities, work occupation, and leisure time (2007).
According to Rosa & Eschhol, modern people have become concerned whether human gains of material richness have prepared them to acquire happiness in life or not (2009). In fact, modern people are not happy and contented in life. Actually, modern people have incurred too much cost of acquiring materialism at expense of losing integration of community life in society.
Modern human being has attained impressive progression in terms of global invention over the last three decades. Indeed, people have access to many material choices. For example, human being has acquired efficient products such as Whistle, Bells, and Gadgets (Fine, 2005). Actually, people have acquired sophisticated devices that efficiently and progressively make human life better. However, modern human being is not faring well simply because he/she sets aside minimal time to share human values with acquaintances.
Indeed, promotion of environmental and social conscientiousness is a failed approach. Besides, Fine opines that it is important to note that modern people cannot segregate democracy from capitalism (2005). Actually, capitalism flourishes well where democracy deteriorates. However, capitalism has over powered democracy. At present, people refer to modern world as democratic capitalism.
According to Rosa & Eschhol, it is inevitable that consumerism is growing because of increase in rationalization (2009). On the other hand, rationalization is growing because of need for consumerism. Actually, consumption is a real mass phenomenon due to the fact that people have to use goods and services in order to exist in life. Indeed, consumerism is an essential means of survival. In fact, people usually use material possession in order to live.
However, rationalization is a blame for modern consumption in human society. Indeed, rationality has promoted people’s search for desired aims. People normally focus on satisfying their wants through consumerism. In addition, Rosa & Eschhol opine that materialism is not just objects, but a device in which human being expects to attain visions in social status, reputation, esteem and aspiration (2009).
Moreover, consumerism has offered a prospect for people to display and convey their identity (Himes, 2007). In fact, this justifies why people hold material things. Human superficial preoccupation to exterior manifestation of materialism is part of blame and problem.
Modern people have been influenced into harmful livelihood due to wickedness of rationality (Rosa & Eschhol, 2009). Moreover, consistent involvement in media images and human willingness to be ahead of other people has caused selfish attitude in people who always aspire to acquire massive wealth more than others.
Conclusion
People need to embrace shared human values by abandoning cycles of purchasing and requiring more materialism through establishing consciously essential and legitimate natural life in their human activities. Such attitude is acquired through adopting Godly life.
Indeed, people need to be involved in creative social events and resting involvement while minimizing exposure of non-intercreative activity and noise experience. Moreover, power of endurance and patience is helpful to reduce psychological depression and establish God’s inspiration into people’s lives. In fact, people need to explore kindness in many natural ways rather than engaging in quest for individual prosperity accretion.
Furthermore, consumers’ culture needs to put their interest on mission of God rather than material possession. Generally, the culture of value attainment is influenced by personal attitude and norms. These norms control property acquisition and belief in inter and intra personal commitment and interaction.
References
Fine, B. (2005). Consumerism in 20th Century Britain: the Search for a Historical Movement. Review of Social Economy, 63, 10-26.
Himes, K. (2007). Consumerism and Christine Ethics. Theological Studies, 68, 54-80.
Rosa, A., & Eschhol, P. (2009). Models for Writers: Short Essays for Composition. 10th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.