The consumer society – the path of inhumanity

Date:

2018-04-04 19:00:15

Views:

1208

Rating:

1Like 0Dislike

Share:

Table of contents:

Many philosophers and sociologists of the twentieth century tried to define and describe the level of development reached by the most successful economically of the country. It was called and developed industrial and post-industrial society, believing that a systemic restructuring of the economy and the achievement of abundance will bring benefits for humanity. But the most critical and at the same time an accurate description of such a society was proposed in 1970 the French philosopher-postmodernist, sociologist and cultural commentator Jean Baudrillard. “the consumer Society” since this term is firmly entrenched in our language, turning into some kind of label. However, even with 70 years has passed already enough time, criticism of this ironic intellectual has not lost any of its significance nor its relevance.

At the time, this famous philosopher came from neo-Marxist environment, and in some degree adopted the live analytical and critical approach to Marx. We can say that his book “the consumer Society” is a kind of “Capital” of the twentieth century, only it is written in a different paradigmata. The philosopher is not as interested in the background of economic and social relationships, as the impact on people of routine and daily life. After all, if in Marx's time the daily life of the people depended on the economy through social relations, but now it has become dependent on technology, media, and other mass regulators, which penetrate into our lives and control it. Actually, this transformation of consumption from a means of survival into a means of dehumanization and dedicates his book Baudrillard.

Recommended

"Knowledge is light and ignorance is darkness": the value, meaning and alternatives

There are some sayings that would seem to need no explanation, such as “teaching & ndash; light and ignorance – darkness”. But some still do not understand their meaning. But not only for such people is written by our article. I...

What was invented by Mendeleev for the army. The history and fate of the invention

What was invented by Mendeleev for the army. The history and fate of the invention

D. I. Mendeleev was a brilliant Russian scientist-polymath, who made many important discoveries in various fields of science and technology. Many people know that he is the author of “Fundamentals of chemistry" and the periodic law of chem...

The origin of the Slavs. The influence of different cultures

The origin of the Slavs. The influence of different cultures

Slavs (under this name), according to some researchers, appeared in the story only in 6 century ad. However, the language of nationality bears the archaic features of the Indo-European community. This, in turn, suggests that the origin of the Slavs h...

The Society of consumption – is a feature of the new society, where all human relationships lose meaning, becoming a ritual of the scheme, the marks define the hierarchy of status or degenerating in the competition. This "brave new world” virtually destroyed the old, traditional consumption, when people buy any goods because they need to because they meet their needs. It analyzes quite different, “iconic” consumption when the goods are bought because it is fashionable, because it's advertised because it is new. Thus, the thing loses its meaning, Ostrava before will buy it because the ad may suggest new, more fashionable item.

In addition, the consumer society deprives of meaning and communication between people, because it makes the process of buying a flashy. Consumption becomes a code regulating the communication because people not only prefer to talk about new purchases, but also assess each other to buy a particular item. This is the kind of game that is not based on any natural reality, but only on its own. Things rule over people who are defined by them, not only comfort, but also prestige, and involvement in this vicious circle declare freedom of choice and the triumph of the individual.

The Society of consumption, not only put the person and his feelings are dependent on things, and things reduced to the level of characters that have no real meaning (simulacra), it also turned art into a commodity thing and a simulacrum. The search for truth is displaced by myths that are easy to consume, serious literature and art are displaced entertainment genres. The manipulation of these genres became a transmission belt of power mechanisms and their ideology. In fact, human culture is also put on the conveyor, it is produced on a template, it also depends on demand and consumption. Mankind used to eat certain signs and stopped to take something original and truly individual.

The Philosopher criticizes the consumer society and even for the fact that it only mean a society of abundance and equality. This society and the manufactured simulacra does not give one any confidence, on the contrary, he is in the race for new brands and signs and fear that I will miss and not be able to acquire another prestigious simulacrum. The rule of signs, simulacra leads to inequality, because people who are not able to purchase all new signs of prestige, is thrown out of the circle of relations, cultivating success, like a loser. Despite the fact that this book was written several decades ago, it shows that Jean Baudrillard actually predicted the main trends in the development of modern society.


Article in other languages:

AR: https://tostpost.com/ar/cars/7586-what-is-the-exam-in-the-traffic-police.html

BE: https://tostpost.com/be/a-tamab-l/13550-shto-zh-uya-lyae-saboy-ekzamen-u-d-bdr.html

DE: https://tostpost.com/de/autos/13553-was-ist-eine-pr-fung-in-der-verkehrspolizei.html

ES: https://tostpost.com/es/coches/13560-que-es-un-examen-en-el-gbdd.html

HI: https://tostpost.com/hi/cars/7592-what-is-the-exam-in-the-traffic-police.html

JA: https://tostpost.com/ja/cars/7588-what-is-the-exam-in-the-traffic-police.html

KK: https://tostpost.com/kk/avtomobil-der/13553-b-l-b-ld-red-emtihan-gibdd.html

PL: https://tostpost.com/pl/samochody/13540-co-to-jest-egzamin-do-policji.html

PT: https://tostpost.com/pt/carros/13534-o-que-um-exame-de-pol-cia-de-tr-nsito.html

TR: https://tostpost.com/tr/arabalar/13556-nedir-bu-s-nav-traf-k-polisi.html

UK: https://tostpost.com/uk/avtomob-l/13550-scho-zh-yavlya-soboyu-spit-v-gibdd.html

ZH: https://tostpost.com/zh/cars/8252-what-is-the-exam-in-the-traffic-police.html






Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

Comments (0)

This article has no comment, be the first!

Add comment

Related News

The green movement during the Civil war. The leaders of the

The green movement during the Civil war. The leaders of the "green" movement

Among the variety of terms that we use, taking the conversation about the world around us, there is one born during the Civil war and lived up to our days, but received a completely different meaning. The movement «green&raq...

All about enzyme pepsin

All about enzyme pepsin

In this article we will focus on the essential enzyme in the stomach every mammal, including humans. Be considered General information on the enzyme pepsin, information on the isomers and the role of substances in the digestive pr...

Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin: description, history and interesting facts

Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin: description, history and interesting facts

For centuries the Russian princes thought of the Archangel Michael, defeated Satan and guarding the gates of the garden of Eden, the patron of their troops. Each time, going camping, they served him a prayer. That is why in the mi...

The structural features of the columnar cells of the tissue. Palisade (columnar) tissue of leaf blade of plants

The structural features of the columnar cells of the tissue. Palisade (columnar) tissue of leaf blade of plants

Differentiation of cells and tissues plays an important role in the development of the body. The division of responsibilities for each cell can be compared with the division of labor in the factory: if each unit only performs its ...

The passive voice in English: essence, rules of education, the methods of translation

The passive voice in English: essence, rules of education, the methods of translation

the Passive voice in English is quite a simple subject to learn, if before was well-studied methods of education of the second sacrament, especially the table of irregular verbs.What is passive voice?In English it is used very act...

Commune - a combined team

Commune - a combined team

the Commune is a collective of people rallied for cohabitation on the basis of community of property and labor. Created in the one-time rush of people, this community tries to be an example for the whole state, showing his ideal i...