TEMU and commodity fetishism

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Sources can be found throughout the video!

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Storygraph: @alicecappelle
Instagram: @alicecappelle_
Twitter: @cappelle_alice

Video edited by myself this time :) hope it wasn't too painful!

[AliceCappelle]

1) (i add my answer to a comment on AI here fyi) Hey! I understand your concern, i don't use AI imagery in any of my work but I felt like it would be ironical to use it here just a couple of times given the topic of the video. In case it wasn't clear, my use of AI in this video is purely ironical, it's a sort of criticism of AI since the images are super exaggerated, look really bad and don't bring anything to the story. That's why I added the '?' in the first one and overplayed the dramatic aspect in the 'Georgio' series. The goal was actually to make fun of AI imagery. Satire is the only purpose it serves in that context. I don't plan on using AI imagery in the future because of the ethical problems as you mentioned, it was the first time and again purely contextual and satirical but hey thank you for voicing that concern, it allows me to clarify and keep me in check :) i'll add that an ethical existence on the internet is simply impossible, we pretty much all use lithium powered devices, we constantly train algorithms and AI with our comments, likes and habits. It makes sense to do our best to align our values though and we can all improve!
2)my pronunciation of feitiço was so bad!! sorry about this, i was so confident it was pronounced this way that i didn't even check it, i usually play the "sorry im french" card when it comes to pronounciation but it doesn't really work this time ugh, does it? (it clearly doesn't) hope you enjoy the video :)

[xXNekou]

Seeing all the Temu and Shein hauls online makes me want to cry. Just when I thought that we, as species, are starting to see more and do better and recognize how bad consumerism is for the planet, Temu and Shein rolled in breaking all previous records of mindless consumerism. They don't care one bit if their products are harmful (which, it was proved that these products often contain toxic carcinogenic chamicals), or helpful, or if you like them and use them or not, they only want to sell you stuff again and again and again and more of it and more and more.

[dsabatai]

I get so many Temu ads all the fucking time that I decided to avoid it out of spite way before i even knew what it was. I fucking hate Temu.

[spookypotatolady]

I would like enough money to buy Etsy and put it back the way it was - vintage and handmade goods only.

[caiden]

"Shop like a billionaire." Ah yes. Buy cheap garbage on a Wish clone.🧐As billionaires do.

[ericdere]

Diamond is basically carbon (price collapses)

[victoralfonssteuck]

As a Brazilian, when I first saw the title, I thought you were going to discuss what we typically refer to as 'commodities'—raw materials like soy, iron, or oil, which involve simple extraction or minimal processing. In Brazil, 'commodity' has a more restricted meaning, focusing on these low-complexity products that are traded globally without much added value. They’re essentially resources that are easy to extract and trade, but they don’t undergo significant transformation before reaching the market.

I also find it interesting that in English, the word 'commodities' can be used more broadly to describe low-quality products, services, or even amenities. There’s a clever play on words here, as 'commodities' and 'conveniences' (comodidades) share the same root, hinting at things that are easy to access, consume, or use without much thought. In Portuguese, we often use 'merchandise fetishism' (fetichismo da mercadoria) instead of 'commodity fetishism, ' since 'commodity' for us is tied strictly to these basic goods, while 'merchandise' better captures the broader idea of products being imbued with social or symbolic value, as described in Marxist theory.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the video. Congratulations on another great upload, and thank you for sharing your thoughts.

P.S.: Your pronunciation of 'feitiço' is perfectly fine! The content of the video, which is what truly matters, is excellent

[ittybitty]

You would think that Alice has earned enough trust in this community that everyone could have just a modicum of faith that her use of AI art was intentional to make a subtle point, a lighthearted jab at the extent that commodity fetishism has crept into everything, including art (as she pointed out in replies), rather than a moral/ethical misstep or laziness on her part. We gotta get better at understanding subtext, collectively, and we don't have to rush to "correct" everything our nervous systems tell us is "wrong."

[coffeedumps]

Yall I think she gets it lmao. Kind of wish once people see that an issue has been raised (repeatedly) they wouldn’t double down SO hard, especially when you know this creator like, definitely listens. Makes for a very boring comment section that’s usually full of a diverse range of opinions.

[Velvetine_Froggy]

Accelerationism has always struck me as "if we just let this group of people (which doesn't include me) suffer a bit longer, it'll cause the system to change for the better." It's a selfish way of off-loading effort and suffering onto people who are already suffering the most in society.

It's why I'll never get behind the idea that allowing someone like Trump to win, for example, would lead to something good. It's easy to imagine such a scenario working out if you're a straight, middle class white man. You'll probably be fine no matter what. It's a lot less easy to imagine that being a good strategy if you're LGBTQ or a woman or an immigrant. That's why activism will always be preferable to accelerationism, in my opinion.

[the_algorithm]

I need this video. I'm addicted. I know it.
I have no money being a 100% disabled vet
I buy things because it gives me a moment of pleasure (dopamine hit) to alleviate my depression
By the end of the month, I'm eating Ramen and hoping my food supply lasts.

[Nemoknowsnothing]

Accelerationism always felt like a worldview for those who don't have skin in the game and lack the empathy to those who have.

[eegaming]

I'm an aesthetic lifestyle content creator. In the same way that Alice watches our content for a sense of peace or calm, I watch critical video essays in an attempt to quell my addiction to commodities and rationalize myself out of them. But it is so difficult. The truth is that many creators are stuck in this cycle, in ways even worse than our own audiences because we typically also receive these products "free of charge". The only measure of progress I can see moving foward, is to inspire creativity and novelty through repeat usage and re-discovery. It's a resourceful challenge that I'm willing to pursue, but resisting the urge for "more" is still difficult (and they're not mutually exclusive). I'm at a point now where I'm just trying to exhaust myself out of every idea and urge as quickly as possible.

[gregarroinalidadavich]

I swear all of your videos articulate something I've felt but never identified.

[noraisoldesilow]

16:15 - I think there's a 4th option that you didn't directly mention and that I see much too often, I would say more than the denial and fetishization. That is "choosing apathy".

When seeing the low prices and rationally knowing that nothing can really be that cheap without massive consequence to workers and/or environment, many people choose just not to care. "I'm just one person, I can't make a difference anyway so might as well shop" or "these people would get exploited anyway, at least they have a job" or some other apathetic thing to comfort and distance themselves from the implicitly moral choices they are. It's the same with the climate crisis. So many people seem to choose apathy, feeling they are just a drop in a bucket and can't make any impact anyway. Now I fully agree with the notion that the fault is with the governing powers and the capitalistic system we live under, and not with individual people. And to an extent I agree that the idea of "voting with you wallet/carbon footprint" etc is quite silly in the grand scheme of things. HOWEVER, when people choose apathy and choose to overindulge in consumption habits that nobody should realistically have if we are to continue existing on this earth, I'm get worried that those people will be resistant to changing their habits if the governing powers or systems demand they do. And if the people resist, the change will not happen.

[sammsowell]

i'll be interested to see the arguments people try to come up with as to how a diamond has intrinsic value

[Eylul]

what is also interesting to me about Temu is the feeling of urgency that they create, you see this in the gamification elements but also in the lack of a favorites section. if you like a product your only option at that point is to add it to the cart. It does not give you the option to put it on the side and think about it. To me this is also a way of keeping the magic alive.

[imtired]

Alice! i adore your videos and i especially like this one as this is a topic that i’ve thought of for a while. But i am kind of saddened that you used AI imagery in your video :( and i would argue it also plays into commodity fetishism “it’s just an image” “don’t think about all the photographers and artists who got screwed in the process”. I know you don’t have bad intentions, as an artist i just really can’t stand AI stuff like this

[kaduku]

Hey Alice! I love your videos but I do hope you'll reconsider your use of AI art. It's not exactly a deal-breaker for me when it comes to being a subscriber and watcher, but I'm not a fan of AI-generated images.

To answer the question: I do think some level of activism and advocacy is important, but I do also think that capitalism will eat its own tail. I think it's our job to ensure that whatever comes along after it is better than what we have.

[Vanbedda]

My partner and I were just talking about political/economical fetishes literally yesterday after watching a speech given by Jason Moore, so this video is very on topic for me. What's interesting about the act of fetishizing, is that it is not limited to commodities or physical objects, but it can be done to concepts as well. When you take the historical and economical context away from concepts, you open the door to co-option by forces and propoganda, for example "environmentalism" being used as a weapon by the elite to further oppress the masses.

Also, I'm sorry so many people are nit-picking you over the AI images instead of actually engaing with the topic.
edit: The more I think about it the more ironic it gets... Oh comrade... I am so sorry lol You're doing great work.