Our Consumer Society

I explore our consumer society, looking at the history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology of what consumerism really means. Is it a useful concept? Where did it appear from? Are there alternatives? How is the desire that drives consumption manufactured? Are we shallow? Is there any possibility of ethical consumption? To help answer some of these questions I draw from thinkers including Jean Baudrillard, Fredric Jameson, and David Harvey.

Chapters:

0:00 – Our Consumer Society
4:43 – A History of Stuff
14:46 – Shopping for Definitions of Consumerism
17:33 – Let Me Be Your Fantasy (The Production of Desire)
25:52 – Copy Cats (Social Mimicry)
31:50 – Shopping for the Problem
43:49 – Real or Hyperreal? (Jean Baudrillard)
54:56 – Fredric Jameson’s Depthlessness
58:23 – David Harvey’s Postmodern Production
1:03:34 – Are We Shallow?
1:11:10 – Ethical Consumption & it’s Problems

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[flovv]

I think it's important to mention that people also buy things out of boredom. Boredom is a big part of consumerism.

[heraclitedephese]

"We buy things we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't like."

[yagga]

The fact that “unboxing” and a “haul” is something we watch or invited to watch is telling.

[matthewking]

"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need" - Tyler Durden.

[TheDOmerzu]

It's not about producing goods for your needs anymore,
It's about producing new needs for goods

[treelady]

YouTube, listen; THIS is the type of content we want. Stop treating us like mindless cadavers.

[jasmine_]

I appreciate the fact this video does not contain ads.

[RolandKoller]

I think control is the key here. It’s ok to buy things. We’ll never stop buying things. But to slow down, enjoy life, save our money, and spend when our budgeting allows. The problem is control.

[brendanramsey]

This is better than many or even most of the television documentaries I’ve seen throughout my life. I had a significant experience consuming this, I say.

[brianp]

I have been dealing with a lot of existential depression. I started 2022 with it, got covid and ironically felt better, since it temporarily dropped me to the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy, giving me a more tangible struggle. A few months later it has returned. I'm going to start therapy in the near future, as I have finally conceded that the complexity of the world and the meta complexity of my experience of it is too dense for me to fully decipher without some help. I say all this to contextualize how valuable I've found your channel in the last week since I came across it. In a world where so often more emphasis is placed on the delivery mechanism of ideas than the formulation of the ideas themselves, you take care to deeply consider the topic, provide many ideas, perspectives, and pieces of evidence, and present them humbly. It's admirable. Thank you and best wishes!

[monilangeKootenays]

Simple small footprint homesteader here. I left city life a decade ago. Prior to leaving, I let go of "stuff" and have never felt freer and happier as I am now. Thank you for this fascinating history.

[stephenoverbury]

I was so wrong in my past belief that youtube offers nothing short of entertaining garbage. It is now evident this technology can offer brilliant insight into what plagues society and how to fix it. Thank you for reaffirming my belief in humanity.

[saltypepperbean]

Yessss THANK YOU for putting this together!! Our consumer society has always really bothered me, and while watching your documentary, it clicked that one thing I hate most about it is being told what to desire. We're being told what we should like and what is good by all the products, services, and media we consume. I have to make a concentrated effort to put all the noise aside and figure out for myself what I truly want out of life. Our hyper-consumerist society feels very inauthentic to me, and I think it leads to a lot of judgment, conformity, anxiety, and depression. Not to mention, all the ethical and environmental issues too!

[clgraff]

we are left with nothing else besides consumerism. Buy your ticket or stay at home, if you have a home. The community pool, the community dance, the community itself is a thing of the past. Society has closed its doors in fear of getting sick or getting sued. People used to know who the mayor of their town was, today many people don't know their next door neighbor.

[ThuyTran-ciet]

This video goes deeper into the reasons why consumerism exists. Thanks for such a thoughtful video.

[wildmiloko]

So refreshing to see a documentary that isnt condescending and says something new

[grayk]

Love that youtube inserts ads just as you're hammering home a really good point on the sickness of consumerism.

[brianhawes]

I’ve made most of the items in my house, and l’ve made the house itself. It has helped me understand the laws of physics and the need for quality tools. I’ve refined my consumerism to look for the best made and most well thought out items. I now can wait between purchases to be frugal and not I “blind” consumer

[jqlxpjf]

I’m absolutely blown away by the insightfulness quality in every aspect of this video. I’m in disbelief that I get to be educated like this without having to pay for a class. This is incredible. I’m going to watch all your videos. Thank you so much.

[joycegeertsma]

Vanity and materialism=the capitalist's wet dream. I have been buying second hand clothes mostly for over twenty years, and avoid buying stuff I know I don't really need. George Carlin did a great bit on consumerism and "stuff", and a scene in Fight Club about consumerism came to mind where Tyler says "The things you own end up owning you..". Thanks for this!