WHAT IS CONSUMERISM AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT OUR LIVES? DEFINITION / EFFECT ANALYSIS ESSAY

The modern free market economy and the blossoming advertising sector guarantees that we live in a consumer society where the mantra is consumption which is equated with happiness. It seems that consumerism is the drug of choice but what does the term actually mean? Write an essay in which you bring clarity to the issue and discuss the effect this is all having on us as a species.

Start up:

• “Is consumerism the new religion?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqu0K7RyLg4&list=PL4ABD409D12BA1147

Familiarize yourself with the issue:

·         “The effects of consumerism” http://www.paggu.com/business/world-economy/the-effects-of-consumerism/ 

·         “Consumerism” http://prezi.com/gmb-xtrfcoxn/consumerism/ 

·         “Consumerism – Brave New World” http://prezi.com/el65sdkkmfao/consumerism-brave-new-world/ 

What is consumerism?

·         “Consumerism” http://www.slideshare.net/hitendra25th/consumerismppt

·         “Consumerism and Society” http://www.slideshare.net/adrianacahongo/consumerism-and-society

The relationship between consumerism and the quality of life

·         “Consumerism” https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1p_QDy2PQl_rOtEBmV0ULLtwEB_hdHhZ7ERcEfWWNBhU/embed?hl=en&size=l#slide=id.p

Reading

·         “Overcoming consumerism” http://www.verdant.net/society.htm Go to the articles listed at the end of this one to get more information about various aspects of consumerism

·         “Consumerism” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism

·         “Consumerism” http://sociology.about.com/od/C_Index/fl/Consumerism.htm

·         “What’s the difference between consumerism and consumption” http://sociology.about.com/b/2014/03/26/whats-the-difference-between-consumerism-and-consumption.htm

·         “The pros and cons of consumerism” http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/the-pros-and-cons-of-consumerism-3-55845/

Videos to watch

·         “The story of stuff”   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eWBg8ojno4

“Culture in decline: consumerism and advertising” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ofI3Zz8hM

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/