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Summary Of Benlow: Consumerism Invades Education
Right out of the gate, in his article titled “‘Have It Your Way’: Consumerism Invades Education, Simon Benlow articulates on a memo received at his facility, a reminder to ‘serve his customers’. A more than powerful persuasion to prompt his article on consumerism invading education. Benlow goes on to explain his flamboyant theory, attacking the public’s common slogans and lazy consumerist attitudes, saying that today's common business and corporate methods lull and trick the public into being passive, consumerist zombies. Although the entire article reveals a very controversial topic, one may argue the most staggering idea involved is that the consumerist way of life we have come to know has
In the essay, “College Consumerism Run Amok” authored by Kevin Carey describe how colleges are careless with their money. Throughout the essay, Kevin Carey explains why normal people think the average price of college tuition has risen across the United States. People believe college tuition is rising because students demand colleges to have “creature comforts”, such as luxury dorms, a fully operational gym, and a climbing wall. Also, that the creation for “creature comforts” in colleges has caused academic standards to decline. Yet, colleges market to students with these amenities instead of showing students comparable statistics: the quality of teaching, scholarships, and academic environment. Kevin Carey, in the end, sums up his idea with
I think that part of this problem is that students go to school because it is what is expected of a high school graduate. Very few high school graduates attend college because they want to get an education and know what they want to major in. Edmundson does bring up a valid point when he describes giving his students their course evaluations. He believes that the evaluations are an example of how the students are consumers and whatever the students say, the professors would then change for them. The evaluations show how they are an example of consumerist society because when you buy something (at a restaurant or store) upon completion of your purchase you are asked to evaluate the service and depending on what you comment on the card, the company will take your comments into consideration and either fix the problem or try to change their service to make the next customer’s experience better. In Edmundson’s opinion, having
The terms ‘neoliberalism’ and ‘consumer culture’ effectively portray a society focused on consuming and producing, both elements in a larger market based lifestyle. This market lifestyle revolves around living to produce things for financial gain while consuming things that will improve one’s life financially. This is reflected in a larger university society where universities sell themselves to potential students as being the most beneficial for their consumer needs while later grooming them with certain skills to have an advantage in the workplace. Thus the university atmosphere has become one centered on marketplace
Going through college should not be as easy as going through a drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. Young adults should be interactive and critically thinking throughout their education, not disinterested of it. Author Simon Benlow, in his essay “Have It Your Way: Consumerism Invades Education,” believes that students are turning to consumerist ways, not thanks to the college’s culture (139). Since my return to community college, there has been a trend with the younger adults: Not caring.
The realm of higher education is in a state of constant evolution, which can be witnessed on as small of a time scale as a year-to-year basis; however, the more drastic changes are most notable in larger scales, such as five years, ten years, and so on. One of the main forces for change is the student body and their parents, to some extent. Mark Edmundson, a professor of English at the University of Virginia, wrote his essay On the Uses of a Liberal Education: As Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students about the more recent changes of not only universities, but of the student body as well. He laments how consumerism has transformed these institutes of learning into, basically, glorified daycares, and he does make a rather compelling argument by drawing upon his personal experiences as a teacher.
Bauman, Z, (1988) cited in Hetherington K, and Harvard C.(eds) (2014, pg.126,142). He further claims, “This is the characteristic pattern of inequality in our contemporary consumer society one that contrasts with the lines of class and occupational status that characterised the major cleavages in Industrial society”. Bauman, Z, (1988) cited in Alan, J. (2014 pg. 275). Moreover, consumerism encourages people to consume creating their own identities, replacing Identities centred on production and work. Furthermore, Hayek in the ‘Ordering Lives Strand’ claims “The market should be free of political intervention allowing individuals to be free to pursue their own interests” Hayek, F.A. (1976). cited in Clarke, J. (2014 pg.380). However, Allen. claims “The ability to ‘buy into’ a particular lifestyle actively excludes others from it on the basis of lack of income and those unable to do so will be seen as unworthy or inadequate” (Allen, J. 2014 P. 278). Thus constraints can be seen placed on people through lack of income, turning differences into inequalities with evidence indicating that ‘People’s values, beliefs and status are now shaped by ‘Consuming’ rather than as in Industrial times by work, politics and religion’, (The Open University, 2016). Therefore, differences which turn into inequalities are as predominant in today’s consumer society as they were in our industrial
There are many people who are driven by consumerism, and many people who wish they could get in touch with that type of world. Consumers are often encouraged to advertise more of the products that they are buying to get more people to buy more products. Hari Kunzru, author of “Raj, Bohemian,” creates a narrator who is obsessed with maintaining his individuality and free will in a world that is overcome with consumerism. Believes that the world takes away individuality when consumerism comes into play and how hard it is to maintain their true self. In her LA Times article “Teen Haulers Create a Fashion Force,” Andrea Chang writes about the phenomenon of teenage YouTube users who make videos that publicize their latest shopping binges.
America’s current standard of living is going to cause our demise. Consumerism is a problem throughout Americans culture since mass production began in the late nineteenth century. The obsession with consumerism has led to mindless wastes of resources, a diseased society and economic instability. Rick Wolff, a professor of economics at University of Massachusetts, states “economics of capitalism spread consumerism—now uncontrolled, ecologically harmful, and fiscally disastrous—throughout the United States”. Wolff’s viewpoint on consumerism aligns with mine. Believing that an economy based on promoting endless consumption is volatile and unsustainable. Consumerism can be analyzed and seen to be embedded by corporations and politicians.
‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley is a science-fiction book in which people live in a futuristic society and a place called the World State. In ‘Brave New World’, Aldous Huxley used the idea of consumerism to describe the behaviors and lives of the citizens of the World State. The practice of consumerism by the people of the World State fulfilled their satisfactory and happiness. However, it also blinded purity and truth among its people. Different classes and different genders of people practiced different acts of consumerism such as consuming soma, technology and bodies. They sought happiness from them and eventually these acts became a social norm. However, these practices of consumerism also had side effects. It blinded truth such as
Swimme, Brian. “How Do Our Kids Get So Caught Up in Consumerism”. The Human Experience: Who Am I?. 8th ed. Winthrop University: Rock Hill SC, 2012. 155-157. Print.
In conclusion, everything that we have learned this quarter has shown the truth about the current state of consumerism. That it is a state that has been created by a lie, and has grown with lies, and it is a state of existance that stomps on the human race each day with a huge iron toe boot. And I believe that this state will be changed into a perfect state of being, a state that will not view humans as expendable resources, but as living and breathing people.
...f consumerism, discussed some of its consequences and provided a way forward for people to change their behaviors and attitudes toward consumerism, which is highly detrimental to the society.
Sassatelli, R. (2007). Consumer Culture: History, Theory and Politics, London: Sage, Page 30, Page 126, Page 132, Page 133
In conclusion, the consumerism movement is getting to much expansion in our daily lives. As we enter in a shopping mall we realize that all techniques that shopkeepers use in order to lure and keep us in work perfectly and we are not even conscious about it. Every aspect of the mall, from its location to its decoration, is so well-planned and is specifically designed in order to generate the maximum sales possible. People should pay more attention at what they see, because advertisement is not always perfectly true.
In today's society consumerism is more present than ever before. Our whole economy is dependent on our need to consume everything and every day. This way of life, a life controlled by consumerism, is implemented into our brains at an early age. Therefore it is social to consume, because it is considered social to follow the rules of a society. We buy our drinking water from the supermarket instead of drinking water from the tap. We watch hours of TV, consuming all kinds of shows and commercials, and we see millions of advertisements on the world wide web.In our societies the human learns at an early age to be a part of this consuming people. This essay will deal with the question in how far the consumers of our societies are influenced. Especially it will deal with the way the consumerism is inflicted into the children of our society.