The brilliant yet controversial creators of South Park conceived a germane satire about the American recession and consumerism. The episode “Margaretville” tells of the recession stricken South Park and the reaction that follows draws many parallels to the situation with the modern American economy. With theme and costuming the creators strengthen the plot with humorous visions of a society that live with bare essentials in response to the economic recession. The main plot is where the antagonist Randy Marsh lays his own groundwork on the resolution to the recent down turn, but it is where the hero Kyle whom has differing philosophy’s about the solution to the recession giving the viewer a concept of “Saving vs. Spending”. The sub-plot Stan uses a metaphor for American consumerism with a prop of the “Margaritaville machine” that his very own father had reluctantly failed to financed. The overall message the creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone convey is how American consumerism is the reason Americans find themselves in debt. Of course all of this ties to the audience of the American people who all feel the ripples of the economic downturn. Accumulating everything taken into account this episode demonstrates the American hunger for material wealth that has clouded their judgments; consequently, many feel the negative financial effects from poor decisions that they have made.
When the people of South Park are converting their lives into bare essentials they wear “togas” and olive leaves much like ancient Romans. Randy the new emperor of South Park is very much referenced to the biblical role as Pontius Pilate while Kyle is the savior of the economy presumably referring to Jesus. Stone and Parker believed the...
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...sm and rapacious hunger for material wealth. This exactly what Stone and Parker use for conveying their message and challenging Americans at home. Assembling the messages presented from “Margaritaville” it is very unequivocal to claim that American hunger for material wealth has clouded their own judgments; consequently, they feel the negative financial effects from poor decisions that they have made.
Works Cited
Novotney, Amy. "What's behind American Consumerism?" Http://www.apa.org. American Psychological Association, 5 Aug. 2008. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Parker, Trey, and Matt Stone. "Margaritaville." South Park Studios. Comedy Central, 25 Mar. 2009. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Patton, Judd W., Ph.D. "Better to Save or Spend? The Ants Still Have It Right." Better to Save or Spend? The Ants Still Have It Right. Bellevue University Economics Department, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
The author sees medias of all kind (television, newspapers, the Internet...) as covering a negative role especially in the United States, where they extend the values of the ruling class to all other social groups, while creating and broadcasting a negative image of the poor as parasites, predators exploiting the resources provided by the wealthy because of their laziness. Widespread embrace of 'hedonistic consumerism' (p.60) by all people is something Hooks sees as the cancer of American society today. It's a system which has tragic consequences both psychologically and behaviourally on the poor as personal value is considered to depend on material ownership. The desire to be wealthy is seen as the only meaningful aspiration, and the failure to satisfy one's material longings triggers psychological torment and
“Margaritaville” is a satirical portrayal of the 2008 recession, characterizing the economical status and how it affected people and United States the government itself. The episode satirizes the response and actions the government took in attempt to try and resolve the economical crisis. Creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker apply many visual and audio components throughout the episode to humorously and affectively appeal to and persuade viewers that the actions taken by government in order to try and solve the financial crisis were
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man 's needs, but not every man 's greed.” As humans, we work countless hours in order to have a greater opportunity to succeed in life to fulfill our wants. F Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, utilizes effective language and punctuation in the text in order to accomplish his purpose: Illustrate what material goods does to a society. From a rhetorical standpoint, examining logos, ethos, and pathos, this novel serves as a social commentary on how pursuing the “The American Dream” causes people in society to transform into greedy and heartless individuals.
ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE: ''It is odd to watch with what feverish ardor Americans pursue prosperity. Ever tormented by the shadowy suspicion that they may not have chosen the shortest route to get it. They cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and yet rush to snatch any that comes within their reach as if they expected to stop living before they had relished them. Death steps in, in the end, and stops them before they have grown tired of this futile pursuit of that complete felicity which always escapes them.
The dawn of the 20th century was met with an unprecedented catastrophe: an international technological war. Such a horrible conflict perhaps threatened the roots of the American Dream! Yet, most do not realize how pivotal the following years were. Post war prosperity caused a fabulous age for America: the “roaring twenties”. But it also was an era where materialism took the nation by storm, rooting itself into daily life. Wealth became a measure of success and a facade for social status. This “Marxist materialism” threatened the traditional American Dream of self-reliance and individuality far even more than the war a decade before. As it morphed into materialistic visions (owning a beautiful house and car), victims of the change blindly chased the new aspiration; one such victim was Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby. As his self-earned luxury and riches clashed with love, crippling consequences and disasters occur. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby delves into an era of materialism, exploring how capitalism can become the face of social life and ultimately cloud the American Dream.
...at the American culture places economic success at the pinnacle of social desirability, without listing legitimate ways for attaining the desired goal (Merton 672-682). Today, the American Dream no longer reflects the dream Adams had, but instead, the idea that one can only call themselves truly successful if they have become rich, regardless of the way they got there. The American Dream does not guarantee happiness, but rather the pursuit of it, but with the media strongly persuading people that money guarantees happiness, people are encouraged to do whatever it takes, even it means disregarding their morals, so that they achieve ‘success.’ The inability to achieve this goal often leads people to destructive, and ultimately life-threatening criminal behavior as their feelings of anxiety and frustration over this vision of the “American Dream” get the best of them.
...prosperity. It does not allow for emotional and ideological growth, as money-oriented assets do not always acclimate to physically intangible desires. Hamilton’s work stresses the notion that the capitalist media disillusions the American dream; Fitzgerald is more so certain it stems from human elitism and social pressures. Showcasing that ideologies should be questioned as to the legitimacy of its source and function, serve to inform our current society that we must watch what we chase. The accumulation of opinions leads to revelations. The unrest and discomfort voiced by both are societal stimulation, had they stayed quiet perhaps society would have gone about living lavishly and selfishly. The pressures regarding the importance of epiphanies create change. Modern society is itself due in part by educated deductions realized and voiced during the 20th century.
The economy-oriented society relies on hypnopaedia to keep consumers eager to spend by them with catchy, consume-driven phrases. For example, one slogan tells people that they "do love flying. [They] . . .do love flying" (33). A resident of London likes being high, using helicopters for all transportation, and the feeling of being safe in an indestructible machine. The gas-guzzling machines cost enormous amounts of money to keep fueled, and so the gasoline market goes up. In addition, the people believe that "ending is better than mending" (35). One is taught to do away with items instead of trying to fix them. Society encourages purchasing new, always buying more and more so as to boost the economy. Furthermore, children are taught that "the more stitches the less riches" (33). Stitching and other repairing of any kind are frowned upon, because it does not cost anything, rather, it saves money. The more one attempts to mend and keep rather than throw away, the less money in circulation throughout the country and thus, the economy suffers. The prosperity of this money cycle is valued highly, and so these three jingles are sleep-taught to all.
Timmerman, Kelsey. “Follow Your Labels: Your Place in the Global Consumer Chain.” Christian Science Monitor. July 21. 2008. Web.
The poem “America” by Tony Hoagland reflects on how peoples’ minds are clouded by small-scale items, money, and the unimportance of those items. Metaphors and imagery are utilized to emphasize the unimportance of materialistic items in America. How America is being flooded with unnecessary goods. The poem uses examples of people to create an example and connection to the overall meaning.
A large part of this problem is that many Americans buy into the ploys of capitalism, sacrificing happiness for material gain. “Americans have voluntarily created, and voluntarily maintained, a society which increasingly frustrates and aggravates” them (8). Society’s uncontrolled development results in an artificial sense of scarcity which ensures “a steady flow of output” (78).
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.
Fitzgerald’s novel is a great reminder to those with materialistic views about the detrimental effects the “American dream” can have on society.
Mooij, M.de. (2004). Consumer Behavior and Culture, Sage Publications, Page 102, Page 119, Page 274, Page 275
Shiffman, L.G. & Kanuk, L.L. 2010. Consumer behaviour. 10th ed. Upper Saddle River. NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.