Introduction
The economics of the modern world are on the side of capitalism. The production of goods by individually owned businesses or multinational enterprises is the way forward. It’s a system for producing products that improve the lives of all. However, one of the key aspects of the capitalist world is consumerism, in which people’s way of life is heavily characterised by the ability to acquire goods. And even though it’s a great way to elevate individuals in society, there are also negative implications, which you can observe with the rise of consumerism.
Rise of Consumerism: Fall of Society?
With the industrialisation of the world, there is a mass production of almost every product that you can imagine. It includes everything from the smallest of needles to the biggest of aeroplanes. Everything is commercialised with a price tag. So, logically, if you want to improve your life, you need to earn and use that money to buy products.
““Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need.”
― Fight Club
It’s a simple system and promises not only wealth creation but also a better life for everyone involved. But is that the case, or are we, as a society, heading toward our doom? The answer is complicated, but the truth is that the consumerist bubble is in its final stage. So, let’s see more about the upcoming fall of society and how consumerism will play a crucial role in it.
Problems Solved by Consumerism
Before criticising consumerism and capitalistic societies, you need to give these systems their flowers. They are way better than the other models, like communism and socialism, for which countless people gave their lives. No system is perfect, and in economics, everything is a game of tradeoffs. Industrialisation and capitalism brought us all sorts of things and improved our lives.
- World Hunger
- Poverty.
- Healthcare.
- Better Economic Growth.
- More Peaceful Times.
However, these are not enough for the greed and evil of the human heart. Even after acquiring all sorts of stuff and products, there is still a hunger for more. And this hunger is fueled by a society shaped by consumer values.
As a result, consumerism made people less productive and more hateful towards each other. And this will be the final phase of the coming collapse of modern society. Moreover, this collapse will be so silent that people will not even notice it at all, since they’ll be too busy playing with their goods.
Consumerism In The Modern World
The basic premise of consumerism is the pursuit of better products and services. When individuals in an economy strive for a better life through constant buying and selling, the economy improves. At first, things do get better; people’s lives are improved in such systems. However, over time, anti-human values such as greed, pride, and ego take over the system.
“The world says: “You have needs — satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don’t hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more.” This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the poor, envy and murder.”
― The Brothers Karamazov
Now, you don’t want the things you need to acquire to better your life, but things that others have. There is a constant comparison between different social classes. The poor compare themselves to the middle class, while the middle class aspire to reach the wealthy class. And at the same time, rich people want to become richer. It’s like the entire world becomes hypnotic, with no room for moral values or community.
Following The Patterns or Connecting the Dots
The developed nations have reached a point where people are following a similar pattern in their lives. And it all aligns with the consumerist, materialistic mindset. Everyone and everything talks about money, stuff, and buying. It’s a complete mess of human psychology, as there is nothing outside the world of goods and services.
“The only time you look in your neighbor’s bowl is to make sure that they have enough. You don’t look in your neighbor’s bowl to see if you have as much as them.”
―
Therefore, to get past this system, you need minimal participation and its acknowledgement. One way to do this is to adopt a minimalist lifestyle that focuses on building community rather than on stuff. Only people can break free from the chains of materialism to reach the essence of humanity.
Where Does Rise of Consumerism Lead Humanity?
In the coming days, consumerism will take over the world. Every aspect of your life will become a service or commodity. It’s not wrong to say that an ordinary man can’t escape the matrix of materialism. In the age of demanding attention, the only good you can do is not participate in it.
“A lot of people get so hung up on what they can’t have that they don’t think for a second about whether they really want it.”
― Checker and the Derailleurs
Going outside, meeting people regularly, and having a mundane life are the only ways forward. In a way, consumerism is a blessing or a curse, which shows that we never need things to fill the void in our hearts.
The Future of Consumerism is Imploding?
In the last stages of consumerism, people will get tired of everything. However, instead of leaving and sacrificing their lifestyle, they will seek out ways that are not only hedonistic but also degrading to the human soul. In this way, the system will collapse, leaving few to understand it.
“It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.”
―
And in the remains of the imploded system will remain a civilisation that not only knows where it’s headed but also where it came from. Apart from the damage to human beings, the natural resources are overused, and it’s only a matter of time before they run out.
Final Thoughts on Rise of Consumerism
Every economic system needs balance and sustainable practices. Consumerism is no different from this. It’s not a bad idea, but a way of life that does not help anyone in the long run. People need to understand the shortcomings of such systems and try to become producers.
“Are these things really better than the things I already have? Or am I just trained to be dissatisfied with what I have now?”
― Lullaby
This includes not only resources but also art, media, and other creative forms. Because art helps build community and identity, it brings society closer together. This is the way to tackle the envious, resentful nature of material life and to find peace in one another’s company.