WEEK 10 Blog

Megan- I really enjoyed your story about the awful cream. I can totally relate to being in high school and feeling uncomfortable in my own body. Your failed consumer product was really creative. In regards to your music blog, I loved how you mentioned the companies not being held responsible and being completely driven by money. You made excellent points about society buying into the idea of the empowering woman. Great job Megan!!!!

Victoria- I loved the title of your blog regarding the music lyrics. It was creative and very true. I liked how you talked about people having the choice whether or not to listen to lyrics that are insulting to women. Your story was just as great. I really enjoyed how you told it and really ejoyed how detailed it was. You have a great writing technique and I can’t wait to read more.


In his article, James Twitchell defines materialism as “the belief that one’s physical possessions constitute the greatest value in one’s life”. In his opinion materialism is nothing more than a human expression. He goes on to say that because it plays such an immense roll in our lives we should all accept it for what it is instead of associating it with negative connotations. He states “Of all the strange beasts that have come slouching into the 20th century, none has been more misunderstood, more criticized and more important than materialism….Yet the fact remains that while materialism may be the most shallow of the 20th century’s various-isms, it has been the one that has ultimately triumphed” (389).



Materialism as a whole has both positive and negative effects on American culture. On a positive note materialism represents our freedoms throughout society. “We live through things. We create ourselves through things. And we change ourselves by changing our things” (389). Another positive perspective is that “it frees us from the strictures of social class. The outcome of material life is no longer predetermined by coat of arms, pew seat, or trust fund. Instead it evolves from a never- ending shifting of individual choice” (396). Twitchell’s overall argument is that materialism allows us a source of happiness as well as gives us the liberty to express ourselves. He describes materialism as “liberating and democratic” (397). Buying a new car for instance doesn’t define us but it allows us freedom and enjoyment.




On the other hand many view materialism as negative and disastrous to American culture. Twitchell states that the belief of these people is that “Our commercial culture has been blamed for the rise of eating disorders, the spread of “affluenza”, the epidemic of depression, the despoliation of cultural icons, the corruption of politics, the carnivalization of holy times like Christmas, and the gnat-life attention span of our youth” (390). With materialistic ideas comes the clash of status and classes. If people have more things than us we see them as being better and if they have less with see them as being beneath us. Instead of seeing a person for who they are we label them dollar signs. These mentalities are negative effects on the American culture.




I disagree with James Twitchell. Although I am the first to admit I love my things, I do not think they define me in anyway. Materialism is a freedom to be enjoyed but people have taken this to a whole other level believing things like love, friendship, satisfaction and happiness can actually be purchased. We as a society need to find a happy medium between enjoying the stuff we have worked hard to earn and thinking that we are consumed within the product.