Mass Media and Consumerism
Documentaries
Run-Time: Approx 40 mins - in 4 parts
Description: Great introduction to consumerism as a topic. Discusses how it began, how many aspects of society it affects, and how it solely maintains the economy. Part 2 touches on the psychology behind marketing, as well as consumerism's effect on environment and government. Part 3 explores the relationship between consumption, wealth, and happiness. The last part reviews some of the current efforts being made to combat the negative aspects of consumption.
Keyword: General Introduction
Description: Great introduction to consumerism as a topic. Discusses how it began, how many aspects of society it affects, and how it solely maintains the economy. Part 2 touches on the psychology behind marketing, as well as consumerism's effect on environment and government. Part 3 explores the relationship between consumption, wealth, and happiness. The last part reviews some of the current efforts being made to combat the negative aspects of consumption.
Keyword: General Introduction
THE STORY OF STUFF
Run-Time: Approx. 20 mins.
Description: Takes viewers through the collective process of extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Emphasizes environmental damage and movement of toxins through the cycle.
Keyword: Environment
Description: Takes viewers through the collective process of extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Emphasizes environmental damage and movement of toxins through the cycle.
Keyword: Environment
THE CENTURY OF THE SELF PART 2: THE ENGINEERING OF CONSENT
Run-Time: 60 minutes
Description: Psychologists explain how the minds of the mass public have been manipulated to want what they don't need.
Keyword: Marketing Psychology
Description: Psychologists explain how the minds of the mass public have been manipulated to want what they don't need.
Keyword: Marketing Psychology
WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY?
Run-Time: 100 minutes
Description: "An examination of the commercialization of Christmas in America while following Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse (the end of humankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt.) The film also delves into issues such as the role sweatshops play in America’s mass consumerism and Big-Box Culture. From the humble beginnings of preaching at his portable pulpit on New York City subways, to having a congregation of thousands – Bill Talen (aka Rev. Billy) has become the leader of not just a church, but a national movement."
Keyword: Religion
Description: "An examination of the commercialization of Christmas in America while following Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse (the end of humankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt.) The film also delves into issues such as the role sweatshops play in America’s mass consumerism and Big-Box Culture. From the humble beginnings of preaching at his portable pulpit on New York City subways, to having a congregation of thousands – Bill Talen (aka Rev. Billy) has become the leader of not just a church, but a national movement."
Keyword: Religion
FREEDOM FRIES: AND OTHER STUPIDITY WE'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN
Run-Time: 50 mins. *Does contain advertisements
Description: Suggests consumerism is used to enhance patriotism (renaming freedom fries as a symbolic gesture against France for not supporting the Iraq War). Actual news coverage and critiques may make a nice transition to media.
Keyword: Patriotism
Description: Suggests consumerism is used to enhance patriotism (renaming freedom fries as a symbolic gesture against France for not supporting the Iraq War). Actual news coverage and critiques may make a nice transition to media.
Keyword: Patriotism
WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION
Run-Time: 100 minutes
Description: Surprisingly the only documentary I could find on the mass media's manipulation of political events. This one is about the Iraq War and is really well done.
Keyword: Media
Description: Surprisingly the only documentary I could find on the mass media's manipulation of political events. This one is about the Iraq War and is really well done.
Keyword: Media
Academic Articles
Teaching Dystopian Literature to a Consumer Class Rachel Wilkinson. English Journal. (High school edition). Urbana: Jan 2010. Vol. 99, Iss. 3; pg. 22, 5 pgs
"Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and M. T. Anderson's Feed show how unrestrained industry often relies on manipulation and herd mentality, an unspeakably grim encroachment on the individual. When the important thing is selling and buying, the individual becomes nothing more than consumer or worker. This is where it gets tricky: Young people love advertising, consuming, entertainment, and technology. If we attack these trappings of modern life, we risk nurturing defensiveness. The challenge is to focus on the dangers, demands, and opportunities common to the "consumer class" without alarmism- difficult terrain to navigate. It's a matter of human nature, not stuff: "man in using his reason to create the ultimate life of pleasure has ceased to be human" (Greenblatt 97). Dystopian literature such as Feed and Brave New World is to consuming as Frankenstein is to cloning-theoretical exploration and warning."
Teaching about Consumerism through Stories Kay Parks Haas. English Journal. (High school edition). Urbana: Jan 2010. Vol. 99, Iss. 3; pg. 14, 2 pgs
"One of my favorite young adult novels is Feed by M. T. Anderson (Candlewick, 2002), a futuristic novel in which babies are implanted with computertelevision chips that draw their attention to sales of merchandise and the world of entertainment, according to each person's interests and style preferences. As a result, walking down the street near a popular clothing store, a feed might pop into their heads alerting the walkers to a sale on their favorite types of shirts, or an announcement might entice them to go on a spur-of-the-moment trip to Mars for a concert put on by their favorite rock stars. Granted, some young adults might, at first, consider this technology to be something they would want to have, but further exploration into its invasiveness might prove otherwise. Although seemingly futuristic, the capacity for feed technology might not be too far in the future."
*Article provides other literature suggestions that could be compiled to form linked text sets.
*Article provides other literature suggestions that could be compiled to form linked text sets.
The Story of Stuff: Reading Advertisements through Critical Eyes Shannon Cuff, Heather Statz. English Journal. (High school edition). Urbana: Jan 2010. Vol. 99, Iss. 3; pg. 27, 6 pgs
Through working directly with junior high and high school students, we have learned how differently groups will respond to the same sources of information about consumerism. In classroom settings and at conference sessions, students have surprised us with the candor and honesty of their reflections as they consider the role they play in consumerism. We have also been surprised by the resistance of some students' discussions of advertisements and the buying of "stuff." Not all students respond positively or willingly to issues of consumption. In our teaching, we are not trying to send the message that consumption is bad; rather, we want to empower young adults to interpret media intelligently and to make decisions as thoughtful consumers.
The documentary Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood, print ads, and The Story of Stuff have all been used with both junior high and high school students. In this article, we look at each source and students' responses from both grade levels to provide possible lesson and unit ideas.
The documentary Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood, print ads, and The Story of Stuff have all been used with both junior high and high school students. In this article, we look at each source and students' responses from both grade levels to provide possible lesson and unit ideas.
Lesson Plans
Select various genres of advertisements (ex. magazine ads form assorted publications, video game cases, cereal boxes, etc.) and ask students to analyze the particular audience the product was marketed toward. Make sure they're prepared to support their conclusions with specific details like word choice and design. Lesson plan adapted from readwritethink.org.
Freewrite: Why do you think Bush's post 9/11 message was to keep shopping?
Using a local or national newspaper, have students read related front page and editorial stories. After their reading is completed, ask students to form groups and discuss how the messages differ and how language contributes to the affect. Reconvene as a class and make list or chart of the qualities of persuasive language. May transition to media's mass appeal or to a more traditional persuasive essay. Lesson plan adapted from action4mediaeducation.org.
