the consumer society [Theme] Page 9

The danger of our time is not that on the ground there are a bunch of immoral people, adventurers, bandits and rogues. These dregs of society have always existed; there were even that from the bottom came out great people. A particular danger of our time is that now the writers sincerely believe that, in justifying the amorality, the softness, the law of the jungle and ugly art, act courageously. Meanwhile, there is nothing heroic; it is the most vulgar conformism. The danger, according to one of your peers, is that "instead of philosophical teachings we offer spells, instead of the literary school rules of punctuation, instead of a religious revival - abbots-analysts, instead of mysticism is absurd, not happiness, comfort".

Today you assert that the old form dilapidated that a new painting heralds the end of all art, that traditional architectural forms has no place in modern cities, a new novel proclaims the death of the novel, what to write a story with a plot - a crime that because of the eroticism was no longer needed in the description of feelings, words, Words.

We used to read pornography - now the IKEA catalog.

Someone said to me, "the Beatles same anti-materialists". It's a great myth. Earlier we used to sit down with John and say, "Well, let's write a swimming pool".

The modern world frees people from having to think. Eyes, we replace the education, thought - rules, the stereotypes, and desires commercials. Everything is already invented, recorded, laid out in its place... Not think, and listen, watch and remember. About you taken care of. My the head with this shampoo, sleep in these beds, wear these jeans. Yes, of course, you have the right choice, but what is it? As long as you choose, to reflect, to analyze, the time it will take. So do not hammer in a head any nonsense. Live comfortable, let each your day will be a celebration of limitless consumption.

Modern society consists of "atoms" (if we use the Greek equivalent of the word "individual") is the smallest, separated from each other particles held together by selfish interests and the need to use each other.

I want only to emphasize here the principle is laid down: the act of consumption should be a concrete human act, which involves our senses, physical needs, our aesthetic taste - in other words, to which we ourselves as individual human beings with their feelings, emotions, opinions; the act of consumption must be meaningful creative human experience. In our culture it is present only to a small extent. Our consumption is essentially the satisfaction of artificially heated imagination, fantastic performance, alienated from our true nature specific.

Our entire culture is based on the desire to buy, the idea of mutually beneficial exchange. Happiness of modern man is in the excitement which he feels, looking at shop Windows and buying everything he can afford to buy or for cash or in installments. He (or she) and look at people in this way. For men attractive woman for woman attractive man is the prey, which they are for each other.

Our homes are larger and smaller families.
We have more conveniences, but less time.
More degrees but less common sense.
More knowledge, but less capacity for sober judgment.
More experts, but more problems.
More medicines, but less health.
We've come a long way to the moon and back, but it is difficult for us to cross the street to meet new neighbor.
We have created a lot of computers to store and backup huge amounts of information, but have less to communicate with each other.
We won in quantity, but lost in quality.
This time fast food but slow digestion.
People of high growth, but low morals.
High income, but petty relations.
This time, when so many outside the window, but nothing in the room!

He like me in this world. Strongly dislike. The society in which I live disgusts me; advertising makes me sick; from computer science turned inside out.

With the economic system, prohibit to change jobs, each with more or less success to find its place in life. Under the system of sexual relations, which prohibits adultery, each with more or less success to find its place in somebody's bed. In absolute economic freedom alone acquire untold riches; others are mired in poverty. At absolute sexual freedom alone live a rich, vibrant sex life; others are doomed to Masturbation and loneliness.

Generation, kooky switching channels, and suffering from existential schizophrenia. What will happen to them when they find out that you can't have everything and be everything? I feel sorry for them, because personally I still have not recovered from this discovery.

Look at them, Charles. As they are young and beautiful, one and all. And you know what they say?
"No," I replied.
- On your devices, God damn it! Povytaskivali their stupid gadgets and face off, one more gigs... Terrible, isn't it? To think that they have to ensure our peaceful old age!
No, seriously, people, you disappoint me... Yes, at your age you should die of love! To write poetry! To Plot The Revolution! Rob from the rich! Pack your backpacks and go to the end of the world! Try to change the world! But gigabytes?! Fu I don't know... then What could not loans to buy housing?

Man is turned into a commodity and sees his life as capital that you want to invest. If he succeeded, his life has meaning, and if not - he's a loser. Its value is determined by demand, and not to his human virtues: kindness, intelligence, artistic abilities.