26 October 2010: Page 418 #1

Living In a Material World

Materialism in temporary American culture is composed and juxtaposed in a binary opposition; it is both good and beneficial, while at the same time bad and destructive. Both of these opposites coexist and create our culture today.

Materialism is essential to our society because it allows for a capitalistic economy. Without our desire for goods, this type of economy could not operate, yet this type of economy has proven successful over time. It allows for people to create their own success by being able to sell their products to others. It allows for jobs because someone must create, market, sale, check out, and bag these goods. Materialism is a cycle that allows for progress and advancement. It puts in an aspect of competiveness, thus the market is constantly improving as people demand better things. Look at where we are today technologically. We can now communicate with any one, at any time, in any place. Due to materialism, this is possible.

As previously stated, materialism has its drawbacks. Due to our culture’s demand for goods, this creates waste. Materialism has caused our society to be focused on the self and we demand things from it for our own benefit. We have no regards for how the good was created, just as long as it helps us. For the younger generation, they expect things to be given to them. Every kid now expects to have cell phone, internet, and a myriad of other things. They no longer have to work for it or achieve anything to earn it; they expect it. Materialism often affects women and girls especially. They now need to wear certain clothes, buy certain make up, get certain surreys, all in order to have an identity in today’s culture. It is about oneself looking good, with no regard or concern for anyone else.

This then leaves the ultimate question; do the good effects outweigh the bad effects? In my opinion, they do not. There should have been a line that was drawn, because materialism is good to an extent. However, I feel we as Americans have overstepped that line and now demand things instead of work for them. We waste things, instead of appreciate them. I feel this is going to lead us further into a selfish, wasteful society, and nothing productive can come out of a culture with those motives as a basis for their society.