Modern Consumerist Culture, Its Drawbacks and Benefits

Abstract

Consumerism is a concept that is shaped by social and economic conditions. Consumers in different social classes employ different discourse on consumption, one that is shaped through the operationalization of historically rooted ideals of community, family solidarity and asceticism. Consumerism as a phenomenon describes consumer culture as debased materialism, while at the same time presenting it as core for social life. This article explores the impact of pessimistic and optimistic effect of modern consumerist culture, and its drawbacks and benefits. Consumerism by itself is a part of the general process of social control and cultural hegemony in modern society. Opponents in modern consumerist culture eroding the human’s spiritual connection with nature, while Proponents preserving it. Modern consumption is needed to minimize the drawbacks while increasing the benefits using education as a strategic tool.