Globalization - The consumerism way: February 2008

Sunday, 17 February 2008

Barbara Kruger

Barbara Krugers fantastic comment to the constructed consumer society from 1987

Today consumerism is an elitist’s movement spreading to the middle class in the west as well as to growing economy all over the world with an increasing middle class. Consumerism is living large, and the effects off consumerism are considerable. Sustainability and the environment as well as the aspect of power, assets and world resources are related to this global dilemma.
The postmodern world gets more polarized and this blog is about the aspects of today’s globalization.

If you like this you will properly like this blog

Globalization is an ongoing phenomenon, that has been around for ages.

Today’s Globalization is faster and more extensive because of the massive growth in global economy, new technology and all kinds of mobility.

In other words - Globalization is everywhere.

Globalization is the reason for economical growth both in western and non-western countries, creating a fast growing middle class all over the world. At the same time the increasing economy in certain parts of the world is a consequence of globalization. The outsourcing of production to non-western countries have had a huge impact on the global economy. When brand became more important than the actual product, the outsourcing to low production cost countries exploded and changed the global economy.

Mobility is another aspect of the globalization. People are much more mobile today, new technology allows them to fly around the world all day long - if they have the finance for it. If not, at the other end of the mobile spectrum they can be trafficked around as modern slaves.

Globalization as well mobility has a range of positive and negative effects. These different consequences are what interests me about globalization.

A part of globalization was colonialism, when the west started using all kind of resources from non-western countries to support their economy growth. The elite in the west started consuming elaborately. As the middle class expanded, the consumerisms growth increased as well. Today consumerism is an elitist’s movement now spreading to the middleclass in the west as well as to growing economy all over the world. Consumerism is living large, and the effects off consumerism are considerable. There are a lot to consider related to consumerism. The production influence the environment and the workers life in a multiply of aspects. Consumerism raises questions about the sustainability aspect of the environment as well as the aspect of power and dealing with assets and world resources.

All of these major consequences raise a lot of questions about the globalization and the future of the world. These post-modern questions are my main interest. The world seems to get more polarized and divided in religious, political and economy aspects everyday. It’s a Them – Us world, polarizing people in mobility ability and as well in the level of consumerism representing today’s class society.

Through pop culture, art, debate, science, philosophy, contemporary social theory, politics, sociology, cultural geography and communication I seek the aspects of today’s globalization.

Come along and let’s see where it takes us.

Globalization - The consumerism way

Monday, 18 February 2008

The secrets of the flags

Sunday, 17 February 2008

Barbara Kruger

Consumerism today

If you like this you will properly like this blog

About Me

Blog Archive

Great links