Over the last week of class, we discussed some of the reading in Culture Jam. One of the biggest segments of the book that sparked my interest involved Plenitude. When I read that the U.S. had a higher rate of depression than almost every other country I was a bit shocked. I became confused reading this because when you think about it, we (as in the U.S.) have it way better than almost every other place in the world. People that live in America have way more opportunities and materialistic things than most, if not all, of the eastern countries. Then as a kept on reading, I saw that data suggests that when those other places become more americanized, their rate of depression goes up. When you think about it, the data is saying that when you take a less fortunate country and tell them to stop working hard for what they have and just give them what they need to live, plus way more, they will become more depressed. To me, this is a unbelievable because how could having less make you happier than getting everything you need to live, plus more? How can all these materialistic things cause everyone to be depressed? Well later in the book I found out that “ When everything is at hand, nothing is ever hard won, and when nothing is hard won, nothing really satisfies. Without satisfaction, our lives become shallow and meaningless”. It is sad to think this is true and I guess it is just hard to accept how greedy and careless we have become today here in America. To tie back to depression, we as americans are constantly wanting newer and better things when what we have is perfectly fine and in working order. In a sense, if we had less but worked hard for everything we got, we would be happier and better off. The bigger picture here I guess is that nothing is ever good enough for us. We need to really take a step back for a minute and actually look at everything we have and appreciate it for what it is. Instead of saying “but the newer and better one just came out” we should look at what we have, then put ourselves in someone else’s shoes that does not have everything we have. I bet we would all be pretty mad at ourselves for how spoiled we act.
"I bet we would all be pretty mad at ourselves for how spoiled we act."
ReplyDeleteI bet you're right...
Is this perhaps why we fail to take the appropriate "pause" we so need in our lives? Is this why we get upset when someone (Lasn) suggests that American culture might not be "all that"?
Alex, I like the point your making! Something you said interested me in particular. "To me, this is a unbelievable because how could having less make you happier than getting everything you need to live, plus more?" I believe that the media tries to sell us these pre-made dreams in a bundle. Great car, Great house, Great clothes = Great life. Not! People try to replace quality, with quantity. I've always been someone who'd rather be poor, but surrounded by family, than by money and having no one. These big corporations try to convince people that without clothes and shoes and cell phones, we are nothing. This is not true. We should take a step back and see what's really important in life (family, friends, good memories, etc.) I believe that if everyone discarded this current obsessive attitude towards stuff, We'd all be so much more grounded, and even more simply put, we'd be happy.
ReplyDeleteAlex, This is the part that most interested me in class too. Is America too greedy? I especially love the part in the end when you say were all spoiled and other people on the outside looking in would think the same. I am a little disturbed about how much we have as Americans. What do you think we can do to stop this? How do we go about that? Theres a lot of factors that can play apart. When will the cycle end?
ReplyDeleteAlex, i like what you discussed. I too found it interesting and shocking that the U.S had the highest rate of depression. I'm not sure that I would purely blame it on having too many material goods. I'd primarily blame it on media images and how we are expected to look, but I suppose that material goods do tie in there too.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that its stupid that America always acts like newer is better and that we have to have the latest thing, especially since this is not always true. I know that the original PS3 could play PS2 and PS1 games but then a new version was made that was cheeper and it only plays PS3 games. I played croquet the other day with mallets made in the 40's. They looked in fine shape had no problems. The ones nowadays are expected to break after like 4 yrs or so. I think its incredibly stupid how products are designed to be cheep and disposable instead of durable and long lasting. Thats one of my biggest pet peeves about industry and I'm glad you made mention to the newer is better idea.
Good blog. I'll be curious to see if there are an increase depression rates for china as it becomes more Americanized.
I agree, it is quite shocking that we have so much yet we are not happy. I feel like maybe we need to take a week or even more realisticly a day and live without our cars or our cell phones or our designer clothes and go help out at a homless shelter. We need to watch first hand what it's like to need and not want, and get a different perspective on life. And then maybe we can be greatful for what our lives have to offer.
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