HI275
Consumerism and its History, 1700-2000
0.5 Credit

Advertisements and the encouragement to purchase goods and services tempt us everyday. We explore how consumerism came to be such a pervasive and dominant force in modern society. Students are encouraged to think about the values associated with consumerism and their change over time, the effect of consumerism on individual identity, and the impact of a "shop till you drop" culture on human behaviour. We will also consider commentary from social theorists and popular media to examine how ideas of consumerism have changed over time.