Need To Want Less

In class a few weeks ago (October 7th) we were discussing the standardization and homogenization of the marketplace and how the internet has influenced the system and our behaviour.  Dr. Strangelove began the lecture with an example about how our food variety is limited in that most of the chickens that we consume come from the same place and are standardized because of efficiency.  When we limit our variety, we limit our health.

This can also be seen in the limit of opinions in the mass media due to a high corporate presence.  Noam Chompsky declares that the newspapers we consume reflect a very narrow set of opinions.  This is due to the government ownership of the media and newspapers that are owned by a small group of very powerful people.

 What we need is a shift away from the corporate system and a change in values.  We need a system that puts less emphasis on consumption.  When we do depart away from the corporate system, corporations become afraid because their safety depends on our consumption habits. 

Is the internet a catalyst for this shift? 

While the internet allows for a diversity of opinions, it does not necessarily mean that there is a healthy democracy of beliefs. People will consume media that aligns with their beliefs, and these beliefs and values tend to align with those of corporations. A popular example of this the push for consumption during the Christmas holidays.  It is through the mass media that we have embedded beliefs that we must buy, buy, buy during the holiday season. Corporations find sneaky ways to embed their beliefs into the media that we consume, and  most of the time, we're never aware of it. While the internet creates a greater awareness of digital information, there is a reduction of awareness of our environment.

Do you plan on consuming less this coming holiday? How will you do this? DIY and handmade gifts are a great idea! Etsy also offers unique and affordable (and sometimes vintage) gifts made by talented individuals.