consumption

Through commercials and advertisements society has been taught to believe the idea that the consumption of unnecessary materials is of much essence. In other terms, the government has found a way to make society believe that there is value on materials that are not important for survival. This fact is proven through all the unnecessary materials that are put on market, with designs that make them very attractive. An example of this would be the cartoons that have been put on cigarettes to attract kids between the ages of 14 through 22. Additionally there is a whole psychological aspect of this process. Although we intentionally purchase certain products on market for ourselves, we technically don’t need them most of the times. The way we companies have advertised these products make us develop the idea that we are really in need of these materials. One example of this appears in the 1950 commercial of Colgate. In this advertising video, the viewer would get the impression that by using Colgate tooth paste, he will be very attractive to the opposite sex. Also advertising companies have found a way for society to consume these products without acknowledging the harmful effects that they might have. Since they have designed materials so that they would not last long before you have to buy a new one, one must dispose of these materials after they are damaged. This disposal process includes burning which creates a toxic gas called dioxin. This gas is among the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming according to the narrator in “The story of stuff” video. Basically the idea that consumption is a very important part of our daily life is a belief that was put into our minds through commercial ads.