Thorstein Veblen

“Technological Determinism and Television “ Introduction Technological determinism is the fundamental idea that technology has the power to transform a society, or at least have the ability to change how people, think, act or feel. According to Veblen and Marx the technology that surrounds us has a much greater power and effect than we are aware of. Since its invention in the 1920s, television has played a vital role in society. Television had become a very powerful focal point in many…

Technological determinism refers to the belief that technology is the agent of social change (Murphie and Potts, 2003).The advances on the new technologies have had a huge impact on society just like Thorstein Veblen witnessed in the 1920’s when industrialization and converging technologies were being introduced. Veblen concluded that a successful technical innovation if implemented on a sufficiently wide scale will generate a new type of society hence the steam age and the age of electricity.…

Albert Einstein covers several topics in his essay, Why Socialism, including: the duality of a person, the shortcomings of capitalism, and how some aspects of socialism could help solve the socio-economic crises we face today. Rather than promoting a private economy blinded by selfish interests, Einstein advocates for a planned economy that “adjusts production to the needs of the community” (Einstein). Moreover, he emphasis the role of the common people in making a successful transition toward a…

Reading 1 – Introduction to Part Five (Theory), Week 3 In this reading, the social logic of consumption by Mauss has provides a platform for other scholars to argued, inspired and challenged. As stated by the author of this reading, in reference to Mauss’s work on ‘gift economy’ that in certain societies, gift exchange is seen as a primary means for fostering social ties and obligation but it didn’t form the full fledge of commercial exchange. But when monetary involves, the gifts connotes…

Groceries or the newest iPhone? Rent or the next concert? College tuition or a trip to Europe? Regularly, decisions similar to the ones before are made on a constant basis. In an ideal world, the choices wouldn't seem so difficult to pick from; buy what one needs now and apply the leftover money for pleasurable activities. This adds to the process of consumerism, the basic element that makes a country run by its people buying and selling goods. Then again, the world isn't flawless, and most…

Sir Thomas More described utopia as an ideal humanist island, where there is freedom and harmony within the community. Peter Weir in his film, The Truman Show, presented his version of utopia, a town called Seahaven. This essay will analyze the film as a critique of consumerism. The name of the city itself is, as Smicek points out, an anagram of, “as heaven,” that seems to, “replicate a saccharine of 1950 's American suburbia” (33). The main character, Truman, lives in the, “pastiche of…

Groceries or the newest iPhone? Rent or the concert in a week? College tuition or a trip to Europe? Regularly, decisions similar to the ones before are made on a constant basis. In an ideal world, the choices wouldn't seem so difficult to pick from; buy what one needs now and apply the leftover money for pleasurable activities. This adds to the process of consumerism, the basic element that creates a country run by its people buying and selling goods. Then again, the world isn't flawless, and…

Contemporary Sociological Theory Sociological Theories The key to understanding sociological theory, involves understand the how and why the facts of the social world relate to one another. Sociological theory can be many things from precise understanding of a single process to various paradigms for analysis as well as interpretation. Social theorist think on many levels from the general to the specific and from the mundane to the complex. Social theorist must temper their theoretical insights…

During Black Friday, consumers topple over each other as they crowd into Best Buy to get the latest and best steals for the holiday season. Some leave the store with a copy of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare while others exit with an iPad Air for their daughter, an iMac for family use, and an iPhone 6 for themselves, even though they leased a Chevy Volt the prior week. In truth, these consumers did not need most of the products in their Best Buy blue shopping cart. Yet, many consumers…

Americans in the 21st century are starting to develop an addiction and obsession of purchasing items that they want, rather than what they need. To the newly developed smartphone, all the way to the brand new Gucci bag that every celebrity owns; we can’t help but being able to own these luxury items to satisfy our needs. Americans feel compelled to buy these useless things just to fit in and stay up to trend with society. This is described as consumerism. Consumerism has been taking over…