Removing The Veil Of American Consumerism In The1980s

The latter part of the twentieth century is the crazy consumption age for the Americanmiddle and upper-class. From the1980s, Americans’ expenditure on the entertainment andrecreation activities is more than doubled. The rich in America has pushed conspicuousconsumption to new climax. However, Americans in the1980s don’t feel happy and manyof them feel pessimistic about their future.Consumerism refers to this way of life: consumption is not for practical needs, but tomeet the desire which is constantly created and stimulated by the society. In other words,what people consume is not the use value of goods, but the “value” hidden behind thegoods. The United States’ consumer culture in the1980s comprehensively presents thisfeature. The idea that the personal success is achieved through financial success and wealthis reflected through purchases is instilled into Americans’ minds by consumerism.Americans have dealings with consumption at all times and places. Sometimes, they alsoworry about losing more meaningful values and way of life.Based on the above questions, the writer has chosen two of the most representativenovels in America in the1980s as examples to analyze American consumer culture. Byanalyzing the predicaments caused by consumerism of the protagonists reflected in bothnovels，the writer wants to reveal the negative effects of consumerism on the individualhoping to wake up those still unconsciously influenced by consumerism. The thesis fallsinto five parts: the first part is an introduction to the reasons for doing this study; the secondpart is about the specific American consumerism in the novels including: the background ofAmerican consumerism and the present literature review on consumerism; part threedemonstrates the American consumerism reflected in the two novels; the chapter four isdesigned to reveal the negative effects caused by consumerism in the two novels; in the last chapter, the writer will firstly make a summary of the whole thesis and then gives somesuggestions to humans including the Chinese who have been influenced by consumerism atpresent and hope (that) they can chew upon the serious social problems and individualpredicament caused by consumerism.Consumer society offers us convenience and prosperity, whereas it makes people feellonely, helpless, frustrated and anxious at the same time. As far as the writer is concerned,the counter-examples exemplified in the two novels can function as a wake-up call forconsumers，they should learn to treat consumption properly to make their life better.