Consumerism As A Type Of Ideology

Consumption has changed into a type of culture including society mentality and action, etc. from initial value in use. Richness of physical productions in moder n society makes consumption be a necessary link in reproduction of capitalistic society and consumerism become a lifestyle and values in capitalistic society, just like what Baudrillard said, namely consumerism had been extreme consumption symbol. Baudrillard analyzed source of consumption based on use of semiology and took this as basis of socially critical theory. Marxist philosophy form points from social practice, real social existence and historical materialism and considered that consumerism is a ideology used for maintenance of existing social order and service for ruling class in capitalist society. Based on consumerism as a ideology, this study aims at criticizing consumerism using Marx’s critical theory。Ideology is decided by social being and in nature is thought of the ruling class, Critical features of Marxist ideology is that ideology always distorted or covered reality relationship. As a one Consumerism is controlled by ideology from production field to consumption field and ideology produce new reminds to promote consumption and thus cultivate consumption people, the people were inculcated with modern consumption idea and that makes the consumption be a type of productivity. Need that capitalist society develop productivity decides that consumption is existent base of capitalist society and capital proliferation is the essence of consumerism.Consumerism is not a concrete behavior and is covered by many things. Bourgeois ideology rised for an ideology stand its back. All ideologies of the ruling classes service themselves and consumerism is also same and stand for ideas of the ruling classes.Consumerism society is extend of the logic of capital from production fields to the scope of consumption and completed finally in the scope of consumption. As a type of ideology, consumerism keeps capitalist society move by large amount of consumption actions and on the other hand, provides a convenient and effective tool used for alleviating class contradictions, controlling society and social integration in capitalist society.Media shows happiness illusion made by people in various ways, and thus consumerism makes a variety of phonily physical happiness views. Control of ideology turned to the scope of consumption from production fields. It constantly produced new demands to promote consumption, cultivated consumers need by Consumption society, inculcated consumption ideas to consumers, and made consumption be a type of new productivity. Additionally, commodities became carrier of culture, symbol used for expressions of some meanings and ideology, based on which ideology in commodities was established.With globalization, consumerism exerted its powerful effects on Chinese society. More and more Chinese people have been rapt in various articles of luxury, and thus were controlled by symbols attached to these articles of luxury, conspicuous consumption, transitional consumption and premature consumption can be seen anywhere and consumerism seemly became a lifestyle and value view in Chinese society. Therefore, we must adopt Marxist weapons with a firm hand to resist undesirable ideological trends and construct spiritual civilization with Chinese Characteristics.