The Things You Own Now Own You
The idea of buying a home in the suburbs and filling
it with up-to-date appliances and various home furnishings has been illustrated
as being a major goal of millions of Americans, as well as a tool in which
success is measured with regards to obtaining “the American dream.” Despite
what most advertisers, manufacturers, and even economists want you to believe
about employing such a process in order to achieve this goal, there are many
negative aspects and downsides to buying a home and furnishing it with consumer
goods such as televisions and expensive furniture. I have owned my home for the
last five years and it has its ups and downs. Disagreements and arguments
between my wife and I have been caused by many different instances and aspects related
to improving and/or repairing our home. Money is always an issue sitting in the
back of our minds with regards to the house. Elaine Tyler May mentioned these
various issues in her article. She writes, “Suburban homes filled with material
possessions could not always compensate for the dissatisfactions inherent in
the domestic arrangements consumerism was intended to enhance and reinforce. In
fact, those very domestic arrangements, although idealized and coveted at the
time, were the source of countless miseries” (Glickman, 313). While many people
believe that reaching and sustaining this particular goal will lead to
happiness, I think that taking on this responsibility causes a large amount of
stress that leads to other negative effects such as diminished mental health
and unhappiness within the home. A great quote from the novel (not the movie) The
Fight Club prompts critical thinking on this topic. Chuck Palahniuk states, “You
buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my
life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you're satisfied that no matter
what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right
set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you're trapped
in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.” I think
he hits the nail on the head with regards to home ownership in the suburbs and
the problems that arise in relation. Do you think that the problems that result
on an emotional/health level due to chasing the American dream of moving to the
suburbs and using consumerism as a tool to find happiness is a major factor in
our society today? What are some alternatives to this line of thinking
regarding owning a home and furnishing it with expensive possessions? What are
your thoughts on the assessment that “the things you used to own, now they own
you?
May, Elaine T. "The Commodity Gap: Consumerism
and the Modern Home." Consumer Society in
American History: A Reader. By Lawrence B. Glickman. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1999. 298- 315. Print.
I think Palahniuk also says something along the lines of all you can ever expect out of perfection is a brief moment. That's what I think of when it comes to buying things like large TVs (guilty) a nice bed (guilty) and various expensive things with the hopes that it will last a long time and that it's one less issue to deal with at home. All of the upgrades we make, such as switching to blu ray impacts our lives. You already own all of these movies but now if you really want to enjoy them aesthetically you must buy the blu ray version. I do believe that the things we own in turn own us in a way. The American Dream is an odd dream indeed.
ReplyDeleteI feel that what we buy does end up consuming us in the long run for the most part. I have heard numerous stories of people who want to travel, or allow their kids to join some type of club, but cannot because all of money tied up in a car, appliance, or the house that needs to be fixed. This is only one of the many examples of people being consumed by something that they had purchased at some point. These are things that people “need” not the things that people buy for pleasure like televisions and computers. It amazes me the funds that are needed in order to have this “dream” that people are striving for. It reminds me of when NFL players or any other professional athletes ask for a larger contract and one player responded when asked why he wanted a larger contract asked if the reporter knew how much insurance was on a Ferrari. It is people’s choice to try and pursue this dream and it amazes me that people use this as an excuse.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the American dream of consumption can 'own' its chaser. The idea of consumption is given to us from birth, reinforced as we develop, and continually presented to us. Rap music sells records through bragging about excessive consumption. Brands and products are everywhere, in reality and virtual space. American culture seems to have an innate desire to acquire material wealth.
ReplyDelete"Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need" says to me that it is the advertising companies faults that we are chasing every next big thing we have to buy or acquire. But truthfully, I think it is us Americans that do that to ourselves. We aren't forced to buy things. We aren't forced to get the next hot ticket item before anyone else does. It is in our nature to be competitive and want what's best for ourselves. Spending money to buy things we WANT seems just as good a way to do that as any. Everyone is always trying to separate the needs and the wants, but when it comes to my wallet, what's the difference?
ReplyDeleteI agree with this assessment John. So often in America I believe that people get caught up in the things they buy. When Glickman talks about buying the "last sofa you ever need" and etc, he is right, and you were right in assessing it so. It seems like when people make decisions to furnish their homes they don't account for the fact that they might want newer or better things in five years, and therefore buy expensive the first time and are stuck with the products that they consumed in the first place. So after this happens, "the things you own, now own you." This is a large problem in American suburbs. Everyone has to "keep up with the Joneses," just like in the beginnings of large scale American consumerism. Therefore, the things that you buy and own are influencing your happiness. One issue I see is that many people I've known from the suburbs buy things to make themselves feel equal to other folks that have nicer things, or may even be wealthier than them. This sort of chasing after the wind is not helpful to the happiness of a person's life. In fact, it's a detriment because folks realize that they cannot keep up and this makes many people feel like failures or lesser people.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you on this one, John. Marriages suffer because they attempt to live up to this ideal that all families need the two-story suburban home with two kids in the private schools. However, most couples cannot financially afford to sustain a lifestyle like that; therefore, it causes much unneeded stress on the couples and the family. Good Fight Club quote, too, by the way. I just watched that movie the other night and was still in the Fight Club mindset. It makes sense, however. People demand this lifestyle even if they cannot afford it. People need to learn how to be financially smart with their finances and move slowly and when they are able. Achieving this so-called “dream” may be the reason why most marriages end in divorce. My parents have their financial struggles, but they put up with each other. Elaine May hit the nail on the head with her quote, and miseries was the perfect word to describe it. Couples could learn to take it slow, moving from an apartment, to a starter home, then to the permanent mainstay. However, I would also have to agree with you in regards to our belongings now owning us. We desire so much for unnecessary things that when we do get them, we idolize them and show them off, in some cases. We are proud of what we have, but to a large extent, to the point that they now own us.
ReplyDelete