As we saw in Blaszcyk’s American Consumer Society, in 2005 the home entertainment experience had changed significantly compared to the experiences in the 1950’s. The standard family “gathered around a large wooden cabinet with a glowing black and white picture tube” and “viewed one of three programs being broadcasted by the tree national networks” (263). However in the 21st century, Blaszcyk writes “even if an upper-middle class family did gather after a meal, they weren’t looking at a piece of furniture. There gaze was fixed on the HDTV” (263). The HDTV signified a power of wealth in the early 2000’s. These slim, cordless, TV’s were being sold for more than $1500, so it was a hefty price to pay. But as prices decreased as a result of popular demand for them, a wide range of consumers were able to afford this once expensive, luxurious T.V.
For consumers in the 21st century, the HDTV symbolized the American Dream according to Blaszcyk. Americans wanted to have a piece of technology’s brilliant video and three dimensional sounds. Despite that HDTV's are common household appliances these days, our American Dream “is under assault” says P
resident Bill Clinton in a recent interview. The past three years we’ve seen our economy deteriorate month by month due to the fact that economists say we are heading towards another recession. National statistics show that for the past three years the poverty rate in the United States has risen; a record 46.2 million Americans living in poverty. Along with the increase in poverty, “the average median income has fallen to 1996 levels and income inequality is at its highest level since the Roaring Twenties” (Task). The loss of jobs has been a critical issue in politics, and for the Obama administration it has been tough to generate jobs. Clinton says an “enormous number of jobs can be created by renewed commitments to energy efficiency.” The government has said for the past year or two, creating jobs was one of its main priorities in order to jump start the economy. But we have yet to see progress. What does it have to take to jump start the economy? Is the “American Dream” that Americans have always strived for, in the process of becoming non existent due to the economic downturn?
Your title makes an interesting point. It makes me wonder if thats why HDTVs are most appealing to fathers. I also realized that when you were talking about the iPhone, the original iPhone only came out about 3 years ago and there are already five models. This has to be the manufacturers way in keeping consumerism going. Maybe the iPhone will help start the fixing of the economy.
ReplyDeleteGreat cartoon! It is interesting that the HDTV was a symbol of the American Dream and a status symbol for families in the early 2000. Then, it is even more interesting that this luxury item later became available at an affordable price for mass consumption. Thomas Walsh 01
ReplyDeleteHDTV’s are a great comparison to the American dream. Our desire for new things, like the tv, forces the manufacturer to come up with new products. Like you mentioned, the culture of the 1950s families sitting watching a piece of furniture has greatly evolved to watching this thin and sleek high definition technological advancement. With technology moving at such a fast pace around us, I can’t even imagine what kind of tv’s we are going to have 20 years from now. Does that deteriorate the American dream? Possibly it does.
ReplyDeleteIs it really a company’s obligation to update their products? They don’t have to if they don’t want to. Obviously that would not be good for them. Yet, they could also take the route that a lot of manufacturers take; keep the same parts on the inside and just change the look on the outside and call it “newly redesigned.”
The holiday season is fast approaching and Sears, Walmart and many other stores are already advertising that their stores offer layaway. Though layaway has existed for decades, it's been thought of as an outdated form of payment for quite awhile. With the current economic situation and the credit card debt many Americans are faced with, the idea of paying for goods in advance once again seems like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, each year on Black Friday people line up for hours to buy expensive televisions, video game systems and other items at low prices. However, many Americans are struggling to pay off mortgages and college loans. Many cannot even afford to put food on the table. Many of these same people are the ones lining up outside Walmart on Black Friday in hopes of getting the newest HDTV or other piece of technology. Despite the current economic situation, people continue to allow Christmas to be a consumer-driven holiday. Instead of foregoing presents in order to save money, people instead drive themselves further into debt and will do anything to find the latest products at the lowest prices.
That's why the HDTV is an interesting symbol of the American Dream. People still fight to be able to bring home the latest technology to fulfill their dreams rather than use that same money to help fulfill basic needs.
I agree that ever changing technology keeps companies going like the new iphones and tv's. However i don't feel like its helping Americans anymore because so many businesses outsource labor. We want our products to be cheap but yet we expect to get paid a lot of money. Unfortunately we can't have both. We either need to pay more for our products and give jobs to Americans or find some new sort of jobs. We have become a country that doesn't produce anything, make anything, or fix anything. So what jobs are left?
ReplyDeleteI found that your description of the rapid transformation of the HDTV from the elite status symbol to common appliance was accurate. It is interesting that fashion and technology take different paths in terms society. The recent history of American fashion and the relaxing of styles have neutralized class identification to some degree. Blaszczyk describes the American Casual style as a kind of equalizer where, “Consumers on the lower rungs of the social ladder not only could afford to dress like middle-class Americans, but their tastes also helped define how middle-class Americans dressed. (230)” But just as fashion begins to blur class lines, the flood of technological products acts as a new set of socio-economic identifiers. The identity kit has evolved and today our status is defined, in part, by our electronic possessions. I do think that the American Dream is in flux and the 50’s idea is becoming outmoded, so it is under attack. There are the economic factors, but more pertinent is consumers’ perspective on throw away culture. The outlook on changing our consumption habits from quantity and quality are hopeful.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to recognize that new technology has given rise to the American Dream in the past and could continue in the future. Although our economy is in a recession it has always responded like after the recession of the 1970s and the depression of the 1930s. Although we are in a rough time it is no where near as bad as the Great Depression. Americans just need to learn to live within their means at this time, unlike the Depression in which people could not afford food. New advances in technology will only help our economy when the developers design productions that have renewed function and consumer faith is restored. This can only happen when products become affordable and convenient. Televisions will continue to become slimmer and cheaper and it will be interesting to see whether Americans will embrace the new 3D TVs or if they will be a short lived fad of American desire.
ReplyDeleteWe discussed in class the dependence that the United States has on other countries for importing goods and locating manufacturing American businesses in other countries in order to wreak the benefits of cheap labor. HDTV’s are discussed here as being a part of the American dream and without a doubt is a part of the system that defines the American dream. The tricky part to this is that every HDTV that is in this country was most likely not made here. One of the questions asked here is what is it going to take to jump start the economy. The answer is very complicated. The standard of living in America has gotten so high that it is now coming back to haunt us. Minimum wage in the United States is $7.50; $7.50 to an individual in South America is a salary leading to wealth. It is near impossible to create jobs and spark our economy due to the fact that our standard of living in America is so high. We also discussed cutting off the purchasing of products that are not made in this country, but in reality doing so would collapse our economy even more because manufacturing in the United States is far too expensive and would just drive us into debt. When push comes to shove the only way to jump start the economy is to lower our standard of living and make sacrifices as a society. Such as relying on public transportation to navigate to and from work every day, rather than enjoying the luxury of personal automobiles. Or hopping on a bike, although the idea of jumping on a bike to work sounds absolutely ridiculous to most people, it is far from ridiculous and this illuminates a prime example of the mindset we need to change! With this being said, we would need to change the mind set of Americans in order to ignite the economy which is possible but takes a collective effort from not just some, but all people in the United States.
ReplyDeleteRobbie McLarney
Section 01
It is interesting that you mention the HDTV, as this may be the perfect product to represent how American consumers have come to value the experience of a product over the simple possession of that product; a theme that is echoed in Blaszczyk’s book. Manufacturers of electronics are constantly producing new versions of HDTV’s and ipods because their goal is to produce the best and most enthralling representation of the experience of electronic media. Consumers in turn, are constantly demanding new versions of these products because they are always looking for an enhancement of their auditory and visual experiences. Unfortunately, the cost of such rapid production means a depletion of the resources used to produce these products. Nevertheless, the HDTV represents one of the paramount experiences for the American consumer, and thus has come to symbolize the American dream.
ReplyDeleteThomas Reilly, section 01
The HDTV as many before said is an accurate depiction of what the American dream really is. And even though the HDTV has become the dream now, it will continue to be advanced, updated, and eventually outdated. The American Dream, at its core is one that is flexible, which is why companies must continually update products to stay relevant. As soon as the next big innovation occurs, and makes older products old news, the American Dream shifts again. This fact alone shows why consumption numbers, while decreasing have not been affected as great as originally projected.
ReplyDeleteThe HDTV is an iconic vision of the American Dream at this point, but in 5 years will it still be? I tend to lean towards the conclusion that it wont be. The American Dream changes so often that for it to stay the same for even 5 years would be a surprise. I do not believe that the American Dream will disappear, but rather it will shift to the next innovation no matter of the economic downturn. America survives off its consumption and an economic downturn may affect this negatively, but it would never stop it.
Josh Rengulbai 01
In modern day society, technological products are constantly being modified and improved. A significant part of American consumerism has always been obtaining the newest and latest products. HDTV's epitomize the natural inclination for Americans to " keep up with the joneses".
ReplyDeleteWhether or not the economy is prospering or not, the "American Dream" will always be pursued. This dream is not deemed successful or unsuccessful by the amount of money in one's wallet, but rather by the extent to which one exhibits the relentless will to achieve happiness and prosperity. It is undeniable that much of this happiness is a direct result from the emotional response given off by obtaining novel products. HDTv's and iPhones will always be transfigured in response to social needs, however; the mental fortitude and pursuit of happiness that embodies the American spirit will forever outlast the changes in both the economy and technology.
Dhrupal B Patel
Section 01
You made some great points about the HDTV and how this became a defining appliance in the 21st century. I actually know people who have not only one of these TVs but have two in their living room because along with the updated technology came the major increase in television channels. Cable companies are supplying their views with more and more shows being available to watch. My friends use the two TVs to watch sporting event simultaneously when they cannot decide on which one they would rather view. In addition to the HDTV, the point you presented about the iPhone is also an interesting one. The iPhone has transformed from a calling device into so much more. The “first generation” iPhones, which could perform the more than the tasks a cell phone should be able to fulfill, is now considered “out dated.” Reviews about the new cell phones are always talking about the increase in speed in the newest generation which I think is parallel to the fast pace society we live in today.
ReplyDeleteVery good points in connecting to American Dream to how we consume today. I also like how you brought in Pres. Clinton and what he thinks about our economy. It's amazing that fact that although we are in such hard financial times these companies continue to make new outrageously expensive products and for some reason people throw their whole paycheck at them. There is something wrong with consumers,and it is about time they realize what things are important to spend money on....
ReplyDeleteWednesday Cultures Of Consumption, Austin Payne
We also have to remember that its important to understanding that change in large companies is necessary. Without it, we would never progress technologically. We need to focus more on the consumer aspect of society, and find a way to become less dependent on such goods and also to find a safer way of disposing the old ones. We will never be able to stop people from coming out with new products and ideas.But all in all, I do tend to agree with what your saying and will make an honest effort to do something proactive.Perhaps a day without using a cell phone?
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