Marc Bain’s focus on fast fashion provides insight into the modern American lifestyle focused on consumerism: the desire to have stuff, the pleasure in getting it, and then, frequently, the disappointment in having it. Bain argues that “shopping has taken on a new role in our society and in our lives. It’s no longer just a transaction, a way to procure necessities or luxuries, but rather has become an end in itself” (Bain 7). Think about the implications of this new role of shopping for the society (I encourage you to visit the Reading Implications page if you are unsure what an implication is). Bain himself remains rather subtle in his argument, ending the essay with a comforting statement that we are “not all doomed,” yet at the same time emphasizing that we have now started viewing “consumerism as entertainment.” To those familiar with the problems of consumerism, this last sentence sounds rather ominous. To those who see nothing problematic about shopping being equated to TV, it is a sign that perhaps what Bain describes is not a major issue. What is your position on the topic?
Using evidence from Bain’s text to support your claims, answer the following question: What are the consequences of this new kind of lifestyle for individuals and/or for the community?
