consumerism
...over society. He is saying that consumerism has developed into a huge wave that has not only engulfed everyone and everything on earth, but has now reached even the heavens through the exploitation of an innocent child. In another one of Dawe’s poems, “Enter without so much as knocking” similar themes can be seen. In the first stanza it reads “ ten days old, carried in the front door in his mothers arms, first thing he heard was Bobby Dazzler on channel 7” This shows that from the moment we are born, consumerism bombards us, it’s inescapable. It is trying to emphasize how quickly we are affected by consumerism, we grow up and live with it forever, it is bound to influence our lives. This reinforces Dawes point about consumerism taking over society. Also in this poem Dawe writes “like every other godless money-hungry back-stabbing miserable so-and-so”. Here Dawe is suggesting that the character and society is completely obsessed with money, because they need more money to consume more products. It is about peoples esteem, they feel they are judged by their stock pile or value of consumer goods. This relates directly to Dawe’s point that society puts to much emphasis on consumer products. In the poem breakthrough, another quote strikes a cord with Dawe’s points. “full volume up on the celestial choir! Stand by for action, ye Angelic host!” Dawe links consumerism to religion, suggesting that consumerism has gone past simply influencing our lives, it has become a religion. Dawe makes the point that consumerism has completely taken over our society. It is the religion of the westernized world. Breakthrough also supports the idea that consumerism targets the weak as perceived in the quote “the little mind, so lately roused, subsides, the frail heart crumples like a paper cup”. Consumerism has, through advertisement and marketing aimed at children, captured this girls “little mind” as she is still young enough to be easily swayed without her even realizing it, she can be implanted with artificial satisfaction from consumer products. In a related text, John F. Gardener wrote an article titled “The poverty of a rich society” in which he discusses the shallowness of mans thirst for fulfillment through consumer goods. He compares people living in stricken poverty to those living the “rich and pampered life “ to try and establish which is really poorer when you look at values, morals, integrity and selflessness. People who believe in consumerism are never happy. How many gleaming faces can be seen on those who seem to have everything? Not that many, because their thirst is never quenched, they always crave more and to get it they drive themselves like slaves for money to consume their so called needs, which takes them away from human interaction. This correlates with Dawes point that society places to much emphasis on consumer products. This image gives a harsh realization of where society is heading or is already. Even babies have become money hungry; they grow up taking after their parent’s believing that satisfaction can only come from consumer products. This is why consumerism targets the weak, they are vulnerable, and if predisposed to consumerism they will follow its path blindly. The significance of the Nirvana diluted by never mind, reinforces the shallowness of the consumerist society. It like with Dawe suggest consumerism is completely taking over, changing a religious word, meaning a place of complete content, to never mind shows how serious a juxtaposition it is. The layout of this image adds to its cause. As the baby is uncontrollably floating towards the dollar bill, it ...