On a day by day basis, do you pay attention to just how much consumption surrounds you? How has it affected you? How has it affected others?Dr. Shawn Bingham builds the course Consumer Culture around concepts such as these. One of the main topics discussed in this class is George Ritzer’s theory of the “McDonaldization” of society. Throughout the semester, this “McDonaldization,” as well as the overall idea of consumption, is applied to a broad range of topics including family life, nature, health, love, sex, and individualism. From this application, students learn not only about advertising, commercialization, mass production, and the market, but about the social and psychological effects of this consumer culture.
Perhaps due to this, students are benefiting from this class in a way that lets them apply what they learn to their everyday experiences. One of the class assignments was a consumption chronicle paper in which each student was required to keep either a time log on how they used their time for two weeks, or a consumption log on how they spent their money over the course two weeks.
"The consumption chronicle paper made me realize just how ridiculous my spending is. I should probably cut back on it," said student Megan Bridges.
Overall, it seems that this Social/Behavioral Science Honors course has really hit home for students by providing them not only with Honors credits, but time for introspection on the culture they are surrounded by.
Picture by Ashley Martinez
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