Consumerism has been a defining feature of North American life for most of this century. But since the 1980s, the pressures to consume have intensified. Jill Eisen looks at why and explores the consequences for individuals and society. In Pursuit of Happiness from Plato to Prozac. Program Two, Marketing Cool, examines the corporate encroachment into every aspect of youth culture, from fashion to music to political expression, and looks at the growing movement of resistance.
Children are the fastest growing sector of the consumer market.
They've been subjected to intense commercial pressures through television, film, the internet, and recently, even their schools. The third progam in this series, Targeting Children , is about the effect this is having on children, their culture and their families. Whatever the other critiques of consumerism, the most serious is the environmental. The final program in this series, More Is Not Always Better , looks at the limits to growth and alternative ways to think about wealth and well-being. For more information on ordering transcripts, click here .