Yes indeed. Mother America welcomes the consuming public with welcome arms

Many of the photos in this essay do not speak to me. The photo of the small Asian girl comes close: what is she thinking? Is she lost in a comsumer paradise? The photo of the top of an escalator and others...too bad the photographer did not prepare something of an explanation for those like me who find difficulty in associating the oppression of living in a consumer culture with some of the pictures.

I think all the photos spoke to me on some level, but especially the photo of the guns in the cases and on the shelves and the photo of the spilled milk with the stacks of soda behind it - not only does this show how much we have to consume, but how little we care about what we consume and how we consume it. All we care about are the choices and options - like the Target cashiers photo. Something like milk is so vital in undeveloped and impoverished countries and here we don't even bother to clean it up or we're too concerned about the soda behind it to notice. The children in the photos are especially haunting as a statement of just how much we inundate them with our consumerist culture. The child in front of the walls of stuffed Disney animals, the little boy eyeing the army soldiers, the girl with the stuffed birds at what appears to be a jungle or rainforest themed store, brightly colored toys attracting her to the store. Our culture of consumerism really needs to change. I agree with SuSu's gramma - quality over quantity. The Walmart era has to end. Americans are losing jobs, but the people who have these outsourced jobs are losing their lives. I agree with John that a short synopsis of the photographs and the statements would have been a nice addition.

What I've found fascinating is that the people in these pictures all appear rather lifeless. Which is exactly the point - the pervasive undercurrent of consumerism and fundamentalism in the US today is terrifying in its consequences. Terrifying because it shows much of an entire culture asleep morally, spiritually and socially. We've been taught from a young age to recognize the Golden Arches, the Swoosh or the Curved Coke Bottle, and to purchase from these companies. Yuck. I look forward to the day when there is a violent uprising in the US. That day may not be far off in coming. Enjoy!

Perhaps? the consumers went to Church to pray instead of the suggestion to shop. Scares the hell out of me!

Hey!! How come no new cars??

Erh, that is like fishing eqiupment, what does that have do to with "a need" for consuming? it´s a hobby(?)

Surely these must have been made in the mother country..why yes I must have one and yet another one....

The Homeland Security threat is posted on the sign outside with a dollar sign in front of it.

"More" is NOT necessarily "better". Quality (indicating "value in exchange") should be of more concern to us Americans, than constant disposal of goods (or, the fact that goods are mfrd. to have a short life of service). Excessiveness is our insidious disease, and is promoted by those who profit by it; the cure is not "more" of any product. If only good sense and appreciation for necessities could be "marketed" ! I, for one, do not want to be defined as a "consumer." Advertising disturbs me and there are products I would not buy, just because of the obvious pandering to our AM BRAND of consumer stupidity.

What is consumerism in America today: Its the culture of mass industry. It is nice to do an expose on life. An insatiable life at that, but real in every aspect, and paid for as well. Do I believe there is no better way? Surely not. The pictures give me a sense of relation, not alienation, nor ill feeling. Don't try and make sense of modernity, on such a broad level, or any other for that matter. The question is how do we get comfortable in this new environment that is always in change, and more importantly how do we save it and ourselves from corruption, boredom, decay, and war? With the bounds on Capitalism we have today nothing can be done, almost…money talks, that is why despite criticism Hillary knows what she is doing. My suggestion: Wonder at modernity in the US, it's horrific beauty - that of freedom's cost - and choose a role. I have heard it said that we are at once the most loved feared hated and envied country in the world. Not only do I believe it but I would not want to be anywhere else. Most of the photos are everyday, some inspire comfort, some nothing, my favorite is the girl on her cell, the girl in the UK putting on shoes is expressing herself like people have since the beginning. What we spin the pictures as is only one layer of what exists, more depth is needed. The essay is shot to produce ??? - To what purpose? It’s a statement indeed but not a very smart impressive or smart one.

Yes but that is economics and gloablization - not all nad not all good - just not worked out yet.

Don't try to notice it. the pics are made to have poeple look like "pettles on a black wet bough" like "faces in the metro"

Is your sky blue?

That would have been better. I agree.

ugly

This is by far the strongest standalone yet. I have to say that I was extremely intrigued by the title...but the photos are pulling through! :(

This young Chinese girl is holding the world in her hand. She is pondering whether if one day, she too will become a doll, not knowing what will happen to her when consumerism destroys all that is good of the environment. Only to find that false sense of the current environmental movement which will not win through the hungry consumers in the background. This little girl represents knowledge and innocence in a dying world that consumerism has prepared for her, only to realize natures critters will finally lay rest next to mother nature.

I live this photo. It's a spare room in any number of schools I volunteer my time to fix computers. The upgrade madness has reached it's apex when children are getting new high powered computers able to process millions of instructions in the blink of an eye, but only running programs like Math Blaster or Reading Rabbit. But isn't that like soccer mommy getting a big SUV to drive around her only child? Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade.... must we? Could we actually use things till they quit working? And then, could we repair them for a little more extended use? Do I need Vista or OSX if the previous system is still working fine? We are doomed to drown in our own waste, whether physically or economically.

There is a strong inspiration behind this essay but I missing an equally strong process.

F CAPITALISM, its all about longevity and you cant get anywhere safely if you rush

Consumerism does have global impact from pollution to hotile takeovers of impoverished countries so that consumer providers can increase their personal profit by making wage slaves of starving citizens who have overpopulated their ability to support themselves on wasted and fallow land, under the exploitation of corrupt and self serving leaders and short sighted placeboes of their ignorant and fanatical religion. Who's going to voluntarily give up anything not readily affordable, no matter how shoddy, superfuluous or wasteful. No one. In fact we'll use plastic cards to buy the unneeded junk we have to have before we can pay for it and are willing to pay greedy financial institutions big bucks for the priveledge of doing so. That's what "progress" is, not going back to the days of washing on a board (or in a river) or riding a horse to work (or walking) or living in a shack (or a cave.) We humans just don't have the sense to know when to quit consuming or how to slow it down, except by impoverishing ourselves thru credit and we'd still be miserable anyway because we can see from the media all the people who have several homes, huge luxurious cars, and every toy or possession within imagination, which is what we all strive for and secretly believe we deserve. And we'd stomp the rest of the world in the ground to get it. That's why so many illegal immigrants flock here - they've seen and believe the hype that Americans are rich and live luxuriously even though most are like the mother of two who has a hard time keeping her car running which still beats a few years ago when she would have been working hard labor to feed her kids with no car at all unless maybe she was willing to put up with a brutal husband and Friday nite beatings. Moral of the story. No matter how much we have, we'll want more and capitalism is where it's at because it most closely resembles the innate nature of human beings, evil though it is. Personally I wouldn't want to live in abject poverty unless I could be sure that everyone else was living the same way and working together for improvement for all, which will never happen as humans also have an instinctive need to feel superior to their neighbors, friends, coworkers, peers and so on, and some will always be born smarter or meaner than others. As long as there are those filty rich who have it all, or most of it, then there'll be malcontents who want to take it away. It is survival of the fittest in action. Fittest does not mean the most deserving, it means the ones most willing, and smart enough to be able, to overtake whover or whatever is necessary to boost our own lifestyle. It's always been that way and why virtually 97% of the wealth is controlled by 1/2 of 1% and has been since the beginning of civilization. Ancient civilizations even figured out a way to take it with - or at least lock it up in burial tombs so no one else could have it. Too much choice causing stress and confusion? Don't worry the drug companies will come out with another pill to ease anxiety. No choice at all 'cause it's too hard to figure out how it works and even hold down a minimum wage job? Not to worry. The local drug dealer can get you a hit of crystal meth which will take you right out of the worry arena and you can bum the cost from the first passerby who looks a little fearful at your filth and obviously homeless condition. These are the thoughts the sad and depressing photos sent plummeting thru my brain, the utter uselessness of all that garbage and the hopelessness of lives spent in acquiring it. The reminder that humans may be the end result, so far, of evolution but it's not a pretty sight.

This photo essay just proves beyond any doubt that this is the best country to live in. Where else can you get all of the best stuff at the best prices ? Rob Immigrated to the US of A and proud to be a Citizen

fgagfdafd

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A comment to both those who point out that the rest of the world consumes, and those who claim this is inevitable human nature: Not only does the US have far greater (per capita) consumption, energy use, and waste production than the world average, we also have far greater of each of those than the rest of the developed, industrialized first world as well. In other words: no, everyone isn't like this. As to those who say that it's great the way it is, or that it makes people happy: Studies show that once you have basic economic security, more stuff in fact does not make people happier in life in the long run. Even if it did, our level (per capita) of consumption, energy use, and waste, is simply not sustainable. In other words, eventually we are going to run out. Unless you expect to die with in the next few decades, and don't have (or care about) children, everyone, even the upper class living large today, should be worried about this.

Now, settle down people! Consumerism can't all be bad because Mother Jones takes ads from (God forbid!) companies that make MONEY!! And Mother Jones makes money from those companies. And if those companies did not advertise with Mother Jones... well there would be no Mother Jones. So get off your high-horse. Now back to the photographs. I looked at this essay almost as 2 essays. One that was modern "landscapes" . For example, the spilled milk in a store, the escalators and sewing machines. And then the second essay of the "zombie" people gazing at the stuff they can buy (like human BRAINS). I prefer the non-zombie photos. The zombie ones were a little repetitive. I get it. We, as a society, are overwhelmed by all this stuff we can buy. That is bad, but how many zombie photos must I be subjected to. You need a photo editor. I would have wished to see more modern landscapes. They told me a lot more. Or at least they got me thinking a lot more about the photographs than the zombie ones did. The zombie ones were simple and direct and the landscapes were more complex and thought provoking.

It is sad, but my 1st thought when I viewed the picture of the "American Flag" outdoor chair display was, "I bet those chairs were Made in China". I hope I am wrong, but I wouldn't bet on it.

What is the big deal? I slave all week to be able to afford to pay my mortgage, eat and feed my son. Every since I was a child I enjoyed buying things. I enjoy TV, movies, video games, board games, decorating the Xmas tree, furniture, clothes, cars, etc. I can't help it if everything is made in China and sold at Wal-mart and Target. That's all I can afford to buy. If you don't like it, do something about it. I don't have the time, I'm trying to live life and raise a child. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the things in life that make me happy, even if its at the expense of children working in a sweatshop. What do you want everyone to do, live in a cave? Get real!

Oh hey, Necrons. Anyway, people shop here, it is what they do now. I'm sure that if they become poverty-stricken, that will change somewhat. The need to consume? Not a need, a want, a desire. People do it because they LIKE it. Perhaps they have only been taught to like it, though, but isn't that how it works with a lot of things? Nevertheless, the excess is still there, and it is mildly disquieting. So what do you intend to do about it? Justify it and accept it? Sit back and hope for bloody revolution and violent uprising(to halt rampant consumerism, that's a bit much, don't you think?)? Or maybe you'll try to make a difference in your community, or in your family, a place where one person -can- make a difference, and encourage others to do the same?

the shoppers all appear transfixed or zoned out. too many choices. when you get into any of the stores in the US the unbelievable amount of STUFF in front of you just numbs you. I always think of what someone from some remote island would think when they saw all the excess. It's ridiculous, sinful, excessive and wasteful.

I've seen several of these photos in Adbusters as well.

Dear Greedy I detect a hint of sarcasm in you're post, I bet you're not even a real neo-con!! But I will sift through you're lies and inform you to read the REPORT FROM IRON MOUNTAIN, it concludes(correctly) that without war, or at least the fear of war, our whole economy goea down the crapper! Is that what you want? Government Latte???

I believe the photo essay effectively captures our collective 'culture of stuff'. If you don't already feel a nagging, tugging sensation from your concience, then PLEASE see http://www.storyofstuff.com - this could be a game changer for you. We need to work together - really, really hard - to shake off the notion that stuff buys happiness. We need to convey the understanding that lasting, real happiness can only be achieved through achievement, relations, and experiences. Gods bless.

Neat pictures, but what's the point? None of these photos had any impact on me whatsoever.

'Report from Iron Mountain' was a fictional report published as nonfiction in order to stimulate thinking about war/peace and the economy. I admit that war spending does have economic benefits, at least for people such as Haliburton. Also, how do we get out of this consumption-centered lifestyle? If consumers suddenly stop buying, our economy will definitely suffer the consequences in the short run.

BEAST Box 'Em And Scan Them

These photos do little to capture the essense of American consumerism. I could have done better myself.

New Theory of Greed - http://www.g-r-e-e-d.com/GREED.htm

Paul Nisley's comments i can appreciate, consumerism is all around us. Joe's, on the other hand, I hope is sarcastic, otherwise it is an example of the uncaring consumers, for the future of their children's children's lives, 'as long as i get mine' attitude. I often believe that people are just scared, scared of the thought of having to change how they view things, that it is easier to proceed forward with purchasing the Big Flat Screen TV, when their current 42" TV works just fine. I am as much a consumer as anyone else, but recently I have tried to clean my life up, both phsically, cleaning the garage out, and mentally, choosing not to purchase more 'crap' that i don't REALLY need, and in the end doesn't neccessarily make me happier. As a former photographer (most of my shots are now, really bad, not well thought out 'i can delete them if i don't like them' lazy digital photographs) I miss the critiques of art/photographs i experienced in a college classroom setting. As i sifted through these photographs, i also was struck by how few of the photographs said anything to me, except the Computers, the flag encased collapsible chairs that i would bet were not made anywhere in America (almost should be against the law-i don't care if you burn them, if that's your way of expressing yourself, but maybe anything with an American Flag on it, should at least be made here), the spilled Milk was great, and the shot of the Target Cash register lines were good also. Anyway let's all shop a little less, trade a little more (love that Craig's List)and generally find a way to clean our lives up, and when possible help the people less fortunate than ourselves, even if it's just with a smile.

What would this country be without so much consumption, Mexico? Consuming excessively is gluttony. Anything in excess in sin. I haven't a clue how to change it except to begin with self. Poor folk and poor minded folk get what they can afford. When it isn't quality, then they have to get more and it becomes a cycle.

Great shot!!!

Funny, I just see people in the images that contain the human element. Perhaps I'm simply not anti-capitalist enough to find the irony in this, but I just see people who spend too much of their life at work and receive too little money to spend the gas to goto 3 different stores so they can pay more for the same goods that they could buy at a single location. This whole anti-bigbox movement seems to forget that people don't have an abundance of time and money. When I only need a few groceries, I go to the local grocery store. But when I need to do major shopping, I hop on over to Wal Mart. Does that make me evil? No, it makes me a person who values his own dollar and whatever time is left to me after I clock out of work. I'm sure if I had nothing better to do than sit around and tell people how to live their lives that I could find some humor in this essay. But after spending 10 hours at my job, 3 in class, and 4 more at home in cleaning and studying, I just see people shopping for what they want and need. In my town, we have two local grocery stores, a dollar store, and a Wal Mart. Wal Mart has more employees than the other 3 combined, and the business of the other three haven't lessened since Wal Mart's arrival, its just saved my neighbors from having to drive an extra 15 minutes to the next-nearest Wal Mart to get the things they need.

I understand.

If you're not moved by any of the pictures, you seriously need to take an art appreciation class. But it is by no means a simplistic, anti-consumer message. It's quite ambivalent. One thing you see in all of the people is an intense level of concentration regarding their prospective purchase. It is not a lifeless, blank stare as so many people seem to think... it is a focused effort to sort through the choices, to make the best choice. Ultimately, it is an effort to keep from getting screwed, because each one of the knows that the store and the marketers are trying to screw them out of their money. These are intelligent people simultaneously battling the system and buttressing the system. I would argue with anyone who blindly claims that staying home and reading a book would involve more brain cells. Consumerism is our mode of survival. It is our hunting, and without it we would go hunting outside rather than inside. We would hunt flesh rather than bargains. It is neither positive or negative. Any of these individuals may wish for greater or lesser income equality in the world. Any of them may be more or less spiritual than any of us.

Eh, I don't know. We as Americans have lost the "art" of bargaining. At least in a grand scale. That active participation and buying something for what it is "worth" at one point in time is true capitalism. We now stroll aisles and are inundated with choice albeit at a fixed price. We work jobs that cause us to purchase things to feel happy. Our careers, family, life should be what makes us happy not buying stuff. I agree with a couple of people here that only a few of the pictures truly represent the feeling of consumerism, others just fall flat.

This collection of photos on America's need to consume is a masterpiece of revelation re the hypnotized lifestyle we lead, spellbound by our own wealth and power. Like all disease, it is progressive and, sooner or later, will destroy what soul we have left. Wake up America, before its too late.

It is total madness to keep spending on non essentials as America has been. Thousands in this country are still hungry, without healthcare, homeless, jobless, and poorly educated! Our bridges, roads, train system are in dire shape! We still drive our cars/tricks as if there was FREE GASOLINE and CLEAN AIR everywhere!!!We comtinue to destroy our wild places, wildlife, and use our resources as if they were an endless supply of them.What are we teaching our children??? What will be left to leave them??? I try to buy local, organic, and American made when possible!

Aside from the housing industry mess, I have finally figured out what is is a major factor with the sagging US economy. It used to be that we make it and the world will buy and consume it all. Now they make it, and we buy and consume it all. And they are laughing all the way to the Bank! You figure out who has the power.

Is it any wonder that credit card debt is at an all time high and savings an all time low? The last picture milk spilled & just seems to say it all. We are so rich, we throw food on the floor to walk on; but are we when we have children in our country going to bed hungry?

y so dumb

who r u im bill is your name jim it better b !!!!!!!!! ? !

EAT THE FOOOD

Fly a black flag,grow your own food; don't let the TV tell you what to do. Don't buy their [deleted],Don't take their meds; soon more than just your brain will be dead, Don't support war, Sit in for peace, Dont listen to those who use a gun to preach, The world will change, do what you can,don't let them turn you into their type "human". Use a loud voice, Let them all know, Then wait patiently, until to hell they all go. Heed the wise words , Truth never fails,When evil kills itself, no one will wail!

KLDFJGLKJGLSKJGSLKDJGLKSDJGLSJGSL

Food, cloths, a sewing machine, a fishing rod, a red wing blackbird doll (I've the little chick-a-dee and its cry is very realistic) at a reasonable price... what is the problem here. The photographer has been working on this since 2001? Give me a a day and half and I'll come up with far more radical photos of mindless, irresponsible, decadent, and shocking consumerism. The guy is a hack and an idiot.

These photos don't seem to have anything to do with "Smart Fearless Journalism".

i need a cornation for the people that need africa photo i have much photo i need to surply to someone that needed so this is my number 07522264 thanks

america the bear eats child and then a whole flock of birds

All those photos touched me on many levels. I saw:
... Wondrous children dreaming of their future...
... Boys and men dreaming of wonders...
... Women wondering...
... And others just wandering...

I also saw an America that has allowed itself to become A WHOLE LOT LESS like what America used to be. The threat level of "THE HOMELAND" left blank, filled in with a subconscious fear of one or the other while enticing us to continue to "fill 'er up!"

I saw an American celebration now manufactured by another country only to be re-branded , packaged and sold back to the U.S. en mass.

I saw America reduced down to a Kiosk with shelves overfilled with EVERYTHING on sale. Even her dignity!

Nearly all of these photos seem sadly poetic. How detached and dependent we are on mass produced, expensive garbage. It is frightening how entertaining it is for so many. We have to start the message where the people are, right in the thick of consumerism, inject a catchy message to raise consciousness. I recommend storyofstuff.com for folks who have no conscience or awareness about consumerism. We need pop culture examples of people living a lifestyle of rejecting the mall, embracing thrift/consignment/recycling. We need to make this change in lifestyle cheap and accessible to the masses (not dependent on buying hybrid cars and houses). We need to make it uncool to shop unthinkingly about the rest of the planet.

Chimpeach!

The photographs are meant to encourage a dialogue about consumerism. Judging from the comments they do that well.
They are selections from a much larger project on the photographers' website:
http://www.notifbutwhen.com/NIBW/

My favorite is the industrial sewing machine that our levis or whatever get sewn on reading Mutilated on it. We are sick from the disease of WANT. All you've got to do is imagine you are someone living in Zimbabwe were it costs 5 million lira to buy a lb. of cornmeal, or a child somewhere else that can't buy food because bombs keep going off in her neighborhood. Then you will see what is in these photos, Decadence. Pre-Apocoliptic indeed.

hi

im thinking the same thing as a lot of other people who have posted comments. as a photographer i have to say that this photo essay doesnt really do anything for me. while a couple of images deal with consumerism, most are not focused on that idea.
as far as composition goes, i think that each photo is done rather well. most are rather dynamic and do succeed in some way at making the viewer think...unfortunately im not thinking about consumerism while looking at most.
to be perfectly honest, i doubt i wouldve used this while i was in college in my first photo classes.