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My research project establishes the idea that due to the full blown marketization of the media and culture shaping industries, ie tv, movies, radio, internet, newspapers, magazines, books, music there is an emerging epidemic of narcissism pervading our culture. Since the main social institutions are private corporations entrenched in debt, they use the strongest, fastest psychological techniques in order to promote consumerism as the only meaningful way to live. How do they do this, through the construction of the identity. Through shiny imagery, and continuous narration an identity is packaged and sold to consumers every minute, advertisers bombard one constantly. Through continuous conditioning and cognitive dissonance one soon begins to reinforce the packaged story themselves narrating the story continuously as their identity or self and establishing this identity through the purchase choices they make rather than the principles that they hold. The problematic nature of living this way is apparent in the constant conflict, conditioned behaviors, continuous need for stimulation or entertainment, numbness, lack of empathy and kindness that pervade our culture. My incessant efforts to bring attention to this is a bit nocuous, because I realize this is like crying fire in a theatre, it is something I have no solution for.
One specific aspect that culture has fallen short is providing citizens with a sense of community. The rampant, yet 'commodified' individualism sold to citizens through consumerist identity in coherence with the capatilistic principle of self interest, places a premium on obtaining and accumulating as much as one can regardless of what happens to others. This only solidifies the viewpoint of self and others as not self or it. The sense of community or people co existing through cooperation and tolerance dissipates under the pervading culture of the constructed 'commodified' self.
When I think of community I think of a place that is not work, not home, where the place or in this case focal point brings us all together and it becomes a location in which we can share different ideas yet create meaning by finding the unifying truths that underlie the surface of our stories or ideas or issues. Community is about establishing connection and that is what meaning is all about: transcending the self and forging relationships with other people.
My question is the last two weeks there has been an escalation in drama due to emerging atmosphere of competition, a lack of dialogue on differential beliefs concerning significant issues which promoted personal attacks... I am not implying some sort of totalitarian form of censorship where we all agree, It is the difference of opinions that really promote true dialogue which leads to understanding, increased awareness, and even creativity. It is my opinion that the communal identity suffers when personal attacks predominate the atmosphere, however, this opinion may not be the prevalent one.
I would like to know your guys's take on the whole situation.
One specific aspect that culture has fallen short is providing citizens with a sense of community. The rampant, yet 'commodified' individualism sold to citizens through consumerist identity in coherence with the capatilistic principle of self interest, places a premium on obtaining and accumulating as much as one can regardless of what happens to others. This only solidifies the viewpoint of self and others as not self or it. The sense of community or people co existing through cooperation and tolerance dissipates under the pervading culture of the constructed 'commodified' self.
When I think of community I think of a place that is not work, not home, where the place or in this case focal point brings us all together and it becomes a location in which we can share different ideas yet create meaning by finding the unifying truths that underlie the surface of our stories or ideas or issues. Community is about establishing connection and that is what meaning is all about: transcending the self and forging relationships with other people.
My question is the last two weeks there has been an escalation in drama due to emerging atmosphere of competition, a lack of dialogue on differential beliefs concerning significant issues which promoted personal attacks... I am not implying some sort of totalitarian form of censorship where we all agree, It is the difference of opinions that really promote true dialogue which leads to understanding, increased awareness, and even creativity. It is my opinion that the communal identity suffers when personal attacks predominate the atmosphere, however, this opinion may not be the prevalent one.
I would like to know your guys's take on the whole situation.
ariel, my shot was directed more towards clitoris wonder.
