Module
4th December 2007, 02:56
I'm currently making a start on my major works project for Society and Culture - the official topic proposal oral task in on Thursday - and I think I need some advice on it.
The topic I've chosen is "What direction does 'capitalism'/consumerism drive Australian youth culture?"
I have capitalism [slash] consumerism because it's mainly and immediately concerned with consumerism, but I would also like to explore why the capitalist system makes such development towards increased and intensified consumerism and materialism a 'necessary' (so to speak) occurance.
I will copy/paste some parts of my 'slideshow' (that are to accompany my speech), most specifically the "Culture Aspects of my PIP topic" slide.
Both [Hip-hop subculture and mod subculture] are both very aesthetically based. They both advertise expensive fashionable clothing mods in the form of tailor made suits, hip-hop in the form of label clothing and bling.
Here you can see a very clear example of both continuity as well as change in terms of the different cultures of different eras.
Whilst both use their clothing as a status symbol, they do it in different ways. The mod fashion includes tailor made suits [that/because they] are more expensive and of higher quality than other clothing. The hip hop culture does the same but it uses well known brands to achieve the same ends. Although there remains the same aim in both of these kinds of dress, the method of doing it has changed.
My hypothesis is that nowadays, wealth is more associated with brands and products a result of increased, or intensified materialism and consumerism. Its not just about what you do have, rather than what you can buy whereas I think that back in the mod era, it was more about what you do have rather than what you can buy. You had to care about quality that was more of a class symbol, but now it has turned into the fact that you can afford quality. Henceforth it is more about having brands that others recognise for the brands themselves than having a tailor made suits that people recognise as being of higher quality. Advertising has become so engrained in youth culture that you affiliate with brands just for themselves, for what those brands themselves represent.
The sub-topics of this PIP I feel as of yet are going to be:
Celebrities as role models for youths
Drugs and instant gratification
Capitalist production and distribution and how it effect the way that we interact with the world around us.
The decline of intellectuals.
Can you guys give me your thoughts on what I've written so far (In terms of the ideas, that is)? Anything I can add, anything you think I'm completely wrong on etc.
And also in terms of my "sub-topics" what things do you think I could go into in terms of what I have listed?
It might seem that the first quoted part seems a bit specific, but it is what I have written the most on, and I think it would give you a greater understanding of the kind of project this is... or summin.
Help and advice on this would be very much appreciated.
And if I've put this in the completely wrong forum, sorry. Move it at your will. :)
The topic I've chosen is "What direction does 'capitalism'/consumerism drive Australian youth culture?"
I have capitalism [slash] consumerism because it's mainly and immediately concerned with consumerism, but I would also like to explore why the capitalist system makes such development towards increased and intensified consumerism and materialism a 'necessary' (so to speak) occurance.
I will copy/paste some parts of my 'slideshow' (that are to accompany my speech), most specifically the "Culture Aspects of my PIP topic" slide.
Both [Hip-hop subculture and mod subculture] are both very aesthetically based. They both advertise expensive fashionable clothing mods in the form of tailor made suits, hip-hop in the form of label clothing and bling.
Here you can see a very clear example of both continuity as well as change in terms of the different cultures of different eras.
Whilst both use their clothing as a status symbol, they do it in different ways. The mod fashion includes tailor made suits [that/because they] are more expensive and of higher quality than other clothing. The hip hop culture does the same but it uses well known brands to achieve the same ends. Although there remains the same aim in both of these kinds of dress, the method of doing it has changed.
My hypothesis is that nowadays, wealth is more associated with brands and products a result of increased, or intensified materialism and consumerism. Its not just about what you do have, rather than what you can buy whereas I think that back in the mod era, it was more about what you do have rather than what you can buy. You had to care about quality that was more of a class symbol, but now it has turned into the fact that you can afford quality. Henceforth it is more about having brands that others recognise for the brands themselves than having a tailor made suits that people recognise as being of higher quality. Advertising has become so engrained in youth culture that you affiliate with brands just for themselves, for what those brands themselves represent.
The sub-topics of this PIP I feel as of yet are going to be:
Celebrities as role models for youths
Drugs and instant gratification
Capitalist production and distribution and how it effect the way that we interact with the world around us.
The decline of intellectuals.
Can you guys give me your thoughts on what I've written so far (In terms of the ideas, that is)? Anything I can add, anything you think I'm completely wrong on etc.
And also in terms of my "sub-topics" what things do you think I could go into in terms of what I have listed?
It might seem that the first quoted part seems a bit specific, but it is what I have written the most on, and I think it would give you a greater understanding of the kind of project this is... or summin.
Help and advice on this would be very much appreciated.
And if I've put this in the completely wrong forum, sorry. Move it at your will. :)