Sociological Ponderings

I’m currently reading Richard Sennett’s Culture of the New Capitalism (which has been terribly enlightening – for some reason it is as if I suddenly understand my experiences at my former employer. Talk about epiphany!) and today it has me thinking about consumption. What we have, why we have it, why we want it. Most of all – is our consumption of goods intended to make up for something that we perceive that we lack? For example the person that drives the big SUV for no apparent reason or always has to have the next big amazing thing. Why? Why do we perceive that we need these things? I’m wondering how much the consumption of goods is intended to supplement a sense of self. Since we lack a sense of definition in a more transient society, we are seeking definition of self through the purchase of goods. The idea being that we are defined by what we have and certain assumptions are made by others if they see that we have X, Y, or Z. We then become SOMEONE to the observer, never really stopping to consider that the person that is observing us is drawing conclusions that are solely on appearances, and thus anyone – given the money and time – could cultivate an image that is entirely false.

I’ve often thought along these lines, outside the concept of actual consumption but in a sociological sense as well as in a personal sense. What do people see when they see me and is the image carefully cultivated? Is it an adequate depiction of self, or does it fall flat? More than likely the latter. In an abstract sense, I seem to always relate it more to people that take things to the extreme – teenagers that succumb to a certain look in hopes of making a statement or fitting in, women who never fail to dress at the height of style even if it is way too young/old for them, men who drive expensive sports cars. What is everyone trying to say? What does this say about them? I think it is directly correlated to identity more so than the actual enjoyment of the thing. There is no doubt that many people glean genuine enjoyment from some of these things – I love to drive, thus I get a great deal of pleasure out of a good car. Perhaps the same can be said for the man that drives the fancy sports car, but are we the rule or the exception?