The Commodity Self

I believe that we are the products of products, and the identities of everyone are controlled by the products we consume. Many of us constantly seek the latest items, from fashionable clothing to high-tech electronics. We want to reach that level of conformity that shows us to be trendy and well-off. In the process of seeking and obtaining these items, our personalities begin to change. Our thoughts and feelings about various topics begin to reshape themselves depending on the products we are exposing ourselves to. For example, a lot of people who are more economically healthy take things for granted and don't enjoy simple pleasures in life as much as those who aren't very economically stable. Companies constantly flash advertisements for products in our faces, using slogans that give us the impression we will receive more enjoyment in our lives if we buy their items. Many are easily sucked into this vacuum of consumerism, and they allow products to dictate the way they live. We are constantly forming groups that are centered on consumer products. Skater punks normally spend their money on skateboards and brands of shoes and clothing such as Vans or Birdhouse. Athletes prefer to spend their money on things such as exercise equipment and vitamin supplements. Many music enthusiasts buy instruments or music books, and so on. There is a small number of people who must develop consumer items in the first place, though. Those who work for companies that create the consumer products we associate ourselves with are the ones who control how our society is shaped over the decades. They create the products that influence our values and beliefs. It is true that people often distance themselves from some products that become exceptionally influential, and they strive not to allow themselves to be manipulated by them. However, our society is made up of so many types of products, and no one can avoid the influence of every single item.