消費(fèi)主義休閑消費(fèi)享樂(lè)性消費(fèi)

PAGE13福州大學(xué)本科生畢業(yè)論文PAGE18ChineseAbstract 2EnglishAbstract 31. Introduction 31.1TheConnotationofConsumerism 31.2PreviousResearchonConsumerism 41.3Consumerisminthe1920s 51.4FrancisScottFitzgerald'sAttitudeTowardsConsumption 52.ConsumerisminTheGreatGatsby 62.1BackdropofTheGreatGatsby 62.2EmobodimentofConsumerism 62.2.1LeisureConsumption 62.2.2Hedonism 72.3ConsumptionBehaviorsofDifferentCharactersinTheGreatGatsby 82.3.1Gatsby 82.3.2Daisy 92.3.3Tom 103.TheImpactofConsumerismonAmericainthe1920s 113.1ThePositiveImpactofConsumerismonAmericanEconomy 113.2ThenegativeImpactofConsumerismonAmericanEconomy 114.Conclusion 12References 12論《了不起的蓋茨比》中的消費(fèi)主義摘要二十世紀(jì)二十年代是消費(fèi)主義在美國(guó)盛行的時(shí)代，它表明美國(guó)在進(jìn)入經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展與繁榮的時(shí)代后，開(kāi)始從傳統(tǒng)社會(huì)進(jìn)入到以休閑消費(fèi)與享樂(lè)性消費(fèi)為主的社會(huì)。本文通過(guò)分析《了不起的蓋茨比》中的各種消費(fèi)現(xiàn)象，以及消費(fèi)主義對(duì)彼時(shí)美國(guó)社會(huì)的影響，希望對(duì)形成理性的消費(fèi)觀具有積極指導(dǎo)意義。關(guān)鍵詞：消費(fèi)主義；休閑消費(fèi)；享樂(lè)性消費(fèi)OnConsumerisminTheGreatGatsbyAbstractThe1920swasatimewhenconsumerismflourishedintheUnitedStates,implyingthattheUnitedStatesbegantomovefromatraditionalsocietytotheonedominatedbyleisureandhedonisticconsumptionsinceenteringaneraofeconomicdevelopmentandprosperity.ThispapertargetsonanalyzingthevariousconsumptionphenomenainTheGreatGatsbyandtheimpactofconsumerismonthethenAmericansociety,soastohelptoformarationalconsumptionconcept.Keywords:consumerism;leisureconsumption;hedonismIntroduction1.1TheConnotationofConsumerismInwesternsocieties,mostpeopleworkfordecentconsumptionforunfetteredmaterialcomfortsandentertainmentandforthepurposeandvalueoflife.Butitsprinciplesandmethodsarestillonlyasubdivisionofthegeneralconceptofconsumerism.Consumerismisanimportantpartofbourgeoismoralityinthewesttoday.Inthefieldofsocialscience,therearedifferentdefinitionsandinterpretationsofconsumerismduetotheknowledgetradition,suchasgreenconsumerism,consumerprotection,consumermovement,consumerrightsandinterests,etc.Generallyspeaking,consumerismisauniversalsocialmoralphenomenoninwesterndevelopedcountries.It’sthegeneraltermofrules,concepts,wishes,emotionsandcorrespondingbehaviorsthatguideandmanagepeople'sbehaviorsandrelationshipsinconsumption.MaxWeber(1958)pointedoutinProtestantEthicsandTheSpiritofCapitalismthatconsumerismconsumptionconceptistheproductofthedevelopmentofmoderncapitalistsocietytoacertainstage.TheinnerlogicofcapitalismnotonlyneedstobreaktheasceticethicalshacklesofPuritanism,butalsoneedstobreakthroughthemoderatelimitationofreason.Whatiturgentlyneedsisaconsumeristideology,thatis,theunrestrainedandirrationalpursuitofdesire,wealthandpleasureinethics,oreventhepurposeoflifeitself.Manysocialtextbooksfullyaffirmtheimportanceofconsumptionbehaviorfromthemacroperspective,andclaimthatconsumptionreplaceswhatwasonceregardedasthemostimportantworkas“thecoreoflife”.“Thisistheconsumptionconceptofconsumerisminthecapitalistera,whichgraduallybecamethemainstreamideologyofwesternsocietyinthe20thcentury”(Z.Bauma,1992:49).1.2PreviousResearchonConsumerismWesternandeasternscholarshavebeenstudyingconsumerismfromawiderangeofperspectives.Baudrillard(2006)believesthattheextremeproductionandresourceconsumptionoftheconsumersocietystimulatestheconsumptiondesireandthesocialfunctionandmeaningoflifeliesinthe“extravagantanduseless,unlimitedconsumptionfunction”.Bycontrast,ChinesescholarChenXin(2003)holdsinhisbookSalvationandConsumptionthatconsumerismisakindofvalueandlifestyle,whichincitespeople'sconsumptionpassionandstimulatespeople’spurchasedesire.Thatistosay,consumerismdoesnotonlysatisfythe“need”,butalsoliesinthecontinuouspursuitofthe“desire”whichisdifficulttobecompletelysatisfied.Consumerismrepresentsanemptystateofmeaningandanexpandingdesireandconsumingpassion.Besides,inordertosolvetheconflictbetweeninsufficientdomesticdemandandthesurplusofconsumergoodsinwesterndevelopedcountries,Keynesproposed“thecountermeasuresofstimulatingconsumptionanddomesticdemand”(趙津晶等,2009(31):6).Subsequently,thosecountriescorrespondinglylaunchedpubliccampaignsconveyingtheideathatconsumptionorenjoymentispatriotic.Enjoymentandindulgencereplacedfrugalityandabstinenceandbecametheethicalandmoralnorms,andconsumerismbecamethedominantideologyprevailinginthewest.(鄭紅娥,2006:5).1.3Consumerisminthe1920sThe1920swasabriefandspecialperiodinAmericanhistoryandwasconsideredtobe"turbulenttimes.TheUnitedStatesmadeafortuneinarmsduringWorldWarI,anditshugeprofitsledtoaperiodofrapideconomicgrowth,whichwascalledthe"NoisyNineteen-twenties".ThesuddenriseoftheautoindustryandtheentryofprocessedfoodandgarmentsintothehomebroughtunprecedentedcomforttothelivesofmanyAmericans,Whileboostingtherapiddevelopmentoftheeconomy,thenewindustrygraduallychangedthelivinghabitsandvaluesoftheAmericanpeople.Wealthbecomestheonlygoalthatpeoplepursue,andtheamountofwealthbecomesthestandardtojudgeaperson’ssuccessornot.

ThepursuitofwealthandtheenjoymentoflifebecamethevalueoftheAmericanpeopleatthattime.Thedevelopmentofproductionandeconomicprosperityalsograduallymadeconsumerismfashionable.Americanconsumerisminthe1920swasdiverse,mainlycharacterizedby“hedonism”and“l(fā)eisureconsumption”withthefeaturesofandmaterialanderoticpleasure(劉成富,全志鋼,2006:21).1.4FrancisScottFitzgerald’sAttitudeTowardsConsumptionAsapioneerofthe“JazzAge”,Fitzgeraldreveledintheexcitementandcrazinessofconsumerculture.Thecourseofhislifeinterpretshiswork,whichinturnprovidesthemostappropriatecommentaryonhisenigmaticlife.Inhisworks,FitzgeraldvividlydepictedthesociallandscapeandhumanideologyundertheinfluenceofAmericanconsumercultureintheearly20thcentury.Theprotagonistsinhisworksallbeartheimprintofmodernconsumerculture.Theysacrificetheirlivesforvariouscodesoftheupperclass.However,thisexchangeofunequalvalueisboundtoendintragedy.Atthesametime,itcanbeseenfromFitzgerald’sportrayalofthetragicimageoftheprotagonist,thedescriptionofinterpersonalindifferenceandextravagantandwastefulscenesinhisworks,Fitzgeraldholdsanegativeattitudetowardsconsumercultureinessence.Inhislife,Fitzgeraldexperiencedtheembarrassmentofeconomichardship,thegloryofovernightfame,theluxuryofspendingalotofmoney,thepeakandtroughofhiscreativecareerandthepainandstruggleofbeingforgotten,andhepersonallyexperiencedtheplayofmoneyonlife,loveandmarriage.Whenre-examiningFitzgerald’slife,itislikewatchingamoviethatopenswithacomfortable,romanticandluxuriouslifeunderarainbowofneonlights,andendswithnothing.Inhiseyes,"Americaisacruelsociety,bothforwinnersandlosers"(Thomas

Mann,1971:67).AfterhemovedtoAmerica,Fitzgeraldwaslostintheflashyconsumersociety,andhislifewasboundtobetragic.Fitzgeraldpredictedinechoesofthejazzagethat“whenwewereyoung,lifeseemedsoromanticandgood.Wemissitbecauseitwillbeinthepast,nevertoreturn”(F.

Scott

Fitzgerald,2009:22).ConsumerisminTheGreatGatsby2.1BackdropofTheGreatGatsbyAsabove-mentioned,the1920swasaspecialperiodinAmericanhistoryknownasthe“roaringyears”,referringtothedecadefrom1919to1929beforeAmericaneconomycollapsed.Severalfactorsconstitutedtheparticularityofthisera.Firstofall,theUnitedStateswasatthehistoricalcrossroad.ThevigorousdevelopmentofcapitalismenabledtheUnitedStatestomoverapidlyfromanagriculturalcivilizationtoanindustrializedmodernsociety.Atthesametime,theUnitedStates,whichenteredthewarattheendoftheFirstWorldWar,becameacreditorinsteadofadebtorbecauseitwasnotbadlyhitbythewar.Atthattime,thegovernmentmainlyimplementedthe“l(fā)aissez-faire”economicpolicy,thatis,thefreemarketshouldbeallowedtooperateinitsownway,andthelessthegovernmentintervenedineconomicactivities,themoreefficienttheeconomywouldbe.ThiscreatedthemiraculousCoolidgeageofprosperity.Asaresult,thedomesticeconomicsituationintheUnitedStateswasbooming,withtherapidexpansionoftransportation,miningandconstruction,andthesuddenriseofelectricalandautomobilemanufacturing.Automobiles,electricalequipment,householdmachinery,processedfoodandclothingbegantoenterthehome,bringingunprecedentedcomforttomanyAmericans.Realestateandstockmarketswereparticularlyactive,andsomespeculatorsbecamerichovernightinthesegamblingindustries.Whetherapersonwassuccessfulornotdependedonhowmuchwealthhepossessed.Peoplebegantomakemoneyblindly,tomake“fast”money,andtomakemoremoney.Atthesametime,Americanhedonism,Spencer’stheoryofevolutionandJames'pragmaticphilosophywereprevailingintheUnitedStates.Thetraditionalpuritanicalmoralconceptandreligiousbeliefadvocated“industryandfrugality”andotherideas,graduallyreplacedbythepursuitofpersonalwealth,materiallifeandotherconsumerhedonism.Inaword,allthoseelementsconstitutethebackdropofTheGreatGatsby.2.2EmobodimentofConsumerism2.2.1LeisureConsumptionLeisureconsumptionreferstotheconsumptionofleisureproducts(materialandspiritual)inleisuretime.Leisureconsumptionisanimportantsymboloftheimprovementofthequalityoflifeofthepeople,andalsoaveryostentatiousvalue,namelyadoublestatementofleisureandmoney.Leisureisafreeactivitythattakesplacebeyondone’sworkinghours.Whenleisureneedsaresatisfiedbytheconsumptionofcertainproducts,facilitiesandservices,leisureactivitiesbecome“l(fā)eisureconsumption.”TheleisureconsumptioninTheGreatGatsbyischaracterizedasfollows:first,excessiveindulgenceinthepursuitofmaterialthingsinordertoobtainmaterialgreatness,andpleasureintheprocess.Gatsby’smansionexemplifiesthisinexhaustiblequest:“BuilttolookexactlylikeatownhallinNormandy,withanewlybuilttoweroneitherside,withsparsebranchesofivyclimbingabove.”AlthoughGatsby'smansionisinexplicablyrestored,thesparseivyreflectsthechildishnessofahairy-headedyoungmanwhohasn'tdriedhisbreast.Second,thedeliberatepursuitofuniquenessandnoveltyinmaterialconsumption.DescribingDaisyas“crookedlywearingamauvetricornhat”and“tworowsofcopperbuttonsglisteninginthesun”.Fashionableclothingisbothamaterialattributeandaproductofthespirit,embodyinginnovation,openness,uniquenessandexcellence.Inabroadsense,“l(fā)eisureconsumption”includesfourlevels:first,itistosatisfyphysiologicalneeds.Secondly,itistosatisfytheconsumptionofhealthrecreation.Third,itistomeettheneedsofdevelopment.Fourth,itistomeetthespiritualneeds.Amongthem,thefirstlevelisconsumptionintheleisuretimeandisinaccordancewiththenatureofleisureconsumption.Forexample,enjoyingadinneratarestaurantbeyondthenormalmealtimewiththenormalcost,isleisureconsumptioninleisuretime.However,leisureconsumptionthatleisureeconomypaysattentiontoismainlyreflectedinthelastthreelevels.2.2.2HedonismHedonism"hastypicalcapitalistovertonesofluxury.Hedonismreferstotheideathatthepursuitofallkindsofstimulithatcanarouseone'ssensualpleasureisone'spurposeinlife.Ittreatstheenjoymentofpleasure(includingsensualpleasureandmaterialphysicalpleasure)astheonlypurposeoflife,whichisusedasacriterionforjudgingrightandwrong,goodandevil,beautyandugliness.Italsoconveysthemessagethattheenjoymentofpleasureisthefundamentaldesireandpursuitoflife,anditcanberealizedandpossessedbyanynecessarymeans.“Hedonism”advocatespleasurefirstandisoftenassociatedwithmoneyworship.Itignoresspiritualpursuits.Thenovelisfullofhedonismandamultitudeofsocialscenes:dinners,afternoontea,teaparties,dinnerparties,aimlessexcursions,anditshowsagroupofpeoplegivingintotheirpersonaldesires.Inthenovel,everyonetrieseverymeantosatisfytheirmultipledesires,andeventakesextremehedonismasthevaluegoaloflife,andrunsafterwealthunbridled,finallyleadingtopathologicalconsumptionpsychology.The“prohibition”oftheJazzAgeintheUnitedStatesisapowerfulsymbolofhedonism.Theanti-alcoholismintheUnitedStateshasalonghistory,whichcanbetracedbacktothecolonialperiod,becausealcoholismcancausegreatmentalandphysicaldamagetoindividuals,andthebehaviorofalcoholicsoftenharmssocietyduetotheirlackofself-control.Infact,allconsumptionactivitiesarerelatedtothedevelopmentofproductivityandmaterialabundance,andtheprosperityofeconomyandmaterialhaspromotedtheconsumptionethos.InTheGreatGatsby,Fitzgeraldvividlyrecordedtheconsumerismgeneratedunderthebackgroundof“indulgenceandrebellion”culture.Likeleisureconsumption,hedonismalsoincludesfourlevelsinabroadsense.First,“hedonism”referstosexualethics.It’sanideathatoriginatedinthewest.Webelievethatsensoryhappinessisthepurposeoflife,andthatsensoryhappinessalonecanmakepeoplehappyandsatisfied.Second,itreferstoanethicaltheory.Thepursuitofpleasureistheprincipleofaction.Thethirdisthetheoryofhappiness.Fourth,itisaviewoflifeoftheexploitingclass.Itisbelieved

thatthenaturalnatureofhumanbeingsistoseekpleasureandavoidsuffering,andtoseekprofitandavoidharm,sothepurposeandsignificanceoflifeliesinthepursuitofpersonalmaterialenjoyment,tomeettheneedsofphysiologicalinstinct,andtoachievephysicalhappiness.Pleasureandpainareregardedasthecriteriontojudgethevalueoflife.2.3ConsumptionBehaviorsofDifferentCharactersinTheGreatGatsby2.3.1GatsbyGatsbyistherepresentativeofthe“AmericanDream.”Hehasthemindtomakehimselfrich,andheisalienateintheprocessofpursuingthe“Americandream.”Tobespecific,Gatsby's“Americandream”beginswithhisloveforDaisy,andendswithhisloveforDaisy.Tothisend,heseekstoacquirewealth,whichmakeshimabrokerandleadstohisdisillusionmentwiththeAmericandream.Gradually,Gatsbybecomesarichmanwiththetasteofcopper,whograduallyexposeshishumanweaknessesinhisunrestrainedenjoymentandextravagance.Atthistime,jayGatsby'spursuitofthe“AmericanDream”evolvesintothepursuitofmaterialswhilehisrealidealdoesnotcometrue.Ofcourse,Gatsbyalsoinsistsonhisbelief,thatis,hisloveforDaisy,whichisthereasonforhisalienationandthereasonforhisdeath.Althoughheisnotperfect,comparedwiththosehypocriticalAmericanupperclasses,Gatsbyshowsadistinctivechivalrystyle.Gatsby'scrazeforpossessionandconsumptionofmaterialwealth,isnotonlytoshowoffhiswealthandstatusbutalsotoshowhisvanishedhopeandemptymind.Gatsbythinksthatmoneyisomnipotentandwantstowinthelostlovewithmoney.Heholdsaluxuriousbanquettoattractpeopletoattend,whichvividlydepictshisemptinessandboredom.ThevariousscenesatthebanquetareactuallytheepitomeofAmericansociety.Gatsby'sideaofbeinganAmericanrichmanisnothingmorethanlivingalifeofextravaganceandsquanderingvastmaterialwealth.Wheneverhehasachance,Gatsbywillshowoffhiswealth,suchashisflamboyant-styledandfancycar,andafeastpartyathisluxuriousvilla.Onlymasteringmoneyandrightsdoesnotbringsatisfaction.Moneyandrightsmustbetransformedintoconcreteobjectstoshowaperson'sachievements.It’seasyforpoorGatsbytolosehimselfwhenhe’srich,sohecanquicklyconsumehimself,andhecan'tquicklyenrichhimselfinashortperiodoftime.ItisthroughthisostentatiousconsumptionthatGatsbyshowshowawealthymanwhobuilthislifefromnothingcanbuydignityandpraisethroughhiswealth.Gatsby’spartiesarealwaysthesame,withafloodofguestspouringintotheluxurybuilding,mostofwhomareattractedtoGatsby’sfortuneanddreamofreachingouttotheownerofthemansion.Butheisn’tsatisfiedwiththeextravaganzahelavishes,andallthegueststhinkhehasfulfilledtheso-called“Americandream”,andtheycomeonlytomakethemselvespartofthe“Americandream”andtoprovethattheyarepartoftheupperclass.Theguestsdon’trealizethatalthoughGatsbylookssuccessfulinappearance,hefeelsadeepsenseofemptinessthatonlywinningbackDaisy’slovecanfillthevoid.Tothatend,Gatsbywillwraphimselfupinwealthasanothermanwithluxurymansions,flamboyantcostumes,carsyachts,andsocialites.GatsbyeverasksNick,“Myhouseisbeautiful,isn’tit?Lookatthesunonthewholefront.”Thisisactuallyaconsumeristvalueaimedatdemonstratingone’swealth,whichprevailsintheUnitedStatesinthe1920s,wherewealthyAmericansbegintoenjoyalifeofluxury,abandoningthehard-workingfrugalitytheyoncehad,andnooneinTheGreatGatsbyfocusesonhardworkafteracquiringit.Gatsby’ssourcesofwealtharedifferentfromthoseofthenewrichstratum,notfromhardworkorthefamilysuccession,butfromthesoftfoundationsofhislavisharchitecture,whichalsolaythefoundationforthedestructionofhis“AmericanDream”.Infact,notonlyGatsby,butanyonewhowantstorealizehisAmericandreamisdeeplyinfluencedbytheseconsumptionconceptsintheAmericansocietyatthattime:spendingmoneytoshowoffyourstatusandwealth;consumingbyhookorbycrooktogetwhatyouwant.Infact,theseconsumeristvaluesinthenovelalsocreatesomemajorcontradictions:firstly,thecontradictionofthewholesocialdevelopmentitselfrequiresspiritualandintellectualsupport,whilehedonismemphasizesonlythematerial,notthespiritual,whichmakespeoplelosetheirmotivationtodevelop.Secondly,conflictsbetweenindividualsrequirethejointeffortsandcooperationofothers,butthisisnotpossibletobeachieved.Finally,thereisaconflictbetweentheindividualandsociety.Fairplayisneededforthedevelopmentofeveryoneinsociety,butthisisnotpossibleinacorruptedsociety.Thesecontradictionsseriouslyhinderthesuccessofindividualsandeventheprogressofthesocietyasawhole.2.3.2DaisyDaisyisamaterialisticgirlwithangelicfeatures.Shecomesacrossascharmingandlovely,fullofpassionandromance.Butintruth,beneathherfieryardour,isamostselfish,empty,coldheart.Sheonlycaresaboutwhatsheshoulddointhenextfewhours,evenselfishtoherchildren.Daisyisalsoacapitalistlady.Sheiskeenonmoneyandpleasure,soshegivesuploveandchoosestomarrywithrichTomfromtheupperclass.ThroughDaisy’sbehaviors,theauthorshowshernegativeimageofsuperficialandfalsemoneyworship.BorninawealthyfamilyinthesouthernstateofKentucky,herfamily'swealthmakesherpursueromancefromanearlyage.SheisoneofthemostpopularstarsinKentuckywhowearsawhiteskirtanddrivesaluxurysportscar.FollowedbyhandsomeGatsbyallday,shestillabandonsherbecauseofhispoverty.AfterGatsbyleft,theyoungandrichTomappearsatatimewhensheisfeelingboredandempty.Then,Tomonlyusesthepearlnecklaceworth300,000yuantomakeDaisymarryhim.Fromthenon,shelivesanupper-classlife.Daisyisalsoapractitionerofhedonism,andhermoney-orientedvaluesareclearlyreflectedinherchoiceofloveandmarriage.Infact,sheabandonsGatsbyandmarriesTominordertopossessmoremoneyandsatisfyherdesireforconsumptionandpleasure.Fiveyearslater,however,whenthewealthyGatsbypullsoutapileofthickshirts,Daisy“makesadeepsoundandthrewherselfontheshirtandcries”(巫寧坤,唐建清,2002:72).ThesebehaviorsfullyexposeDaisy’sdoctrinethatmoneyisall.Daisy’spursuitofmoneyanddesireforconsumptionswallowsuplove,andthewealthshepursuescannotreallybringherhappiness.Daisy’smoney-orientedconsumptionleadstothelossofethicalspirit,whichisthespiritualreflectionofthe“noisyera”atthattime.Infact,inapatriarchalsociety,Daisyissympathetic.Sheandtheupper-classAmericanwomenalikeareinapatriarchalsocietywithnoindependenteconomicincome,andaredependentonmen.Inasense,Daisy’strade-offbetweenloveandmaterialthingsissomewhatforgivable.Hermaterialisticqueststemsfromsocialcircumstances,andsomeoftheirchoiceswillcertainlyangerthereader,buttheyarealsosadanddeplorable.2.3.3TomTomisasomewhatflawedmillionaire.Becauseheinheritsalucrativelegacywithoutanyobstacles,itsetshimapartfromGatsbywhobuildsitfromnothing.Tomisalsothepersonificationofamancorruptedbymoney.Heinheritsalucrativeinheritancethatmakeshimwasteful,whichdoomshimtohisfinaldemise.Whilehereditarywealthisattractive,heshouldunderstandthatwealthishard-wonandoneshouldliveinmoderation.Apparentlyforgettingthatwealthcomesfromsociety,heabandonshisroleasaproducerinordertosatisfyhisownhypocrisy,bravadoandbragging,willinglybecomingaslavetomoneyandultimatelydegeneratinginit.Tomisalsoanaturalleisureclass,devotinghistimeandagreatdealofmoneytomanyunnecessarythingsorrecreationalactivitiesatatimewhenmanypeoplearestillforcedtodomuchphysicalworktoearnaliving.WhenNickfirstmeetsTom,heisstandingonthefrontporchinhisridingsuit.FromNick'sdescriptionsandTom'sclothes,wecanseethatTomisamillionaire,andthathislifestylehasnothingtodowiththewealthhehascreatedthroughhardwork.Infact,helookslikealmostallEuropeanaristocratsofthetime.Hehasakeeninterestinriding.Leisureandexcessiveconsumptionarethemaincharacteristicsoftheleisureclass,ofwhichheisundoubtedlya"privileged"member.TomparticularlydespisesGatsby.HethinksGatsbyisa"thugdesperatelytryingtogetintotheupperclass"andcan'tstandDaisyandtheaffairsrelatedwithhim.Becauseofthis,Tomsaystohimduringtheshowdown,"whenIfirstmeetyou,Ihavethefeelingthatyouareaprivatewinedistributor,andIreallyisn'twrong"andthat"weareborndifferent,likemynoblebloodsystem,whichyoucan'tsteal,andyourso-calleddreamcan'tchangeanything".Thewordshurthimandtriggerhisanger.TheImpactofConsumerismonAmericainthe1920s3.1ThePositiveImpactofConsumerismonAmericanEconomyInthe1920s,theU.S.economyenteredaconsumersociety,anditgrewveryrapidlyoveraperiodoftime.Itwasalsobelievedthattheroadtohappinesswasdrivenbytheconsumersociety'squestformoreconsumergoods,whichbecamethemaindriverofsocialdevelopment.RisinglevelsofconsumptionandthegrowingscaleofmassconsumptionendowedtheUnitedStateswithanincreasinglydominantpositionintheworldeconomy,andtheworld'snumberoneindustrialpowergrewinstrength.Thisperiodofindustrialgrowthwasalsocharacterizedbythecontinuousexpansionofindustrialscale,whichwasunprecedentedinthe1920s.Bytheendofthe1920s,the200largestnon-financialenterprisescontrolledalmosthalfofthenation'swealth.Consumptionnotonlypromotedthedevelopmentofindustrialproductionbutalsothedevelopmentofretailtradeandstockmarket.Theterm“retailkingdom”appearedintheUnitedStatesduringthisperiod.Inthe10yearssincethebeginningoftheconsumersociety,theAmericaneconomyhasbeendevelopingrapidlyandtheunemploymentratehasremainedverylow.Atthattime,theAmericansocietywascalled“eternalprosperity.”Thereasonwhythepost-warAmericaneconomycouldquicklyenterthe“goldenage”ofcapitalistdevelopmentwasalsocloselyrelatedtothere-emergenceoftheconsumersociety.Thecontinuousexpansionofconsumptionpromotedthemassivematerialgrowthofconsumptionsociety,whichwasregardedasoneofthehighestachievementsofhumancivilization.Inaword,thehighconsumptionlifemodedominatedbytheconsumptionsocietygreatlypromotespeople’sdemandandmakespeoplestriveforhighermaterialconsumptioninlife.Theconsciousnessofhighconsumptionnotonlybecomestheconceptofpeople’sdailylife,butalsobringshugeprofitstothecapitalists.Consumerismdriveseconomicgrowth,promotetherapiddevelopmentofproductivity,andappealstopeopleinunderdevelopedcountrieswithitsvividcharacteristics.Today,whetherornottoentertheconsumersoci