Consuming Passions: Reflection.

After reading the consuming passions essay I found it really interesting that consumerism was highlighted as not necessarily being a bad thing and that it should be embraced. This is because usually when the topic of consumerism is brought up an almost Marxist view is put on it. For example one of the most common things that is said about consumerism is how we are almost brainwashed into purchasing the things we don't necissarily need and that it is no longer down to us to choose what we buy or what we wear. I personally feel that although clever marketing techniques are in place to try and persuade us to buy the more up market and more expensive brands it would take quite a feeble mind to be completely oblivious to what they were purchasing. This is why I found it refreshing to hear a different take and opinion on consumerism. The exhibition itself was an incredible example of how the shops of today and big brands have influenced art and the key inspiration of artists over the past 50-60 years. This is shown even more in the last 20 years where advertisement has been made a huge part of certain artists work such as Andy Warhol, Andreas Gursky, Haim Stein Bach and Damien Hirst. One artists work which is particularly interesting is Andreas Gursky who's photographs are taken from such a high point it as almost as though he is trying to put forward God's view over the people bewildered by a new form of religious worship.

After reading the essay and seeing other artists work, it is clear to see that not everyone will share the same view about consumerism but it is a huge part of society and will influence all of us in one way or another. So whether we like it or not we're all consumer whores, we just need to embrace it.