This presentation discusses the power of consumerism. It begins by defining consumerism as giving high attention to acquiring goods and services. Consumerism became popular in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution and remains influential today. Consumerism changed the world by creating a capitalist system where people can obtain almost anything with money. Advertising was a major driver of consumerism and brand recognition. While consumerism provides choice and benefits businesses, it also leads to wasteful spending and "brainwashes" people. The presentation examines movies like American Psycho and Fight Club that critique consumerism. It concludes that consumerism should be avoided when it leads to negative effects but notes people's freedom to consume as they choose.

1. THE POWER OF
CONSUMERISM
PRESENTATION DONE BY:
DINIS MORAIS 12ºB Nº15
THE POWER OF
CONSUMERISM

2. INTRODUCTION
• THE CONSUMERISM IS THE SITUATION WHERE MUCH ATTENTION IS GIVEN WHEN
IT COMES TO THE ACQUISITION OF GOODS OR SERVICES IN HIGH AMMOUNTS.
• THIS TERM STARTED TO GET POPULAR IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THE CENTURY OF
THE “INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION”, AND TODAY, IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THE
CONSUMERISM IS STILL ALIVE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROVE ITS
EXISTENCE IS THE IMPORTANCE THAT PEOPLE GIVE TO BIG COMPANIES LIKE
NIKE, GUCCI, MCDONALDS, COCA-COLA, APPLE…
(What is consumerism?)

3. HOW CONSUMERISM
CHANGED OUR WORLD
• WE ALL LIVE IN A CAPITALIST WORLD, WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN HAVE
ALMOST ANYTHING WE WANT IF WE HAVE ENOUGH CAPITAL(MONEY) FOR IT.
• ONE OF THE MAIN RESPONSIBLES FOR THIS “CHANGE IN OUR WORLD” WAS
ADVERTISEMENT. IF IT WASN’T ADVERTISEMENT, MANY COMPANIES WOULDN’T
SELL THAT MUCH PRODUCTS/SERVICES AND WOULDN’T BE THAT RECOGNISED
AS THEY ARE TODAY.
• BUT, ALTHOUGH EVERYTHING, CONSUMERISM CHANGED OUR WORLD SO MUCH
THAT MANY PEOPLE DON’T SEE THE THINGS THE SAME WAY. PEOPLE NOW ARE
ADDICTED TO WASTE MONEY IN THINGS THEY DON’T NEED, BELIEVE IN
MARKETING PLAYS AND THINK THAT THINGS START GET WORTHLESS WHEN
THEY START USING IT TOO MANY TIMES.

4. ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Gives to the consumer a
tremendous amount of choice
in the marketplace
The constant waste of money
in things we don’t actually
need
It is good for big business
because it allows for a brand
differentiation
Brainwashes people’s mind
(people see the things in a very
specfic way)
It works well for capitalists,
economists and corporations
Makes poor people feel even
worse because they can’t fit in
those stereotypes

5. HOW POWERFUL IS
CONSUMERISM?
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Gives to the consumer a
tremendous amount of choice
in the marketplace
The constant waste of money
in things we don’t actually
need
It is good for big business
because it allows for a brand
differentiation
Brainwashes people’s mind
(people see the things in a very
specfic way)
It works well for capitalists,
economists and corporations
Makes poor people feel even
worse because they can’t fit in
those stereotypes
(PIB)

6. American Psycho (2000) Fight Club (1999)
REFERENCES TO
CONSUMERISM• HERE ARE SOME MOVIES THAT MAKE REFERENCES TO CONSUMERISM:
American Psycho (2000) Fight Club (1999)
In this movie, we can
notice the way how he
looks at the things and
seeks perfection on the
things he stares at, even
if it is the smaller things.
The reason why this is a
reference to consumism
is because consumerists
are seeking even more
the perfection of the
things they possess.
REFERENCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1nSwpxRuJo and
“The things you own end
up owning you”, this is a
quote from the movie
Fight Club and it means
that many people end up
consuming so much that
what they consume
starts to “own” them and
then these people start
to lose their control of
the things they are
purchasing, which
basically aren’t things
they really need.

7. VIDEO
• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=IFLMQAPPIPG

8. CONCLUSION
• TO CONCLUDE THIS PRESENTATION, I’D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
CONSUMERISM IS IMPORTANT IN MANY ASPECTS, BUT IT SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN
OTHERS.
• PEOPLE NOWADAYS ARE TOTALLY FREE TO CONSUME WHATEVER THEY WANT,
BUT, IN MY POINT OF VIEW, WE SHOULD BE MORE CONSCIOUS ABOUT OUR
ACTIONS, BECAUSE ONE SIMPLE THING CAN HELP TO CHANGE THE WORLD TO A
DIFFERENT PLACE.

9. NOW YOU…
DO YOU THINK THAT
WE REALLY NEED
CONSUMERISM IN OUR
SOCIETY?