People are cast in the underclass because they are seen as…
““People are cast in the underclass because they are seen as totally useless; as a nuisance pure and simple, something the rest of us could do nicely without. In a society of consumers - a world that evaluates anyone and anything by their commodity value - they are people with no market value; they are the uncommoditised men and women, and their failure to obtain the status of proper commodity coincides with (indeed, stems from) their failure to engage in a fully fledged consumer activity. They are failed consumers, walking symbols of the disasters awaiting fallen consumers, and of the ultimate destiny of anyone failing to acquit herself or himself in the consumer’s duties. All in all, they are the ‘end is nigh’ or the ‘memento mori’ sandwich men walking the streets to alert or frighten the bona fide consumers.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
In consumer-driven societies, those deemed useless are excluded, becoming symbols of failure to fulfill market roles, highlighting systemic devaluation.
In simple terms: Society marginalizes those without market value.
Key Takeaway
Address systemic exclusion.
Themes
social inequality
consumerism
alienation
Mood
critical
somber
Type
sociological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- welfare policy
- education reform
- community outreach
- employment programs
Key Concepts
sociology
critical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies value individuals beyond market worth?
- What alternatives to consumer identity exist?
A Different Perspective
Market solutions alone cannot restore dignity for the excluded.