Ads Quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
“Historians differ on when the consumer culture came to dominate American culture. Some say it was in the twenties, when advertising became a major industry and the middle class bought radios to hear the ads and cars to get to the stores. ... But there is no question that the consumer culture had begun to crowd out all other cultural possibilities by the years following World War II.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Nickel and Dimed, 2001
Consumer culture grew after WWII, eclipsing other cultural forms as advertising and mass consumption expanded.
In simple terms: Post‑war America shifted to buying and advertising.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how consumerism shapes values and choices.
Themes
consumerism
media
post‑war America
culture
economics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- marketing strategies
- urban development
- family budgeting
- media consumption
- political campaigning
Key Concepts
capitalism
mass media
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- How does consumerism affect personal identity?
- What alternatives exist to dominant market culture?
A Different Perspective
It can overlook the persistence of alternative subcultures and resistance movements.
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