"SUCCESS is the new FAILURE"
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- jeneraa
quoth Anarchitect.
And I would like to agree in the sense that success and the inflated, affluenzic desires that come with it, ultimately lead to failure.
For any of you that give thought to unBranding, the idea of a monoculture / globalization, or might have read/seen/experienced the following:
1) Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic
2) Branded: The Buying & Selling of Teenagers
3) Fast Food Nation
4) No Logo
5) Super Size Me...or simply have something to say about consumer culture and the effects it has on us (and / or our psyche) in truly making success the new failure...
What are your thoughts? Do you agree that success indeed is the new failure or leads to it?
AND: If you're in and about the Los Angeles regions and enjoy this sort of discussion, please, participate & let me know you're from here via broadcast...I'm not sure if I want to update my NT e-mail just yet.
- tomkat0
errr..
what?
- johndiggity0
someone posted an article in the past couple days about all that adbusters/fightclub/american beauty/nologo myth of culture or counter culture. wish i remember the thread title. it was an interesting read. but people like to be able to buy into something. (see religion)
- lowimpakt0
"What does it mean when a whole culture dreams the same dream?"
- jeneraa0
Come on, use that noggin' for something OTHER than design.
And, another book to add to the list (join please if you've read it):
Rich Dad, Poor Dad -- any part of the series (it seems repetitive)
- nice-land0
just got a copy of DOS LOGOS, excellent read!
gift from my wife, that sweet thing
- lowimpakt0
this is so about design
- johndiggity0
is that the los logos sequel? i didn't know that was out yet. (adds to xmas list)
- tomkat0
I agree with everyone right now.
vote me.
- nice-land0
yep, the sequel, get it...
back to whatever this thread is about ; P
- jeneraa0
BTW, the response was to tomkat, not y'all who are responding with more than a 'huh'?
And yes, people do like buying into things. If anything, it's inescapable. Who, seriously has the time, or the ability to make all their own gizmos and necessities living in modern society? No one.
As much as I enjoy reading about (anti)globalism and learning about how branding and the marketing culture f*cks with our brains to make us want a variety of unattainable things, I find that the arguments against it lack reference to the actual need we have for the businesses and industries that exist today.
If anything, I started this discussion to see what you bunch, the fuelers and creative minds behind this industry, might have to say about the whole movement against the "affluenza epidemic." But perhaps you all think its simply a crapload of rubbish. Or do you think there ARE many missing facets to the argument?
Affluenza, defined:
1) a painful, contagious, virally transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.
2) the dysfunctional relationship
with money / wealth, or the pursuit of it. A back up in the flow of money resulting in a polarization of the classes
and a loss of economic and emotional balance.
- johndiggity0
you are doing the same thing, except you have chosen to buy into the idea of the anti corp/globalism/whatever here. it's no different than buying diesel jeans. you are associating yourself with a certain set of ideas that are defined through a label or brand. people want to be a part of something larger.
- winter0
Come on, use that noggin' for something OTHER than design.
(...)
jeneraa
(nov 19 04, 15:53)
-------------------------why? design is but the reflex of a medium run society that incorporates images randomly and (sorry to break this unto you) not the centre of any new philosophy.
please don't run on any "design is life" agenda... it isn't.
- jeneraa0
Agreed. That's the hypocracy that will always exist in that movement, especially IF you buy products that proclaim your efforts against globalism and the monoculture. That issue comes up in Adbusters quite often since it's not exactly free press.
- winter0
jeneraa... i really like your words. YOU THINK!
- tomkat0
like yoda said:
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."
don't forget that ; )
- jeneraa0
Design is life? Hmmmm...
Winter, I like your response. But I would like to understand what you mean by a "medium run" society and the fact that design is (or images are) not the center of any new philosophy.
I just want to be sure I grasp your meaning accurately--especially if it's along the lines of "there is no conspiracy." ;^)
- johndiggity0
the only conspiracy is the one created by those who need to find one.
- lowimpakt0
im not sure what your question is and i think starting out as anti-something is counter productive.
you did mention emotion - i had a converstaion with a designer friend of mine the other day. She was discussing her intentions as a furniture designer and her ultimate goal was to make people happy, simple as that. She saw designer and the creator of sadness - I put her onto the idea of constant reflow of wants and an instilled sense of dissatisfaction to set those wants in action. I see design as a facilitator as opposed to creator as design is just one function of the economy.
the role of marketing is equally important as the "mental-pirate". Take nike for example, they have to spend such a huge amount of their money advertising to people in order to convince them to return to them and purchase a similar product to the one they bought a year ago that ended up falling apart. people keep coming back to be let down.
- lowimpakt0
that post doesn't make total sense but i have been working late :)
- tomkat0
yea - I'm off to bed now also.. sorry for nonsense