The Bigger the Better: How Gluttony Has Shaped the U.S.

Photo Cred: Tutorialspoint

Food, shelter, clothing. The basic necessities of life. Simple aspects of living that, especially in America, have been exaggerated to the fullest degree over time. Food is no longer just about nutrition or enjoyment. We focus on getting the biggest bang for our buck, even if it means paying for unnecessary portions that no one person should finish on their own and literally eating ourselves sick. Mansions are bought not as a purchase of protection, but of boasting. It is normal to brag about designer labels on our clothes and flash the headlights of fancy sports cars. And if someone hasn't achieved the economic abundance to buy these types of items, we expect and almost wait in anticipation for them to reach it. Although this mindset is not limited to the people of the United States, we definitely are the most recognized for it and even take pride in it. So when did we get so materialistic and why do we do it?

The 50s were a time of huge economic change for Americans. Post-war and post-depression era, the baby boomer generation was the first grow into a society of luxury over necessity. Credit was introduced as an opportunity to buy more in less time. Entertainment items like TVs became the norm in households and competition for the best set created the constant growth of the systems. The desire to have "the best" was a mentality that was ongoing into the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 21st century. The definition of what was "better" constantly grew and changed.
Photo Cred: Comcast Xfinity


The obsession with possessions in America may also have to do with our ongoing title of being among the top 11 'Superpower' countries.  Power is almost always associated with wealth and the more items one has the wealthier they seem.

The American Dream is a phenomenon that is sought to be achieved and understood by most Americans. Though material items are not stated outright to be the main focus of making it in the states, there seems to be an unspoken recognition that this is the case. The understanding is that the most successful country should have the most successful people. If our view of success is through over-bountiful food, large houses, and expensive clothes and toys, then it makes sense for these to be the goals and fruition of America. 

Comments

  1. Julie Quinn TACApril 7, 2018 at 7:16 AM

    Wow--you make the logical connection between gluttony and materialism here. I think a lot of people forget that. Sometimes I wonder if people just subconsciously become part of this materialistic "get it" economy? I see all the news reports about "Black Friday" shopping, for example, how people are willing to elbow or shove someone else aside to get a cheap(er) TV or video game. It's really shocking how "normal" this gluttony you speak of has become in America. I appreciate the fact that in paragraph 3 you do play the believing game here--you try to understand why this might be an American (perhaps also "Western") set of gluttonous behaviors. So I wonder now--what can one do as an American to "right the ship" back from materialism and toward community?

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  2. Ariana GuevaraApril 8, 2018 at 3:05 PM

    I really love the analogy you make here. America is truly known for super sizing many items that other countries find very shocking. The Depression era was a truly low point of America and many other countires as well financially. One can definitely see the major shift change in finance World War II brought after. Post-war and post-depression truly was a high point in America that you begin to see this gradual increase in the need for bigger and better items. Nowadays, ads and sales are seen everywhere, insisting people spend more. Because of this American Dream people in other countries see, many are tempted to come to America and most who do are indeed shocked by the amount of items people spend here. I know when I travelled to El Salvador a few years ago, I noticed how many items run fairly cheaply and there are not exaggerated and huge as America is. It made me realize why many see America as a big power because of the many items we have here.

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  3. UnknownApril 10, 2018 at 4:49 PM

    What I love most is that before I read your blog the picture led me to believe the topic would be about Americans over-consumption of food, and how there physical well-being has plummeted but no. After you mentioned that America began promoting the "American dream image" I theorized something. What if America used materials and the bountiful collectivity of them to sell the image of an economy rising higher than before to other nations? What if in the attempts to disguise just how panicked they were America flaunted possessions so other nations wouldn't be inspired to innovate? Theories such as those truly interest me and your writings seem to invoke deep thoughts onto its' readers. I am glad I read your post.

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