Consumerism And Advertising Of The Time - 2169 Words

The 1920s were an economic boom, but a majority of the country could not enjoy the wealth and prosperity. Only a small percentage of the country enjoyed huge sums of wealth, and the majority of families, about 3/4s, were poor and lived in poverty (â€Å"Great Depression†). These statistics are surprising considering the growth of consumerism and advertising of the time. Even though most of the country did not share the wealth, they still engaged in the consumerism and culture of the time. Products started to be mass-produced and therefore more affordable. A culture of buying the latest and greatest products developed. Advertisements tempted people, promising that their product would give them the life they wanted. In order to keep up with the new products and devices, poorer families spent a majority of their incomes on unnecessary consumer goods (â€Å"1920s Vintage Ads†). For the rich, the culture of consumerism was not a problem as they had plenty of money to spare; however, for the poor this culture was damaging. Many people took out loans to pay for things such as cars and houses, and this was an economic problem that contributed to the depression (â€Å"Great Depression†). Even though most people’s lives were difficult in the 1920s, people were still hopeful. They believed in the country, themselves, the economy, and the idea that consumerism could improve your life. These ideas are shown in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which comments on the lives of the rich in theShow MoreRelatedHealthcare Consumerism And Health Care926 Words   |  4 PagesHealth care consumerism positions the consumer at the center of their own health care. Consumers are able to make informed health care decisions and be an essential element of the decision making process. 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