Giroux Article

- Having attended Milwaukee Public Schools all my life I remember when the corporate world latched onto the schools bringing in brand name vending machines, athletic gear, and contributions to the theater program at my H.S. I also remember during my H.S. career that the classroom curriculum was the last area that received donations. I will venture off and say that I believe that privatization for public education is necessary in the right areas, however those areas in the classroom are the last to be touched because everyone's extra curricular activities outshine the classroom achievements. So, if public schools are ever going to "compete" with private schools than those looking at the problem need to shift their thought process. In a new documentary, "Waiting for Superman" the Washington DC public school system is being criticized for everything this article talks about, but blames the teachers union for their lack of leadership and responsibility. If children don't have the haven of knowledge and security within their schools, than why aren't we as a society taking more of an abrupt stance and standing up for our futures education?
Here's a trailer link for anyone interested in the documentary:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTfaro96dg

- Giroux states on page 89 that students represent an individual consumer while teachers are represented as the ultimate salespeople. When exactly did one's education reach the level of a commodity that can be traded or lost to the corporate picture? If we continue to displace students and bring forth individual consumers what happens to the individual wants and goals of that student? How far will their corporate education take them? Why aren't we as a society living up to the expectations of the future to change or re-write thier paths?

Giroux reading for 10/5/10

1. I remember when I transferred to a public high school at the start of my junior year, I noticed all of the advertisements in the hallways. There were Pepsi machines, 'Got Milk' posters, and Gatorade logos everywhere. How far do you think commercialization in schools will go? Do you think it's conceivable that there could be monitors in hallways with actual commercials on them? I mean society is to the point where you're forced to watch a commercial before you can view a video on Youtube.

2. Do you think public education has been "dumbed down"? I attended a private high school for three and a half years and a public school for just a semester and I couldnt believe how much of a difference there was in the curriculum and academic standards.

Schor Article

As the era of TV became prominent people began spending less and less time with their neighbors and friends, and more time on the couch in front of the tv, which they became exposed more heavily to advertisements and the knowledge of what others had. So in a middle class family, if they are watching tv and seeing how the upperclass lives and what desires they have fulfilled, then if a lower class or more peverty stricken family who owns a tv is watching those same commercials and viewing the same ways of life, are they thinking the same thing?

Because if the middle class family is watching tv, sees an ad, and realizes they cannot afford it, but then they go out and put it on a credit card, how does the lower class family react to that same commercial, who maybe doesnt have a good enough credit standing to obtain a credit card, and they know they cannot afford the items being displayed, does the ad affect them the same way?

Schor Article

I enjoyed Schor's argument on the need for society to focus on the Quality of life rather than the quantity of stuff. People do care far too much about what they can buy rather than what they can do with their time. I also agree with the fact that as time has progressed, the less amount of time spent doing alternative things with family, friends, etc., has also led to an increased amount of television viewing, subsequently leading to an increase in consumerism. Despite these facts, does Schor's proposal to divert society's focus from working and spending to quality time seem feasible? I'm curious to know how we as a society would get there, or at least to a happy medium.

Schor noted in the article that there exists a long conservative complaint that "Americans just don't realize how good they have it, that they have become overly entitled and spoiled." Do you believe this to be true or do you believe there are many different psychological reasonings for consumerism? Do you agree that simply reducing our expectations will help cure consumerism?

Schor Article

After reading the economic model in this article, and the part that said that consumers were not impulsive, it made me think of the Youtube "haul" community and how I believe that almost all of that shopping is impulsive. There is a whole community that makes videos of "hauls," basically a bunch of clothes/makeup/anything they buy, and then shows it all in a video for people to watch. I think this huge phenomenon is just another example of how consumer obsessed many of us are, and how a younger generation is starting out this way. Shopping is extremely social for them, they buy what they think will look "cool" to show to others. Making the "haul" videos seems like a way of fitting in to a lifestyle, even if the person isn't wealthy like others who make videos. I think many people watch to live vicariously through them, which is what reality shows like the Real Housewives also do.

I also have to agree with Ashley in that I don't understand how many people think that credit cards are free money. I'll be the first one to say that I am horrible at saving money and I blow through my paycheck every week. I don't have a credit card, but my friend who does has tons of school loans and 3 different credit cards with very high balances. I just wonder what is going to happen to her, and other people with insane balances? When will people learn?

Schor Article

- Since money is apparently the root of all evil, will we ever be able to sustain a lifestyle that we are truly happy with and intent on living? Or will we have this continuous struggle within ourselves to maintain the deluxe apartment in the sky notion that we all desire?

- With advertising at every glance we take, is it possible that we really can decipher between brand preference and individually choose what we want? I mean consumers stand behind certain products for numerous reasons, so it is out of the realm of possibility to say that consumers can differentiate between the those things they spend their green on?

Schor article

I like Schor's argument about those who can't afford day to day necessities because they spend so much on wants. For example, I lived by a very large apartment complex my whole life that was really crappy yet the people living there had better cars than my family and we had a house. I'd also see satellite dishes hanging out of their windows, if they just thought about what they were spending their money on maybe they'd not live in poor housing, I never understood that. Schor uses the line "luxury rather than comfort" which fits with what Im saying.

The idea of noninterference stuck out to me. The idea that we are able to buy whatever we want without any judgment from others I think is not the case. Family is what is most important to people and they often cast the harshest judgement. For example, my girlfriend just bought a new laptop and when her very opinionated brothers asked what kind, she told them nothing because they would criticize her choice. And if I buy anything over twenty dollars my girlfriend yells at me, so I think the idea that our consumer culture is one of noninterference is not the case, in fact I think it's the opposite.