Debt Heads CON-sumerism
May 28, 2025
Susan Strasser, a historian specializing in consumer culture, dives deep into the origins of our shopping habits. She reveals how the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a shift from craftsmanship to mass branding, shaping modern consumerism. The discussion covers the emotional ties we have with shopping, the powerful impact of advertising, and the hidden environmental costs of disposable goods. Strasser argues that shopping can unlock creativity, while hosts reflect on their own experiences at TJ Maxx, highlighting both community connections and the pitfalls of impulse buying.
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Mall As Family Theater
- Jamie describes weekend mall trips with her Nana as the backdrop of childhood memories and family bonding.
- The mall served as neutral territory that allowed three generations of women to spend time together despite tensions.
TJ Maxx Field Observations
- Jamie, Rachel, Carol and Sam visit TJ Maxx and observe distinct shopping styles and social rituals among friends.
- The trip shows shopping as a collective pastime blending hunting, grazing, and mutual vetting of finds.
Consumer Culture Is Historically Recent
- Susan Strasser explains that mass consumption arose between 1880 and 1920 as people shifted from making to buying goods.
- That era created new attachments to branded, packaged products and seeded modern retail culture.
