The hottest Consumerism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Beauty Is Stone Cold in the Arts, but Hot as a Consumer Product

The Honest Broker • 17288 implied HN points • 01 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Aesthetics Consumerism Art Beauty Philosophy
  1. Beauty is now seen as something you can buy, rather than something deeper found in art and nature. People care more about products than artistic expression when it comes to beauty.
  2. Artists often dismiss beauty, thinking it’s just about being pretty or sentimental. They struggle to connect with the real power of beauty, which should evoke strong feelings in the audience.
  3. Despite all this, people still crave beauty and are willing to spend a lot of money on it, showing that there is a strong desire for authentic beauty in our lives.

American Bulk

Culture Study • 5514 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Consumerism Body Image Family Dynamics Mental health Identity
  1. Bulk shopping reflects a deep cultural connection to abundance in America. It's not just about getting what you need; it's tied to feelings of security and desire.
  2. Family dynamics and personal histories impact our relationship with stuff. Experiences with parents and grandparents can shape how we view consuming and accumulating items.
  3. There are complexities in how we handle issues of body image and weight. Personal acceptance is often mixed with societal pressures, and it's okay to feel conflicting emotions about it.

Body Horror on Super Bowl Sunday

Off-Topic • 419 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Advertising Media Consumerism Sports Social Commentary
  1. The Super Bowl is like a national holiday, with many people feeling they have to watch it, even if they're not big football fans. It's a time for friends and food, making it a fun ritual.
  2. This year's commercials took a strange turn, featuring creepy or gross body-related humor. Many ads seemed to focus on bizarre and unsettling visuals rather than traditional advertising themes.
  3. Some ads poked fun at the absurdity of the Super Bowl experience itself by including dark humor or shocking moments, possibly hinting that we should lighten up about this wild tradition.

Death Of The Cool Girl

Total Rec • 16815 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Fashion Personal style Self-Acceptance Identity Consumerism
  1. Focus on being comfortable and authentic rather than constantly seeking external validation through appearance or coolness.
  2. Realize that societal norms and material possessions do not equate to true confidence and identity. Embrace authenticity and self-acceptance.
  3. Challenge the conventional idea of a 'cool girl' and seek inspiration from diverse representations beyond traditional standards of attractiveness or wealth.
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A Brief Theory of the Modern Gift Guide

Culture Study • 3013 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Consumerism Gift Guides Media Studies Curation
  1. Gift guides are super helpful because they show shoppers what's available. They help people find gifts without feeling lost in endless options.
  2. Many gift guides now rely on affiliate links for income. This helps publications stay afloat while still recommending products they think are great.
  3. People enjoy the personal touch of tailored gift suggestions. It's nice to feel like someone understands your tastes and can help you pick the perfect gift.

In Touch With The Inner Adult

The Fry Corner • 13848 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia Childhood Media Fashion Consumerism
  1. People today can be very sensitive about their choices and how others comment on them. It's important to express observations without appearing critical.
  2. There has been a major shift in the way people interact with childhood memories and experiences. Many adults are embracing what were once seen as childish interests.
  3. Maturity and adulthood seem to have less appeal for some people now. Many are choosing to hold onto their youthful pleasures instead of fully embracing the traditional responsibilities of adulthood.

Is It *Actually Fun* To Want This Much?

Total Rec • 6889 implied HN points • 20 Apr 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Desire Consumerism Materialism Fashion Industry
  1. Questioning the enjoyment of constantly wanting things, like the thrill of it may not always be worth it.
  2. Recognizing the difference between genuine needs and mere wants is essential to finding balance and contentment.
  3. Being mindful of how desire affects us, understanding when it brings agitation or peace, helps in deciding what truly matters.

Can we already grasp the rough outlines of these coming forms, capable of threatening the joys of marketing?

Internal exile • 78 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Consumerism Marketing Automation Society
  1. AI agents are being marketed as helpers that take care of tasks for us, but they might actually make our lives more complicated and alienate us from real experiences.
  2. The way AI is being portrayed in ads can show a future where human agency is diminished, with technology making decisions for us instead of us making our own choices.
  3. Convenience can lead to a loss of personal will and the ability to make decisions, making it seem easier to let machines dictate our lives rather than engage with them ourselves.

Weekly Bric-a-Brac

Disaffected Newsletter • 979 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🎭️ Culture Media Society Entertainment Identity Consumerism
  1. People should be honest about their feelings, even if they don't always align. It's okay if someone doesn't agree with you; what matters is being real and understanding.
  2. Narcissism, rather than gender, is a key factor when judging hurtful behavior. Both men and women can act badly, and it's important to see that it's not just about being a man or a woman.
  3. Getting good value for your money is important. Nowadays, store brands often offer just as good quality as name brands, so it's smart to shop wisely.

Their emotions are a carefully constructed facade

Internal exile • 42 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Media Identity Technology Consumerism Surveillance
  1. People often create a facade of emotions to hide their true feelings. This can lead to a disconnect between how they present themselves and how they really are.
  2. Submitting images online can reveal a lot about personal information without one even realizing it. Companies use these images to draw conclusions about us that might not be accurate.
  3. Scrolling through social media can make people feel outraged or fearful, but it often prevents them from taking real action. This cycle of reaction without action can be discouraging and unproductive.

Paid content: Stuff that isn't useless

Wood From Eden • 384 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Lifestyle Gifts Consumerism Trends Sustainability
  1. The post suggests a list of useful material things to own. These items have been tested and proved their worth over time.
  2. It focuses on practical gifts to consider before the holiday season. The idea is to avoid useless items and choose things that bring real value.
  3. The content is meant for paid subscribers, indicating it's exclusive and curated for those willing to invest in quality information.

Power, Speed and Centralisation

The Commonplace • 824 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Modernity Consumerism Power Technology Society
  1. We live in a fast-paced world where everything moves quickly, but it often leaves us feeling stressed and unfulfilled. Speed can make us feel busy without achieving true progress.
  2. The relentless push for speed and efficiency leads to a centralization of power and control. As technology advances, those who control the speed of communication gain more influence over our lives.
  3. Sometimes, it’s important to just stop and reflect. Taking a moment to slow down allows us to think critically about what we really want and question who benefits from our constant rush.

Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of their pransings

Internal exile • 36 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Consumerism Reviews Marketing Digital Media Social relations
  1. Many online reviews aren't truly honest; they might be fake or written with hidden goals. Instead of helping customers, they're often just a part of a site's marketing.
  2. People often trust online reviews more than personal recommendations from friends and family. This reliance shows how important these reviews have become in shopping decisions.
  3. Consumers want to believe in the value of products based solely on use, distancing themselves from social influences. This belief causes them to accept fake reviews as real if they fit their hopes.

#197: What is "personal style"?

Maybe Baby • 1058 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Personal style Fashion Trends Consumerism Self-confidence
  1. Building personal style takes time and patience. It's important to focus on what makes you feel good rather than chasing trends.
  2. Shopping from a place of calm and self-acceptance leads to better choices. It's better to invest in high-quality pieces that you truly love.
  3. Finding your style is more about knowing yourself than fitting into a mold. Enjoy the journey of discovering what feels authentic to you.

Oh, However Will We "Survive" the Holidays?

American Dreaming • 169 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Holidays Family Tradition Mental health Consumerism
  1. Many people think the holidays are really stressful and they often talk about needing to 'survive' them. But this view is exaggerated and doesn’t reflect how many people actually feel.
  2. Shopping and preparing for the holidays is easier than ever with modern technology and conveniences. We should appreciate this instead of stressing about it.
  3. Instead of dreading time with family, we should adopt a better perspective. Our complaints about family gatherings are minor compared to real struggles others have faced throughout history.

Ravings of a Christmas Hater

Handwaving Freakoutery • 611 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Holidays Traditions Consumerism Social Behavior Religion
  1. Gift-giving during Christmas can feel overwhelming and stressful for some people. It creates pressure to find the perfect gift while also considering social status and connections.
  2. The holiday has become heavily focused on consumerism and materialism, overshadowing its original spirit and purpose. People often feel rushed and distracted from enjoying the true meaning of the season.
  3. Some people prefer holidays like Thanksgiving that emphasize togetherness and gratitude without the burden of gift-giving. Simple celebrations can sometimes be more fulfilling than elaborate traditions.

Leyla Kazim Is Choosing A Slower Life

Changing The Channel • 538 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Work-life balance Mental health Consumerism Hobbies
  1. Leyla Kazim focuses on living a slower, intentional, and joyful life, advocating for shedding consumerist social conditioning.
  2. There is a pervasive hustle and burnout culture in the UK and US, affecting people's well-being and pushing them into overwork.
  3. The pandemic has led many to re-evaluate their lives, with some realizing the importance of hobbies and the detrimental effects of tying identity solely to work.

John Menick: The Narco-Image

Do Not Research • 718 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Film Media Consumption Entertainment Consumerism
  1. Viewer-consumers today are like addicts, seeking more and more content - movies, TV shows, clicks - leading to extreme viewing habits.
  2. The media industry has created a dependency on what's termed as 'narco-images,' which deliver intense, explicit, and shocking content to desensitized audiences.
  3. Capitalist consumerism mirrors addictive behavior, pushing for continuous product consumption and loyalty, resulting in harmful consequences just like the tobacco and opioid industries.

Bed Omen

Situation Normal • 136 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Humor Lifestyle Consumerism Relationships Storytelling
  1. Assembling furniture can be more complicated than it seems. What started as a simple bed upgrade turned into a hilarious battle with confusing instructions.
  2. Sometimes, the best-laid plans get derailed. After a tough experience with a new bed, sticking with a basic, sturdy option felt like the right move.
  3. Even silly situations can lead to deeper conversations. Scary stories can pop up at unexpected times, showing how our surroundings affect our moods.

The thought doesn't count

Internal exile • 69 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Advertising Consumerism Technology Society
  1. Modern technology, like smartphones, can make us act selfishly. Ads show how we can fake caring for others by using our devices instead of putting in real effort.
  2. The idea that 'the thought doesn't count' highlights how people can use technology to avoid genuine connections. It's easier to show a fake interest than to actually engage with those around us.
  3. This trend reflects a bigger issue in society where we prioritize individual convenience over community well-being. The focus is shifting towards personal satisfaction rather than caring for others.

Friday funnies: Black Friday -

Who is Robert Malone • 43 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Family Traditions Consumerism Food Community
  1. Cooking on a wood stove can bring joy and a sense of peace by connecting you to simplicity and family. It's nice to step away from modern conveniences sometimes.
  2. When choosing gifts for the holidays, consider supporting American-made products. Look for items that are useful and come from local or long-standing companies.
  3. Using cast iron cookware, like Lodge products, is a healthier and durable choice for your kitchen. They can last for years and even be found at thrift stores.

A war on Stuff

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 319 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Minimalism Consumerism Psychology Aging Design
  1. Stuff can pile up because we think it might be useful later, but most of it just makes life messy and stressful. It's easy to lose track of things when we have too much stored away.
  2. Things are cheap and easy to buy nowadays, leading to lots of excess stuff that often isn’t worth keeping. This leads to clutter that can cause problems if it gets out of hand.
  3. To manage stuff better, we need to be proactive about it. This means designing our spaces and habits to prevent clutter from building up in the first place.

A Requiem for Techno-Optimism

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Technology Nostalgia Capitalism Consumerism
  1. Vaporwave and mallsoft genres often reflect nostalgia for the past and critique the impact of digital culture on societal norms.
  2. The evolution of internet culture from anonymity to personal branding shifted social dynamics and expectations.
  3. The decline of physical malls symbolizes the shift towards online shopping and the changing nature of consumer experiences.

Is That What a Man Looks Like?

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 118 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Film Gender Consumerism Personal Reflection
  1. The essence of Fight Club resonates with a rejection of consumerism and mainstream societal expectations, particularly targeting materialism and globalism.
  2. The movie's deeper meanings and interpretations vary widely, sparking discussions on masculinity, rebellion, and individual identity.
  3. Personal experiences often reflect the themes explored in Fight Club, highlighting the consequences of prioritizing material possessions and societal norms over genuine fulfillment and self-awareness.

A Grand Theft: Auto Industry Stole Our Streets And Our Future

As If We Were Staying • 1 implied HN point • 09 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Urban planning Consumerism Transportation Environmental justice Historical Analysis
  1. The automobile industry changed the design of our cities, taking away spaces that were once meant for people. Streets used to be safe places for everyone, but cars changed that, leading to rises in accidents and fatalities.
  2. Big companies shaped public perceptions about cars being essential for modern life. They promoted the idea that owning a car was necessary, while at the same time, they bought and destroyed public transport systems to make way for more cars.
  3. We need to imagine a new future for our cities away from car dependency. It’s important for everyone to contribute ideas for a better urban design that prioritizes people, nature, and community, instead of serving corporate interests.

Be open to your own creativity

Technology, Environment, and Art • 59 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Creativity Self-Expression Human connection Philosophy Consumerism
  1. Be open to your own creativity and avoid large online sharing platforms to nurture your expression.
  2. Big online platforms aim to profit and can potentially hinder rather than support your creative output.
  3. Limit the use of soulless big tech platforms, be true to yourself, explore offline sharing, and nurture your creativity away from large corporations.

Why real environmental action is so hard

Technology, Environment, and Art • 39 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Capitalism Science Consumerism Sustainability
  1. The global capitalistic-consumerist system is fundamentally destructive and promotes unsustainable practices, causing cognitive dissonance in individuals.
  2. Efforts to address environmental issues are often evaluated based on their ability to further global consumerism rather than their actual impact.
  3. To truly make a difference, we need to challenge the current industrial and capitalistic systems, reassess our reliance on technology, and make significant lifestyle changes to prioritize sustainability over convenience.

20241117

Curious futures (KGhosh) • 8 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Social movements Art Public spaces Consumerism Community Engagement
  1. Occupying public spaces can help resist the negative effects of consumerism. It encourages people to reclaim shared areas for community building.
  2. A balanced society needs three sectors: public, private, and plural. The plural sector includes community groups and NGOs that are not controlled by big corporations or government.
  3. Art and culture should be explored in everyday places. Simple experiences like listening to music or viewing art can enrich our lives and connect us.

The Tricky Economics of Obsolescence

Fight to Repair • 78 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Repairability Consumerism Legislation Sustainability
  1. Planned obsolescence is deeply rooted in our economic systems; addressing it requires a larger systemic approach rather than just focusing on eliminating it.
  2. Repair activities offer a practical way to understand broader economic issues of consumerism, waste, and sustainability by extending the lifespan of goods and reducing environmental impact.
  3. Some governments, like France, are taking action against planned obsolescence, but challenges remain in enforcing laws and shifting from a throw-away culture to a repair mindset.

The Green Economy Is A Lie

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Consumerism Renewable Energy
  1. Companies often use buzzwords like "green" and "circular" in misleading ways, but repair can provide a more mindful approach to consumption.
  2. Promises of innovation and technology solving climate change often overlook the real costs of production, labor, and environmental impacts.
  3. Narratives of a 'clean energy economy' gloss over the human and ecological violence inherent in the pursuit of convenience and consumption, highlighting the importance of repair and addressing the true costs of our consumption habits.

The Problem with the Middle Class

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 59 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🎭️ Culture Society Class Social norms Elite Consumerism
  1. The middle class often holds a grand delusion of status and entitlement to justify their place in a system that benefits the elite and takes from them.
  2. Middle class individuals tend to show servility to the elite, adopting their lifestyles and beliefs to feel closer to them, despite a lack of true status.
  3. Many in the middle class exhibit a lethargic credulity, blindly accepting the narratives and systems in place through distractions and conveniences provided by consumerism.