Shop 'Til You Drop

Gr 9 Up—Few would dispute that one of the hallmarks of the last half-century was the amazing post-World War II rise in consumerism. While the recent international economic turndown may have affected that mindset to some degree, citizens of the world's "have" nations continue to pursue materialistic goods while those in traditionally "have not" countries look for ways to join the party. That phenomenon is examined here in terms of its sociological, historical, political, economic, and ecological impact as well as the roles of advertising and marketing. The commentary of the featured experts in this area sound somewhat preachy and condescending towards those they see as having figuratively sold their souls and values to acquire some of the trappings of contemporary life. Using a wide assortment of movie, television, and documentary clips and still photos, the film is nicely paced and the material is presented in an interesting manner. The overall theme is a welcome one: the quality of our lives should not be measured in terms of possessions, but rather in how our values allow us to contribute to overall society. An English-language subtitle option, the inclusion of the full 80-minute director's cut, and optional scene selection enhance classroom utilization and allow those doing research to focus on the varied topics considered in this potentially popular title. The teacher's guide will be available in late fall 2010. The disparity between public and high school library pricing is puzzling and unfortunate, but not a deal breaker.—Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL