Framing Class, Vicarious Living, and Conspicuous Consumption

In Diana Kendall’s article, she discusses how the media shapes public opinions about the upper; middle, working, and lower class are perceived. The media depicts each class a different way, which gives the audience a somewhat skewed opinion of each social class. The media does not differentiate between what is real and what is made up so it encourages people to, “emulate the upper classes and shun the working class and the poor” (335).

I agree with Diana Kendall in that the media does have a powerful influence on our society and does it in a promising and desirable way. The media does portray that anyone no matter what social class can buy the products seen on T.V. The American Dream has been altered by the media, maybe not with bad intentions, but does it through the distortion of reality. The media tells us what we should wear, drive or even emulate. It is sad because we have the privilege to receive a good education, and are able to think critically, yet we still allow the media to influence us and almost think for us. The lower class and working class will be drawn in to the media’s advertising and think that they too can obtain what more “privileged” people have. Advertising does cause increased credit card debt because of the appeal. However, I do believe that it is up to the consumer to make a conscious decision about what they want to purchase. Therefore the working class and lower class citizens don’t have to choose to spend all their money on something they don’t need. Advertising does everything to make money and draw in the consumer, but people should be more responsible with their money and not blame advertising companies for their debt.