1 Consumerism and technology

Question 1

1959

russian/american exhibition

Answer 1

• exhibition held in eachothers countries to survey culture and way of life
• brief moment of calm amidst the growing tension

Question 2

teenage consumer

1959 life magazine recorded… what?

Answer 2

• teenage consumers had become a ‘major factor in the nations economy’
  they were buying per year:
• 10m record players
• 13m cameras
• spending $20m on lipstick

Question 3

the teenage consumer

what fraction of 18-19 year old girls were married in 1959?

Answer 3

1/3

Question 4

fears

what did people fear the most in terms of consumerism?

Answer 4

• people feared consumerism and materialism were becoming central to the nations identity and undermining traditional values

Question 5

fears

what did John Kenneth Galbraith fear, which book did he talk about this in?

Answer 5

• the affluent society 1958
• argued americans were grosly materialistic and cared little about the less fortunate.

Question 6

factors behind growth and development of consumerism and technology

what were the factors behind growth and development of consumerism and technology?

Answer 6

1. growth of new products (dish washers, fridges, radios)
2. rise of the credit card
3. impact of space + technology
4. teenage consumer

Question 7

tupperware parties

what did the new tupperware parties show about american society?

Answer 7

1. growth in technology
2. jobs from making tupperware
3. move towards service economy