8.) What is the long-term cost of expanding western consumerism to a global economy and ecology?

The result and long-term cost is that we become in love with ourselves. We believe that the world revolves around us. By being so narcissistic, we lose perspective and context in the world. We become easily controlled and we begin to grow a fear of losing control, power and comfort. I never noticed before, but it’s sad that newspapers and news stories are so focused in delivering how North America has done “good” in a third-world country rather than giving the straight story. That definitely made me think.

9.) Where do you see branding? How do you feel about it?

I see branding everywhere. From food cans to clothes, branding is a part of my every day life. It’s a part of everyone’s lifestyle. I used to try and avoid the whole branding thing, but now I embrace it. I know that sounds really stupid, but I can’t run away from it, so might as well greet it with open arms. I am a Mac user, that’s branding. I don’t have it because of the brand name, I have it because I like its software better, but it’s still branding. The car I’m driving is branding. My chicken noodle soup is branding. Even my when people call tissues “Kleenexes”, that’s branding. To be honest, I never gave it so much speculation until this class. When I’m writing about it now, it’s kind of making me feel all weird and dizzy inside from realizing how much of my world consists of advertisement and “brands”. 

10.) Identify at least 5 examples of Disneyfication in your life

• I’ve been to the Toronto Zoo before. That is an example of “nature under control”, as it exploits many wildlife animals, such as: killer whales, lynxs, bobcats, etc.
• On MTV, they usually play North American bands only, with the occasional band from the UK. This creates a “colonized mind; it gives us a western domination of pop culture
•  Every time I go to the mall, there are more and more tweenie boppers. This is because the upcoming generation (including mine) are “born to shop”. We are a consumer culture
• Avatar. When the people wanted to destroy the habitat of the Na’vi for some rock that was worth 20 million a kilogram, it made me sad because that is what’s happening in our lives. Countries are losing their natural resources and the destruction of the environment is speeding up. Disney is evil
• McDonalds, McDonalds, McDonalds. They package the entire thing with the Playplace and Happy Meal toys. I will admit, however, I still love eating their food. Mmmmm, I wants a cheeeesbergeeeer