Materialism

Apparently the good people at Blogger are unable to recover what I've lost. Oh well, it's metonymic of life itself I guess.

I think modernity enforces materialism, an inescapable reality of cosmopolitan existence - commodity fetishism. I must say I suffer from the ailment as well, enwarped and entrapped, like almost every other Singaporean, in the joys of purchasing; "More is good" as the general mentality of the consumer - "more expensive", "more bulk", "more value", "more economical", "more in quanity".

There is a certain joy nonetheless in 'shopping'. My supervisor calls it 'retail therapy' and my dearest friend Angie reminds of the ever prevalent "post-purchase syndrome". But I enjoyed myself walking around today and spending care-lessly - in both senses of the word. I just thought it was time to renew and revamp the old wardrobe. There's still lots on the shopping list. I think I'll worry about the credit statement when it comes early next month!

It's therapeutic for the moment especially when I look forward to donning nice clothes! Cheap! Superficial! Well ... it's important to look one's best. In my case, it's important to look good (superficial!). But dressing certainly reflects a person's confidence and of course works reversibly as well.

But it is interesting to consider what is this preoccupation, one might say obsession, with 'buying' things, filling up every available living space with more goods, more gadgets, more clothes. It's perhaps an attempt at filling the emptiness in our lives. I think Taoist and Zen philosophy is right in many aspects: when our lives are complete, we can live without the surpluses beyond food, drink and shelter (it's a paraphrase of course! The saying is certainly a lot 'prettier' than what I can possibly put forth).

This is modernity I guess.

Victim or Victor?

I have yet to decide ...