Understanding the Society of the Spectacle (DClermont)

 

  To garner an understanding as to what "the society of the spectacle" is, one must look at the broader picture for what the phrase is trying to convey. Looking at the phrase itself gives an image of a collective entity  made up of a group of people that follow unspoken, yet established rules and trends that dictate where the interest and value of commodities are valued. The spectacle is an amorphous element of consumerist culture, injected into certain products based on societal values and public reaction towards these products with the collective mindset that has been implanted by a intangible influence on a tangible item.
     Guy Debord's description of  "the spectacle" can be boiled down to it being a cultural phenomenon that has remained dominant as an integrated portion of our society. The spectacle, according to Debord, is a pillar of consumerism that is constantly adapting and evolving to the realm of commodity. As for the theme of commodity, Debord describes it as a tangible companion to the element of the spectacle. He considers the concept of commodity as an enemy to the world, stating "at first glance seems so trivial and obvious, yet which is actually so complex and full of metaphysical subtleties" (Debord). He vilified every aspect of commodity, but did not underestimate what it was capable of due to the impact it had on society and how the world became consumed by consumerism. The world itself became one big marketplace for commodity to thrive, leaving the people to constantly feed into it through the spectacle that supports it.
   "The Commodity is this materialized illusion and the spectacle is its general expression" (Debord) is the main draw of commodity being taken as a spectacle. A society driven by the concept of commodity pays more attention to whatever is the hottest thing to get in any market instead of the world and its harsh realities. Commodity relies on the value that society puts towards it, whether it is sentimental or personal value. The spectacle from this aspect of commodity is the majority of consumers would make it an objective to consume a certain product that puts them on a higher standing over another person, or provide a sense of satisfaction that only material items could grant. Looking in a modern sense, the prevalence of commodity is more defined with the glorification of luxury and premium items being the main attraction for people wanting to stand out more. The competitiveness of consumers to outdo one another is what the spectacle of commodity thrives off of. Once a consumer obtains that bit of material luxury, they would be satisfied until someone else has a "better" product that would push them to buy more to satisfy themselves.
   Modern commodity thrives on the hallmarks of old traditions and new trends. The society of the spectacle is brought up to quicker and flashier means of gratification and justification of purchases on products that come with a promise to fulfill our every need and desire. People flock from one store to the next, constantly being swayed by spectacular displays of advertisements, and being drawn into the ever-expanding society of the spectacle. We can't help but indulge ourselves with the multitude of products that we impose value towards, neglecting the real world issues the result from our frivolous spending habits.

Work(s) Cited

Debord, Guy. "The Society of the Spectacle." Chapter 2: The Commodity as Spectacle. Buearu of Public Secrets, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.