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Capitalism, while it may have its merits, can often seem downright absurd. We live in a world where profits are very often put over people, and the pursuit of endless growth is prioritized over sustainability. Not to mention little things like companies using manipulative advertising tactics to convince us to buy things we don't need, the prevalence of unpaid internships and so on.
So let's take a moment to reflect on the absurdities of capitalism with some examples of what this economic and political system is actually like in our day-to-day lives. For this article, we’ve collected some of the best posts shared by the Instagram page “Humans of Capitalism”, documenting the most extreme and dystopian instances of corporate power. Scroll down to see what we mean.
If you liked this list and are interested in exploring further, you can take a look at Bored Panda's previous articles here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
We reached out to Nicola Caramia, a senior marketing lecturer and faculty member at INSEEC London, who has published several works on consumerism and consumer behavior. His expertise makes him an ideal consultant on the topic. Read on for the full interview!
#4
PunnyPanda 1 year ago
Why group projects in school were a total sham and also an important lesson...
#5
Joe Reaves 1 year ago
Now you own a house the council can take it from you if you need to go into care. Probably a bad move.
Capitalism has created a society that is consumer-based. It has made consumption become a fundamental element of today’s world, particularly in the Western countries. Heading to a supermarket to buy a carton of milk? Don’t worry, you will have an abundance of options to choose from. While it's great to have a variety of choices, at times it can become excessive and absurd.
Nowadays, people's purchasing decisions can reflect their identity. That includes their personality, hobbies, and even profession. According to Caramia, “all human beings are searching for meaning in their life, to be recognized by others, to be accepted, to be loved, and feel secure. All these psychological elements make people to search and define who they are by developing in their minds a sense of self-identity. In this context, all humans have an ‘actual self’, that is how they see and perceive themselves in relation to others that is in conflict with their ‘ideal self’ (how they would like to be perceived by others).”
#7
#8
Take me to dinner first 1 year ago
Can we talk about how everybody says therapy is the solution but you can't have that solution unless you have the money?
#9
Caramia continues, “there is a gap between the ‘actual self’ and the ‘ideal self’ thus a mental self-representation that is not in line with how we wish to be seen by others. As a consequence of this discrepancy, people tend to construct their identities by purchasing mass-produced products and brands. It is at this point that mass-produced products and marketing develop associations between idealized self-images and related products in order to satisfy consumers’ inner desires that mirror their ideal self-concept. As a result, consumerism takes place and people who consume goods and services in large quantities believe they will be better off although they are unaware that products and goods will never satisfy their inner desires but will only provide the tools for the idealized self-concept if they purchase brands that represent their ideal ‘ego’.
I remember an interesting book, ‘The Strategy of Desires’ written by an American psychologist, Ernest Dichter, the founder of the Institute of Motivational Research. In the 60s Dichter acted as a consultant to major American business organizations, helping them to detect the unconscious motives of consumers when purchasing products. I recall Robert Polet, CEO of Gucci fashion luxury brand in 2004, in one of his interviews, he said ‘we don’t sell products, we sell desires’.”
#11
Debbie 1 year ago (edited)
Awaiting the downvotes... Hmm torn on this one. Why? Imagine all the current "idols" are on peoples' gravestone. Elon Musk hovering over one stone, Disney princesses all around, Poohbears, Beyonce, DJ Khaled, Khardashians, Trump (just trying to pick out the most horrible ones). Gravestones should not be billboards/advertisements/amusementpark signs (sorry for the description). They could have made it smaller or without colour. (A spiderman engraved in the stone would suffice). I get they want to make the last resting place personal. Alas a graveyard is a public place, not a private place.
The vast amount of choices available leads to the constant introduction of new trends. That results in overconsumption habits. Looking a the series of pictures highlighting the intriguing and often absurd realities of capitalism, we got curious about what motivates individuals to pursue extreme measures within it. Caramaia shared that consumerism is the result of how mass-produced goods pretend “to satisfy people’s needs, actually more psychological needs than functional needs.
Economists believe that consumer spending stimulates both production and economic growth, and they view consumption as a tool to fulfilling consumers’ biological needs and wants with the final aim of profit maximization. What really motivates people is greed, an uncontrolled desire to increase the acquisition of material gain, status and power. Capitalists motivated by greed only seek their own gain by maximizing profits.”
#13
Donkeywheel 1 year ago
Not unusual, many immigrants end up in Belgium, France, NL or Germany after trying UK and seeing what it is. They want to go there because it’s easier to settle and live with no papers but they are quickly disappointed.
#15
While consumerism and capitalism have been credited with driving economic growth and creating new markets and opportunities, they have also been criticized for their negative impacts on the environment and society. We were wondering whether consumerism can be compatible with social and environmental responsibility. Caramia answered that nowadays, due to capitalism and competition between business organizations, food product and waste is at the highest level as we produce more than what is consumed. “This leads to the depletion of natural resources in order to satisfy demand in economic terms. The consequences in turn reflect an increased land use, cutting down forests, emissions of pollutants. As a result, the more we consume, the more the earth gets exploited.”
While these images might make us laugh, it’s important to address the issues here. Recognizing the underlying motivations behind our consumption habits can help us make more conscious choices about what we buy and why. It can also help us focus on personal growth, relationships, and contributing to the well-being of others and the world around us.
“We cannot say that consumerism is the only aspect to blame in terms of social and environmental responsibility, but we should look inside ourselves and ask questions such as ‘do I really need to buy that product, and if so, how can I dispose it after I used it?’, ‘how can I become less selfish and think less about myself and help those people in need?’. We should become less centred in ourselves and concentrate our efforts in becoming more humans. This approach should begin in schools by educating pupils and adults in universities in taking care of our environment. All educational institutions must embrace a philosophical approach to education. That means becoming who you are, what you were born to be,” Caramia added.
#20
Donkeywheel 1 year ago
In Europe there are lots and lots of old churches and worship places that were desacralized (is that the word?). They still have the appearance of sacred places but are not anymore and could be pretty much anything: homes, libraries, stores, banks, even a skate park.
#23
Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago
The freedom to slaughter people and act out my sociopathic tendencies? That's a great idea! /s
#24
Donkeywheel 1 year ago (edited)
Useful advice: if you ever have to evacuate a plane (not as unusual as you may think, more common than a crash) the main danger after you’re out comes from the fire/assistance trucks that have to rush but have very low visibility. You’re tiny and unnoticeable next to a plane. There are numerous cases of passengers who got hit on the runways. Don’t make a selfie, go to safety far from the action.
#25
Sheila Stamey 1 year ago
For those like me who needed more info: This couple contaminated a city of Brazil's main water supply by painting a waterfall blue for a gender reveal. They have been charged.
#28
Best Behave 1 year ago (edited)
All kinds of things are biodegradable but still pollute, and in this case it’s a public health hazard due to parasites and diseases. Please please do not leave your dog’s 5h1t lying around. The vast majority of dog owners are scrupulously responsible on this front - don’t be the a**ehole
#29
Ian Reynolds 1 year ago
I don't see a problem with people being buried in coffins covered in something they love.
#30
#33
PunnyPanda 1 year ago
Would love to know who produced this image and what their intention was... Anyone?
#39
Sassawrasse 1 year ago
Folks on trail rides would ask for something like this (can you hold the horses while we pose?) and I would always be happy to accommodate. And Especially if I got to get in the river. If I was in the shot I'd pop underwater for a second. In this photo or looks like he just popped up for air at the end of the shot. I feel like we should get the actual story on the situation before we assume this is a bad situation.
#45
Ian Reynolds 1 year ago (edited)
JESUS: Hey guys I am back, so what's with this dude on a cross everywhere? PEOPLE: It's you? It is how we decided to honour you. JESUS: Really?! Do you know how painful this was? Why would you pick should an horrific depiction of me? PEOPLE: Something to do with sacrifice, and we thought this is how you would like to be remembered. JESUS: Jesus Christ Guys!! This is so f#cked up!!
#46
Saint Tim the Godless 1 year ago
Can we get Zuckerberg to test these himself and make sure they work?
#47
Donkeywheel 1 year ago
… used especially in operating and radiology rooms that are almost all the time in the basement or ground floor (= little or no direct sun light) because of the weight of the equipment.
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What do you think ?
VonBlade 1 year ago
Can we rename this "random assortment of nonsense that seemed funny at 3am"? Thanks.
Hex Gurls 1 year ago
literallyy, none of this had anything to do with capitalism
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VonBlade 1 year ago
Can we rename this "random assortment of nonsense that seemed funny at 3am"? Thanks.
Hex Gurls 1 year ago
literallyy, none of this had anything to do with capitalism
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