Americanism

mouse trap

is consumerism, which is more than a mere desire for material convenience or security but epitomizes a fundamental attitude to reality. In modern technological society, life is characterized by the 'reign of the ersatz,' in which everything and everybody is replaceable. We as modern consumers do not replace goods because they are worn out or defective, but because we value them only temporarily, constantly waiting for something new to thrill us. This we do to fill a void in our lives.

Second, Americanism represents consumerism, which is more than a mere desire formaterial convenience or security but epitomizes a fundamental attitude to reality. In moderntechnological society, life is characterized by the 'reign of the ersatz,' in which everythingand everybody is replaceable. In some way ancicipacing critiques on the detrimentaleffects of planned obscelescence from the 1950s onwards, Heidegger points out that weas modern consumers do not replace goods because they are worn out or defective, butbecause we value them only temporarily, constantly waiting for something new to thrill us. This we do to fill a void in our lives. The artificial in modern consumption is characteristic of America, although the American element (technology) arrived much earlierin Europe. The American way of life does not only threaten us today... 'the way of technology' was already a threat to our ancestors and their material culture, embodied byhousing, clothing, and product designs. In short, Heidegger targets the homogeneity of mass-produced articles in America and the standardization of culture.

is homogenization, one-dimensional life, and the elimination of difference.

Americanism stood for homogenization, one-dimensional life, and the elimination of difference.

is the emerging monstrousness of modern times and the principle whereby sheer boundless quantity is itself a quality.

The closest thing to a definition of Americanism that Heidegger gave was: 'The primacy of sheer quantity is itself a quality, i.e., an essential characteristic, which is that of boundlessness. This principle we call Americanism.' In his view, it was 'the emerging monstrousness of modern times.

is an endless quest after something new - a hero, a car, or a president

americanism, n.All

americanism