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Article: The triumph of triviality: John F Schumaker asks if consumer society is too shallow to deal with the deepening crises facing the planet.(Essay)
- Article from:
- New Internationalist
- Article date:
- April 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 New Internationalist Magazine. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The results of the cultural indoctrination stakes are not yet in but there is a definite trend--triviality leads, followed closely by superficiality and mindless distraction. Vanity looks great while profundity is bringing up the rear. Pettiness is powering ahead, along with passivity and indifference. Curiosity lost interest, wisdom was scratched and critical thought had to be put down. Ego is running wild. Attention span continues to shorten and no-one is betting on survival.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. Halfa century ago, humanistic thinkers were heralding a great awakening that would usher in a golden age of enlightened living. People like Erich Fromm, ...