Commodity Fetishism
A concept coined by Karl Marx referring to society's extreme obsession with material objects.
Commodity Fetishism is everywhere in Western Society today. Just look around around you. All the commotion surrounding Apple releasing yet another iphone with minor improvements. Cars are another example. Inanimate products which are so well known by their particular brand and certain model type to everyone, with most having definitions on urban dictionary even going so far as to define the certain type of person who drives such a model. When in reality the only importance of a car for most people is a sustainable mode of transport that can get you from one place to another. As a guitarist myself I find the guitar world is also guilty of this, many placing excessive importance over brand names (Gibson, Fender etc.), models (Telecaster, Strat, SG, Les Paul etc.) and hell even types of this model (1959 telecaster, Roadworn Strat, <insert famous guitarist here> signature model Les Paul Custom, Standard, Studio, express, 100, 100 elitist etc. etc.). Commodity Fetishism is the explanation why people get worked up for hours comparing the minor variations and specifications of the same 6 stringed instrument that they can barely play.
This behavior is heavily mocked in the character Patrick Bateman from the movie (and book) "American Psycho".
Commodity Fetishism is everywhere in Western Society today. Just look around around you. All the commotion surrounding Apple releasing yet another iphone with minor improvements. Cars are another example. Inanimate products which are so well known by their particular brand and certain model type to everyone, with most having definitions on urban dictionary even going so far as to define the certain type of person who drives such a model. When in reality the only importance of a car for most people is a sustainable mode of transport that can get you from one place to another. As a guitarist myself I find the guitar world is also guilty of this, many placing excessive importance over brand names (Gibson, Fender etc.), models (Telecaster, Strat, SG, Les Paul etc.) and hell even types of this model (1959 telecaster, Roadworn Strat, <insert famous guitarist here> signature model Les Paul Custom, Standard, Studio, express, 100, 100 elitist etc. etc.). Commodity Fetishism is the explanation why people get worked up for hours comparing the minor variations and specifications of the same 6 stringed instrument that they can barely play.
This behavior is heavily mocked in the character Patrick Bateman from the movie (and book) "American Psycho".
1. "That's bone. And the lettering is something called Silian Rail...
Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark..."
- Patrick Bateman's words when comparing his business card with his co-worker's identical looking ones in "American Psycho".
2. "Thanks to commodity fetishism, I got bullied when I was 8 because my parents drove a Ford Fiesta while their parents drove Volvo*. And kids don't even drive...."
*defined on Urban dictionary as "The only car a true pimp would be seen in"
Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark..."
- Patrick Bateman's words when comparing his business card with his co-worker's identical looking ones in "American Psycho".
2. "Thanks to commodity fetishism, I got bullied when I was 8 because my parents drove a Ford Fiesta while their parents drove Volvo*. And kids don't even drive...."
*defined on Urban dictionary as "The only car a true pimp would be seen in"
Commodity Fetishism by stingingpaininthebrain June 23, 2014
