Video activity

Big ideas that changed the world: consumerism

1. The video starts with this sentence. Complete the gaps.

“Many big ideas have struggled over the centuries to dominate the planet:
____________________, _______________________, ___________________ and
__________________.”

2. Decide if the sentences are True or False, according to the video:

( ) Consumerism has reached every corner of the world.

( ) The presenter believes consumerism is one of the causes for the social and
environmental problems in the world.
( ) Society could not function without some level of consumption.
( ) Consumption and consumerism are basically the same.

3. Mention at least 4 vehicles of communication which bombard us with

advertising, according to the presenter.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

4. Complete the sentences with the exact words you hear:

a) “You may think they are all selling you something different: different
________________, different ________________, different
___________________. But, at the same time, they are selling one big idea:
____________________________________________________________.”

b) “Almost unnoticed, consumerism has become our principal

___________________, our Zeitgeist, our ________________, all brought
into one. It’s a very _____________ idea, but it’s also a _____________
idea. We’ve become a generation of compulsive _____________________.
Scale up all those individual acts of consumption, multiply by several
___________people, and stand back and watch the _____________ unfold.”
5. The presenter gives a concrete example, with apples. What does he say about the
fruit?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

6. What does the presenter say about the connection between consumerism and the
environment? Make a list of facts and arguments he uses here.

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Part II – Agree or disagree with the following statements.

 Consumerism is the main cause of our social and environmental problems.

 It is impossible to live without consuming in our society.

 Consumerism is a positive phenomenon because it is what makes the economy grow.

 Shopping is basically a woman’s disease.

 Advertising and consumerism are completely connected. One cannot exist without the
other.

 There is enough for everybody’s need, but not for everybody’s greed. (Gandhi)

 ______________________________________________________________________.

Video taken from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ29DQvopZo