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Consumerism In Canada

Decent Essays

From the beginning of my architectural education I have been inspired and influenced by political realities and issues throughout Canada and the wider world. Discussions relating to how architecture participates in political change, conflict, movements, and other events have refined, shaped and sustained my interest in the field. Growing up in suburban Winnipeg I have been continuously struck by the lack of architectural authenticity, consideration and intention found on the fringes of the city. These monotonous architectural landscapes promote and enable political inactivity. Among and in-between the many strip malls, condominiums and stucco-clad houses, there is no space for political activism or protest. In a reality where consumerism …show more content…

What began as a simple fascination with current events and the civic duty to be knowledgeable evolved into an interest in architectural and urban infrastructure, economic forces as well as social movements that influence the political culture of a group of people and the wider world. A particular book that informed my views about consumerism and the creeping influence that it has on Canadian and American politics is Toronto Star Columnist Susan Delacourt’s Shopping for Votes, in which she describes how government policy has increasingly been marketed to citizens as though they are consumers. I saw similar parallels in the world of architecture, specifically in a domestic and suburban setting where marketing and profit seem to take precedent over quality architecture and public …show more content…

In a sprawling neighbourhood filled with building dedicated to consumption and the perpetuation of the capitalist system, there are very few spatial scenarios that can serve as places of protest or productive discussion and debate for the citizenry. The increasing cynicism the citizenry holds toward political realities has led to a culture of apathy and disengagement. Recent events have also demonstrated that fear, whether it be of change or of ‘the other’ have altered the political landscape. In a reality where citizens are spread out and distant from one another and are not confronted with people of different backgrounds, as frequently as one may be in a dense urban centre, prejudice opinions and views can remain unchallenged and continue to grow. The spontaneous and immediate galvanization of people in late January of 2017 suggests a higher level of political engagement and participation is imminent. Previous movements such as Occupy Wall Street have demonstrated how small scale, temporary architecture can derive from political action and protest. I am interested in how a similar form of political assertion and representation can take place in a suburban setting. In such a potent political climate the ability for citizens to assert their views and debate, discuss and challenge their fellow citizens in a

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