theorize this
"Industry speculates on the refinement of needs, it speculates however just as much on their crudeness, but on their artificially produced crudeness, whose true enjoyment, therefore, is self-stupefaction – this illusory satisfaction of need this civilisation contained within the crude barbarism of need."
This perfectly describes the consumption industry of 2007 - mass media infotainment, cult of celebrity, advertising, and the like. However, these words were written by Karl Marx in 1844. Yeah, the dude went astray trying to find a "scientific" theory of capital and thinking we could "change" society, but he sure was spot on in his analysis of ruling class ideology...and how did he know I enjoy self-stupefaction on a regular basis!?!
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