Proposal Ideas

One of the most notable things about my time in Beijing was the visible evidence of a new consumerist culture. I was surprised at the quantity of consumer products that have hit the streets and at the eagerness with which they are being consumed. Typically Chinese kids and families take walks after dinner around eight in the evening and in warm weather this is a prime time for street vendors to show there wares. The streets become packed with people of all ages ambling along buying and chatting.The economic wherewithal to do such shopping is a new thing in China and therefore, it is understandable exciting for them to be able to buy things, any things.

At any rate, I would like to explore consumerism in China in my research project. I have not completely decided what angle I might use to address this topic, but I am interested in delving more into the kinds of things they are buying, why they are buying, and how advertising affects what they buy. I realize this is a broad list, but I plan to start researching around these questions and take it from there. Another thought which peaked my interest and which I may try to use as an interesting thread in the story, is that of bicycles. The bicycle has always been a principal means of transportation in China and a little more than a decade ago it became one of the first “consumer goods.” Styles and brands became important and trendy much in the way that cars are now. So, this is just a young thought but perhaps it might be a unique and interesting way of getting at the topic of consumerism through a more personal and interconnected lens.