Genre Analysis Essay PDF

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Essay analyzing the difference in genre of two works. Under Professor Megan Gounaris....

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Catherine Du Interpretation and Argument: DD 10/07/18 The Growth of Consumerism University professors Richard H. Robbins and Frank Trentmann both attempt to portray that role and evolution of the consumer in an economic system in their writings, one a magazine article published in The Atlantic, the other a chapter of an academic textbook. However, due to a difference in genre, the methods they utilize to showcase their points diverge. With a contrast in their overall writing structure, as well as the perspectives and themes they choose to highlight, Robbins and Trentmann demonstrate their different genres as they build a picture of the modern day consumer. Trentmann and Robbins both establish some basic points before diving into the specifics of their analyses. Both observe that historically, people aren’t inherently inclined to spend excessively; as Robbins notes almost immediately, the opposite is actually true: “[t]here is nothing natural about [the accumulation of profit]” (Robbins 11). In fact, modern society shifted from viewing excess as selfish and undesirable to being more willing - even encouraged - to spend. At the same time, a consumer’s desire for a product began to inform its intrinsic value, taking over the previous idea of calculating the amount of labor, time and effort spent in its creation. Trentmann, specifically, likens the consumer’s subjective opinion to that of enjoying a cake: “[t]he first slice may taste wonderful, but queasiness tends to come after the third or fourth” (Trentmann 4). Ultimately, these shared ideas contribute to the genre of economics. Despite many disagreements among the field, there are some basic components economists must verify.

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From these shared concepts, however, Trentmann and Robbins begin to branch out. Robbins is more specific in his explanations of how the modern consumer evolved, while also being broader in the ideas he explores. He considers, for instance, the creation of educational institutions solely dedicated to the art of economics: “Harvard and Stanford established graduate business schools, as did other schools…[t]oday, there are virtually no...colleges that do not offer some sort of business curriculum” (Robbins 16). Robbins proceeds to analyze the role of museums and the government; from “mind cure religions”, to equating holidays with spending money and buying stuff, he fully commits to exploring any possible factor that affects the consumer (Robbins 19). Trentmann, by contrast, does not bring up prestigious schools, religious movements that encourage materialism, or birthdays at all; he limits his discussions to more “niche” economic considerations. Compared to Robbin’s detailed analysis, Trentmann’s explanations could even be viewed as simple and straightforward: Luxuries are initially shamed, but eventually, society comes to realize that making those goods universal actually improves the quality of life. As a result, unions ranging from the Water Consumers’ Association to the Woman’s Cooperative Guild form. By referencing historical events and past occurrences, Trentmann highlights the importance of a consumer’s conscious decisions in creating not only a comfortable lifestyle for themselves, but contributing to the economy. Trentmann’s emphasis on the consumer’s purposeful role in the economy transitions into his ultimate conclusion as to how this knowledge can impact decisions regarding climate change; this is in stark contrast to the subliminal influences Robbins describes in his analysis. Structurally, the two texts differ as well. Trentmann focuses more on earlier centuries than Robbins does; in fact, his article follows a near-direct timeline of the history of economics.

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He travels Far East to China’s flourishing dynasties, shifting westward with regards to Holland and Britain’s “self-sustaining momentum”, and moving forward to imperialist Germany in the early nineteenth century (Trentmann 2). Additionally, Trentmann references several foreign economists, starting with Adam Smith, also known as the father of economics. Smith’s complete lack of acknowledgment for consumerism is echoed by many, but directly contrasted by the ideas of people like French writer Frédéric Bastiat. By showcasing these diverse international experiences, Trentmann demonstrates that the modern consumers learn from the past to make choices in the present. Meanwhile, Robbins explicitly argues that rather than arising from specific historical events, consumerism started with a change in four key factors: marketing, societal institutions, intellectual values, and our time (Robbins 20). Using headers to distinguish those four factors, Robbins allows the reader to quickly skim to learn about a specific idea. His choice to implement headers allows for him to connect each factor together, a culmination of the consumer’s transformation. The content and structure of the texts differ for clear reasons when we consider the authors’ intended audiences and themes. Since Robbins is writing for a more academic, knowledgeable audience, he implements quotes and numerical statistics, even showcasing graphs to further emphasize his point. Robbins needs to be certain in what he is talking about in order to contribute to an economics textbook. Moreover, the chapter is one small part of a read about globalization and capitalism, where Robbins’ specific observations surrounding his key factors are more relevant to that study of consumer culture. Trentmann’s article, on the other hand, appears in The Atlantic. While intellectuals do read the magazine, the publication focuses on a variety of issues, including those outside of economics. Therefore, Trentmann implements quotations, but doesn’t need to cite statistics as much. The Atlantic readers are not particularly

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looking to clarify or confirm his points; they are simply interested in learning about how history has shaped their actions in the modern age and increasing their awareness of consumerism as a result. Trentmann and Robbins both implement certain genre moves to convey the messages they prioritize. By bringing up the consciousness of the consumer to lead into the final discussion about the economy’s impact on climate change, Trentmann differs from Robbins, who focuses more on analyzing the unconscious birth of capitalism and globalization. Ultimately, these differences show the impact of genre on what we convey and how we convey it.

Works Cited Robbins, Richard H. "Constructing the Consumer." Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism. First M. Last. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2011. 11-32. Print. Trentmann, Frank. “How Humans Became 'Consumers': A History.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 29 Nov. 2016.

Acknowledgments I thank Jiachen Liu for peer reviewing my paper, and providing incredibly helpful insights as to where I could improve....