Shop 'Til You Drop

Synopsis

Are we too materialistic? Are we willfully trashing the planet in our pursuit of things? And what's the source of all this frenetic consumer energy and desire anyway? In a fast-paced tour of the ecological and psychological terrain of American consumer culture, Shop 'Til You Drop challenges us to confront these questions head-on. Taking aim at the high-stress, high-octane pace of fast-lane materialism, the film moves beneath the seductive surfaces of the commercial world to show how the flip side of accumulation is depletion -- the slow, steady erosion of both natural resources and basic human values. In the end, Shop 'Til You Drop helps us make sense of the economic turbulence of the moment, providing an unflinching, riveting look at the relationship between the limits of consumerism and our never-ending pursuit of happiness.

Peter Whybrow, author of American Mania: When More is Not Enough
Juliet B. Schor, author of The Overspent American
Cecile Andrews, author Slow Is Beautiful
Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity
Chris Jordan, photographic artist
James B. Twitchell, Professor of English & Advertising at University of Florida
Julian Darley, co-founder of the Post Carbon Institute
Eli Jaxon-Bear, author of Sudden Awakening
Rod Gorney, Ashley Montagu Institute
John de Graaf, co-author of Take Back Your Time
Carol Holst, founder of Postconsumers
David Room, founder of Energy Preparedness

Release Date:2010

Duration:52 min

ISBN:1-932869-40-9

Subtitles:English

Trailers

Watch the trailer

Filmmaker Credits

Produced, Directed & Edited by

Gene Brockhoff

Cinematography & Sound Recording by

Jeff Deveraux

Original Music by

Jonah Sharp

Post Audio & Sound Design by

B.Z. Lewis

Animation & Motion Graphics by

Kiko Taganashi

Narrated by

Alex Peterson

Filmmaker Biographies

Gene Brockhoff

Contributor

Gene Brockhoff has no history in film. He has been and still is a flooring contractor who made this film in his spare time. "Nobody else was doing films about consumerism, so I thought I'd fill the void," he says. "It was also a way for me to confront my own desires for materialism." In the making of the film he became very proficient with Apple's editing software Final Cut Pro and did some of the cinematography as well. "I discovered a love of editing and the trillions of possibilities. I'm a possibility junkie!" He is still available in the SF Bay Area for installing and refinishing hardwood flooring in a sustainable and non-toxic way.

Resources: Downloads and Related Links

Downloads:

Praise

"A fast-paced blend of expert interviews, photo and film montages, and background music ... the program sends a powerful message as interviewed writers, artists, professors, and others make well-reasoned arguments about consumerism and the steady erosion of natural resources and values."

Booklist

"Bringing together an impressive line-up of scholars and activists of late capitalism and contemporary consumption... and seasoned with entertaining and visually dazzling clips and images, the film makes a strong case for an essential problem deep in the heart of capitalism. Shop 'Til You Drop is a powerful and memorable bit of filmmaking. We have all heard the issues before, and perhaps we are overwhelmed by them, even exhausted by them. But the message of the film, together with its compelling visuals, makes it appealing even as it is disquieting. Suitable for high school and college courses in cultural anthropology, anthropology of globalization/capitalism, environmental anthropology, anthropology of popular culture, and American/modern studies, as well as general audiences."

Anthropology Review Database

"[Shop 'Til You Drop] takes viewers from the Industrial Revolution to the present, concentrating on the 1950s through the 1970s, when women moved into the workforce, celebrity culture saturated the media, and suburban dwellers worked harder than ever to keep up with the Joneses. Now, of course, they work even longer hours and rack up more debt, leading to a host of social problems. Recommended."

Video Librarian