We live in a culture that is consumed by conspicuous consumption. This weekend's Superbowl gives us a good reason to reflect on how pathological we can be about spending a lot of our resources on spectatorship.
For example, on the street a ticket to the "big game" might cost you more than $4,000, while buying a new high definition flat screen TV can set you back as much as $10,000. Why do Americans feel so obessed with the latest technologies to enhance experience?
Associated Press business writer, Dave Carpenter sums up the mania well when he reports:
Just buying chip and dip and a 12-pack of beer doesn't cut it for Super Bowl parties any more. If you expect your friends and neighbors to choose your place for the big game, you may have to pony up for a flat-screen TV, digital tuner and surround-sound speakers so they can spectate with quality.
This passage suggests, that big screen TV fosters a community of spectatorship in which individuals gather to share experiences. This of course, is hardly new -- from town halls to sports pubs -- people have always gathered to interact socially around a central event in their lives.
The big question is will buying a $10,000 TV set worth the potential of an enhanced visual experience?