Affluenza by Cathryn Miller & Monique Martin

Monique Martin and I collaborated on this work because we both feel rampant consumerism is a major social problem. It not only leads to things like appalling working conditions in third world factories and massive personal debt in North America, it doesn't really make the ultimate consumers happy. One might define Affluenza as a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more. Proponents of the term consider that over-emphasis on endless increases in material possessions may lead to feelings of worthlessness and dissatisfaction rather than experiences of a "better life." Affluenza, a paper doll with more clothes and accessories than she can ever use, and certainly far more than she needs, is representative. The alphabet poem describing her condition is symbolically printed as a till tape. Click here to learn more about another version of this project by Carthryn and Monique, AFFLUENZA: The Colouring Book.