The Dream World Of Mass Existence Analysis

The convergence of dreams and reality is all too common in a world dominated by consumerism, media, and pop culture, as Williams illustrates in her essay “The Dream World of Mass Consumption” (1991). “By appealing to the fantasies of the consumer” (Williams, 1991, p. 203) entertainment and business have timelessly capitalized on dreams that are out of reach for the majority of society. However, media and pop culture have gone further, hereby influencing the behaviors and beliefs of its audiences. Whether positively or negatively pop culture and media have the power to impact the masses, or rather the bulk of a population, in a considerable way. The influence that media and pop culture hold in society can potentially be dangerous, as Williams describes in her article. Williams warns us that consumerism is depreciating art and the culture behind it; she compares the displays of Versailles to that of a department store (1991), asking if both are to be considered art then what has art become? Williams also acknowledges that the masses are blinded by a fantasy world to societies’ realities, ignoring the unpleasantries of the world. For
Media continues to have an overwhelming influence on the behaviors and beliefs of its audiences, enabling pop culture to impact the masses both positively and negatively. The warnings Williams states in her 1991 article are ever present in modern society. Civilization will always fear the depreciation of art, but continue pushing boundaries to create it. People will always want to be blinded by their dream world and escape realities to hide from societies unpleasantries. Markets will continue to exploit fantasies and commoditize them in anyway possible. However the dream world is evolving and will keep changing with every generation, thereby creating the need for new “merchandise to fill the needs of the imagination” (Williams, 1991, p.