Questions

  1. Read once again the title of the essay. What assumption underlies the title? If, as Rose says, Caldor, Waldbaum’s, and Bob’s Surplus were the “cathedrals” (para. 11) of her time—the 1980s—what are our “cathedrals” now? Consider the impact of online shopping. How has that phenomenon changed the economic landscape that Rose describes?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 7 - 3. Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today - Questions: Read once again the title of the essay. What assumption underlies the title? If, as Rose says, Caldor, Waldbaum’s, and Bob’s Surplus were the “cathedrals” (para. 11) of her time—the 1980s—what are our “cathedrals” now? Consider the impact of online shopping. How has that phenomenon changed the economic landscape that Rose describes?
  2. How does Rose go about undermining our conventional attitudes concerning materialism? Does she consider Americans to be too materialistic? Explain.

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 7 - 3. Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today - Questions: How does Rose go about undermining our conventional attitudes concerning materialism? Does she consider Americans to be too materialistic? Explain.
  3. How does Rose characterize buying and shopping in paragraphs 6 and 7? Do you agree with her?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 7 - 3. Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today - Questions: How does Rose characterize buying and shopping in paragraphs 6 and 7? Do you agree with her?
  4. How does Rose’s use of analogy and self-characterization appeal to her audience? How does it contribute to her argument?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 7 - 3. Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today - Questions: How does Rose’s use of analogy and self-characterization appeal to her audience? How does it contribute to her argument?
  5. Writing in 1984, Rose saw materialism and conformism as issues from the 1950s, already dated thirty years in the past; now, another thirty years later, to what extent does Rose speak to the economic issues of our time?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 7 - 3. Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today - Questions: Writing in 1984, Rose saw materialism and conformism as issues from the 1950s, already dated thirty years in the past; now, another thirty years later, to what extent does Rose speak to the economic issues of our time?