Poverty Chic
Our American consumerism culture has truly commodified almost every aspect of our existence. If you find someone doing exceptional work in social equity or philanthropy, you’ll also find someone else on the other end of the spectrum commodifying and aestheticizing the struggle. Reading about Mockbee and the Rural Studio, I couldn’t help but think about juxtaposing these projects with the cultural phenomenon of ‘Poverty Chic.’ Poverty Chic refers to “the rational consumption of poverty including an array of fads and fashions in popular culture.” (Wikipedia) As Mockbee heroically works with students to find pragmatic and beautiful solutions using humble materials, wealthy celebrities like the Kardashians appropriate the aesthetics of the struggle of having minimal resources and pose in photoshoots pretending to be poor. Middle class Americans are guilty of this too. We demonize unsheltered individuals who sleep in their cars while glorifying the tiny house/glamping movement. ‘Influencers’ will post themselves sleeping in converted vans or living in tiny homes costing as much as a traditional mortgage on a 2-bedroom home. I find the tension between poverty and poverty chic so interesting.
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