Jotting #25 - Manietes article analysis. "In Search of Consumptive Resistance"

Prompt: Analyze Manieties structure.

My response: Outline major arguments. Look at smaller arguments and tell how they worked together to support the larger points. Look at the details he used to support the arguments that he is making.

Manietes is doing “reconnaissance” in order to help the reader understand the movement. To best do this he will be discussing what is being said about the movement and why these things are being said. Whether the reasons for the voluntary simplicity movement are good or bad, Manietes overarching goal is to develop an argument as to why the voluntary simplicity movement is here to stay.

Sustainable development is the buzz phrase in contemporary environmentalism today. It is the goal to which the contemporary environmentalists strive. This does not deal with the issue of consumption, however. This over consumption is spread to the entire world causing a “tyranny of expectations”. Manietes supports this by mentioning the fact that the middle class is gauging its wealth against the top 10%. Furthermore, consumption is glamorized internationally with shows such as “Melrose Place”. If these standards of living were to come even partly true, Manietes points out, among other things, “mainstream environmentalism stalls out”.

Result of the aforementioned things according to Manietes “simplistic moralizing about consumption that little advances the intellectual analysis or collective action necessary for taking on the consumption question.” Going on down the line, results of this are: “Rhetorical lambasting of advertising, condemnation of the immorality of over consumption, and a rosy-eyed, apolitical romantacization of the joys of simple living.”

Manietes then shifts his focus to the VSM. The VSM is viewed as exclusively American even though it is not. Americans wish to get their lives back and that is their reason for VSM. It is not out of a deep concern for the environment or a desire to bring about equality worldwide but simply be get a balance and stress free life.
VSM is not new, Manietes uses the words of Vanderbilt to critique the VSM in that it assumes people are living lives that need simplification. Those who are volunteer simplicists only got to that point because they were at one point in time, wealthy enough to afford to be voluntarily simplifiers. In addition they are oblivious to the fact that there are those who are involuntary simplicists. Finally, Manietes states, the VSM is for real. Proponents of the VSM have options, unlike those who are involuntary simplicists. VSM is also used to sell things.

The answer is to go for a consumptive resistance. Manietes uses the language of “Consumptive angle” – new call for sustainability. Manietes is convinced that voluntary simplicity would cause an unnecessary burden on the backs of the bottom 20%. VSM fails to look at the broader institutional dynamics. Manietes suggests that the powerful whose power is vast be held more accountable of the fact that they are large contributors to the reason that the masses consume so much.

Jotting #23 - Voluntary Simplicity

Jotting #23: How have your impressions of the Voluntary Simplicity changed after reading this article (Maniates essay, “In Search of Consumptive Resistance,” pp. 199-235)

“Value moderation over excess, spiritual development over material consumption, cooperation over competition, and nature over technology”
-Rich Hayes on the voluntary simplicity movement

This is a little bit of a snapshot that I hope my life entails. I find that Hayes has succinctly summed up how I hope to live out my life. The ways in which it manifests itself will of course, be different. But that is what the journey is about, figuring out how living in this manner will display itself. As Andrews puts it those who believe in the Voluntary simplicity movement are “returning to the good life.” A live that is moderated, lived in cooperation with others and with a connection to nature. Above all these, for me, I find that spiritual development is much more important than material consumption. The practice of voluntary simplicity would, in large part, be in hopes to pursue and further my spiritual development as a Christian.

Maniates comments of voluntary simplicity are intriguing to me. In particular I found one of his quotes rang true with me particularly well. In regards to spending time in the woods “it allows you to observe the unnecessary complexity in life.” The area in which I grew up had a tremendous amount of natural beauty that allowed me to continually observe the “unnecessary complexity of life”. So much so in fact that coming to the city I found myself overwhelmingly distracted by all the new options that opened up to me. It requires a great amount of discipline to be able to observe unnecessary complexity of life while in the midst of complexity. Until recently I had convinced myself that it was impossible. However, its impossibility is only made valid by my personal feelings as to how it should be done. Nonetheless, my life in a complex city has further inspired me to desire to live more simply in my life and not be wrapped up in keeping up with the top 10% of America (as Maniates notes).

I found Andrews observation of the Voluntary Simplicity Movement interesting. When looking at my personal thoughts to the Voluntary Simplicity Movement I recognize it’s “self-help” qualities. Her call to have the movement “take the next step” is appropriate and necessary. If it remains a self-help movement then it will move and stop. The movement will cease whenever it has lost momentum and people will forget about it.