Buy, Consume, Obey! A Cartoon Gallery to Lampoon the Overgrown Consumerist Economy

October 31, 2024

It’s no secret that comedians offer some of the best political commentary. The Daily Show, The Onion, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver have become U.S. institutions that provide two critical services: (1) they shine a light on unsavory aspects of our culture and the absurdities of modernity, and (2) they bring lightness, laughter, and a measure of relief to deadly serious topics. Like these comedic “news” sources, cartoonists are capable of opening minds, providing scathing cultural critiques, and shaping popular opinion. And they do it in an economical, disarming style, able to convey a remarkable amount of information in a tight space. After all, they consist of some lines, shading, and a few words artistically applied to the page.

On my quest to understand why humanity finds itself stuck in a mire of overshoot-induced environmental and social crises, I regularly turn to jokes, sarcasm, and laughter to process what I’ve learned and maintain some semblance of psychological balance (as listeners of the Crazy Town podcast can attest). In that spirit, I’m happy to present a gallery of cartoons, graciously shared by Polyp and Andy Singer, two cartoonists who are unafraid to unleash their wicked wit, artistic talent, and good humor on the topics of capitalism, consumerism, and infantile fantasies of infinite economic growth.

Please share this gallery with your family members, friends, and colleagues who need a good laugh while contemplating the incongruence inherent in modern life (and don’t forget to share it with anyone who has been trapped by denial and delusion – maybe they’ll start to see things a little differently).

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This gallery is part of a series of interviews, articles, and events that Post Carbon Institute is hosting on the topic of moving beyond growth and consumerism. To access the full collection, sign up for the “Moving Beyond Growth” Deep Dive, which we are offering at half price in the spirit of degrowth (scholarships available).