“I Shop; Therefore, I Am”

A digital conversation and philosophical inquiry into the relationship between self-actualization and advertising.

Honors Thesis, Passed with Highest Honors | Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University

Thanks to the digital age and modern global economy, we have ready access to information, goods, and services. There are seemingly endless possibilities of things to buy and do during our time here on Earth. We now have the power and freedom to create the best version of ourselves and build our lives just how we dream of. Yet, in spite of this newfound freedom, many people actually feel oppressed by our radically consumerist culture rather than liberated by it. To what extent can one achieve authenticity in our digital, highly consumerist Western society? 

Thesis: The quest for authenticity is constant and requires new behaviors from both buyers and sellers. We can come very close to achieving authenticity in our digital, highly consumerist environment if sellers strive to create more virtuous ads and buyers approach their self-creation existentially.