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April
17, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 8Oakland,
CA
Carondelet High
students tackle
consumerism as issue of faith
Would Francis
of Assisi wear Nikes produced in a sweat shop? Would he dine at a table
made from mahogany wood logged from the Amazon rain forest?
This year’s Fontbonne Forum at Carondelet High was tailored to prompt
such discomfiting questions so as to nudge the 400-plus students to examine
consumerism in light of Catholicism during a lively two-hour session on
the Concord campus.
The Forum, initiated four years ago by teachers Andy Hodges, Maureen Wanket
and Mike Murphy, is named after Mother St. John Fontbonne, who re-founded
the Sisters of St. Joseph after the French Revolution. Mother Fontbonne
was active in the cultural, political and social issues of her time.
Previous forums had examined the Iraq war and feminism, said Hodges, director
of campus ministry. This year, he and Murphy, a member of the English
department, decided to dive into issues around consumerism.
They wanted to present students and faculty alike with ways to reflect
on the business practices and advertising philosophy that drive individuals
to shop and consume.
They asked, “What is there about shopping, and consuming goods,
natural resources and services that we equate with personal happiness?”
”How does consumption help us fill up the empty self and make us
feel part of something larger than ourselves?”
“We wanted to take our Catholic identity out of the pew and into
the public forum,” said Murphy.
The dozen student organizers for this year’s forum began researching
the issue last fall, explained senior Lauren Whalen, 17, a member of Christ
the King Parish in Pleasant Hill.
They read from a bevy of books including, “Following Christ in a
Consumer Society: the Spirituality of Cultural Resistance” by John
F. Kavanaugh; “The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit
and Power” by Joel Bakan; “Born to Buy: The Commercialized
Child in the New Consumer Culture” by Juliet B. Schor; and “Addicted
to Shopping…And Other Issues Women Have With Money” by Karen
O’Connor.
They asked themselves, “Is consumerism and Catholicism in conflict
when one comes up against products made in sweat shops with child labor?”
They viewed documentaries and movies dealing with the topic, and then
began crafting their presentation.
One of the committee members, sophomore Emma Thatcher, is a budding film
documentarian who attended the November vigil in Columbus, Georgia, calling
for the closure of the School of the Americas.
She had filmed participants’ speeches and vigil activities and then
woven them into a short documentary with her own collection of thoughts.
For the Fontbonne Forum, she created a multi-media piece with film clips
from movies and TV show commercials relevant to conspicuous consumption.
Her work also featured an interview by senior Hayley Wheeler with Father
Brian Joyce, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Pleasant Hill, on the
topic of consumerism from the Catholic perspective. Father Joyce spoke
of how society has made consumerism its religion and its rituals are holiday
shopping.
By the time the Forum arrived, the young women had also created a series
of short skits to go with the multi-media presentation.
When students and faculty entered the auditorium, they came face to face
with a large American flag decorated with corporate logos instead of stars.
They received handouts of provocative quotes and questions for conversation
starters.
From author Naomi Klein: “Every company with a powerful brand is
attempting to develop a relationship with consumers that resonates so
completely with their sense of self that they will aspire, or at least
consent, to be serfs under these feudal brandlords.”
One of the questions of the day was: “Is it an accident that teenaged
girls are the most ‘branded’ group of consumers in the history
of humankind?”
During an open mike session, about 80 percent of students and faculty
agreed that consumerism is out of control, and that a return to moderation
is necessary.
The other 20 percent of both groups defended the status quo with some
of the young women saying they are not influenced by advertising and that
the label brands they wear are simply personal reflections of who they
are.
“We definitely stirred the pot,” said Mike Murphy. “It
was a very interesting day, and we are still feeling the repercussions.”
Added Lauren Whalen, “They are really fired up.”
As for Whalen, Thatcher and Wheeler, they consider themselves part of
the 80 percent who see the wisdom of moderation and simplicity.
Consumerism doesn’t have to be a bad thing, the three agree. Individuals
have choices and can opt for making choices that are both socially and
environmentally good.
“But sometimes it’s hard to do,” said Thatcher, “when
it’s so easy to buy what’s quickest and handiest.” But,
she said, researching corporations for her film made her “aware
of what I buy.”
Carondelet
senior Sarah Bishop speaking during the open mike discussion on consumerism.
CARONDELET HIGH PHOTO
