“I’m not trying to write agitprop, telling people exactly what to think. I’m just trying to make them think”, says Eric Schlosser about his aim and style of writing, which he intends to be emotionally calm, straightforward and deliberately simple. Part hereof is moreover a modest authorial presence in the text – most of the time going without a narrative –, the very rare use of quotations and the avoidance of polemics, all of this aiming at a reading experience where facts and evidences are recognized before style and literary flourishes. Most of this comes, as Schlosser stresses himself, from reporter John McPhee, whom he praises as “a master craftsman with integrity in every detail” and who was his teacher when studying at Princeton University.
Even though Schlosser himself, who worked as a script reader and story editor before becoming a full-time journalist for The Atlantic Monthly and the Rolling Stone magazine, points towards the argument put forward by Barbara Fairchild, editor of Bon Appétit magazine, that “there are two things about American [book] culture today: It's all in the timing and it's all in the title", he is seen in line with America’s most influential contemporary non-fiction writers and often – due to his investigations into the meatpacking industry – as a modern Upton Sinclair. His 2006 book Chew on This is a variation of the very successful 2001 Fast Food Nation, intending to inform especially adolescents.
Table of Contents
1. Literary Journalism
2. Freedom and politics
3. Corporations and money
4. Individualism and indifference
5. The role of alternative journalism
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines Eric Schlosser's book "Chew on This" within the context of contemporary American society, focusing on how corporate influence, consumerism, and the political climate shape current social dynamics and the role of the individual.
- The evolution of American literary journalism and the "New New Journalism" movement.
- The impact of free-market capitalism and corporate power on democratic processes.
- The relationship between television, mass consumption, and the rise of individualistic indifference.
- Schlosser’s critique of the fast-food industry and its systemic influence on children and society.
Excerpt from the book
Freedom and politics
What do the MacDonald brothers, Ray Kroc, Walt Disney, J. R. Simplot and, last but not least, Hamburger Charlie have in common? All of them are covered in Chew on This and all pursued and achieved the American dream of ascending socially and economically through hard work, self-reliance and the adoption of entrepreneurial attitudes, made possible by a traditionally rather egalitarian society that favours economic individualism and the free market while rejecting ample governmental regulations. The establishment of this fend-for-oneself-preference is, as Ashbee (2002) points out, much due to the fact that the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in comparison to European societies represented “the purest form of middle-class in terms of both its social structure and its governing ideology.” Accordingly, besides the appreciation of liberalism and equal opportunities it valued competition, which in economic terms translates into capitalism.
Summary of Chapters
Literary Journalism: This chapter traces the tradition of American literary journalism from the Gilded Age "Muckrakers" to the contemporary "New New Journalism" practiced by authors like Eric Schlosser.
Freedom and politics: It explores the intersection of the American Dream, entrepreneurial ideology, and the conservative shift in U.S. politics during the latter part of the twentieth century.
Corporations and money: This section investigates how money has increasingly influenced Washington and politics, leading to a decline in public interest and an increase in corporate power.
Individualism and indifference: It analyzes how modern consumer culture and television foster individualistic behavior and social indifference, effectively distancing citizens from the real world.
The role of alternative journalism: The final chapter discusses the importance of investigative, alternative journalism as a balancing institution against corporate influence and as a catalyst for democratic activism.
Keywords
Literary Journalism, Muckraking, Eric Schlosser, Chew on This, Fast Food Industry, Corporate Capitalism, American Dream, Consumerism, Political Influence, Individualism, Indifference, Television, Social Inequality, Democracy, Activism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work analyzes Eric Schlosser's book "Chew on This" as a lens through which to view the socio-political dynamics of contemporary America, specifically regarding corporate dominance and societal indifference.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include the history of literary journalism, the mechanics of free-market capitalism, the impact of mass media (television) on societal values, and the shrinking role of democratic participation.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to show how mechanisms that should correct monopolistic developments in a democratic society are being undermined by corporate influence and individual apathy.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author employs a qualitative analysis of literary journalism traditions, political history, and sociological theories to contextualize Schlosser's journalistic approach.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body treats the evolution of muckraking, the rise of the conservative consensus, corporate lobbying, the commercialization of schools, and the psychological impact of irony and TV consumption.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Literary Journalism, Corporate Capitalism, American Dream, Consumerism, Individualism, and Democracy.
How does the author define the "New New Journalism"?
It is defined as a movement of contemporary writers, like Schlosser, who use narrative, artful storytelling to report on important social issues, similar to early 20th-century muckrakers but often published in book form.
What is the role of television in the author's argument?
Television is presented as a "prime ally" of corporate capitalism, which uses consumerist content and irony to isolate individuals and decrease their interest in political and social responsibility.
Why does the author consider Schlosser's writing style effective?
The author argues that Schlosser's calm, straightforward, and neutral tone prevents his work from being dismissed as mere polemics, thereby encouraging readers to think independently.
What is the "power of one" mentioned in the concluding chapter?
It refers to a report about an individual (Christina Clark) who successfully challenged corporate influence in her school, serving as a call to action against indifference and for democratic activism.
- Quote paper
- Mathias Wick (Author), 2008, Eric Schlosser’s "Chew on This" – The changing zeitgeist, the impact of corporations on contemporary American society and the role of journalism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/141886
