CCT333+Weekly+Lab+Response+Question+4


 * // LAB 4 - "The Story of Stuff"

Write three paragraphs on how Annie Leonard defines the system of the 'materials economy' and describes its interactions.//**

In “The Story of Stuff” Annie Leonard describes how the process of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal work hand in hand in order to create a material economy. The material economy consists of products that are at first exploiting the natural resources all over the world. Secondly, the raw materials such as plastic and paper are produced in factories causing chemical toxins that are polluting our air and bodies, reducing our overall health. These products are then distributed for other people to create (usually children in third world countries working for a significantly low wage) and then stalked on shelves for us to buy for either a low or high price without giving any portion of that profit to the children that made it.

For the item to be successful it is critical to advertise it properly so that consumer’s will feel that they NEED to buy it. Therefore, items will be made in poor quality so that consumers will have no choice but to continue buying things. According to Annie, the more consumers buy the unhappier they actually are. For they are in a way living their life in a circular system – going to work, making money, viewing advertisements and spending money on things based on those advertisements. This leaves the consumer living their life very repetitively; hence have nothing to look forward to for they are so consumed by materialistic needs that are not even, realistically needed. Since the stuff that we buy is highly consumed with toxins, majority of it cannot even be recycled or properly disposed of. This creates more pollution, especially toxins in the air that end up harming the environment.

Leonard believes that this linear system will not survive and that changes need to be made in order for our planet to exist and keep us happy and healthy. Since our resources are not finite and at the rate that they are being exploited, Leonard claims that the system needs to change or else we will just run out of recourses. There is hope, as long as no one gives up and continues to be environment friendly and gets educated on sustainability so that individuals can participate in changing the system rather than continuing with the old ways that are obviously changing the planet overall quite negatively.


 * //Define extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal.//**


 * Extraction:** process of exploiting natural resources in order to manufacture and produce products for the economy. The natural resources are being cut, mined, and hauled in vast amounts. These resources are being exploited mostly in the developed countries and have been so extracted that the larger corporations are moving into developing and under developed countries and using up their recourses because they have ran out of recourses in their own country. Therefore, water, trees, mountains, mining sites are being destroyed and lost due to the fact that we need more and can never run out of things, however, no one seems to be aware that these resources are not finite.


 * Production:** is the second stage of how “stuff” moves around. The natural resources are now processed and mixed with certain chemicals in order to create products. However, the creation of these products is producing toxins that go into the air that we breathe but even worse, they go into our bodies. The neurotoxins that are used in mattresses, computers, pillows, appliances, etc are used in order to prevent the products from setting on fire and are significantly dangerous because they affect the brain and overall health of an ordinary individual and individuals who work in these factories. Not only is this affecting adults but also babies themselves are already affected because of the human being milk that they consume. The mother’s milk is intoxicated by many toxins and dangerously feeds the child without even being aware that they are poisoning them.


 * Distribution:** is the third stage of how the things we consume are moved around and land in our hands. These products that are already made are now being sold at a low prices, quickly so that people can buy them quickly and new products ca be made quickly. The price of the products (if significantly cheap) is not exactly going to the people who produce the item for the item is produced in different places and different people for a very low price. The people that do pay for it are the ones who live in a country where their natural resources are extracted in order to make our products. The production of it leaves individuals suffering when they live by plant factories who produce them. And young children in developing countries have to quit school in order to make these products for a disturbingly low wage.


 * Consumption:** this is the fourth and most important stage of how things are moved around. In this stage the products we consume are at first intentionally made so that they either break very easily or change drastically (fashion, technology, etc). These products overall are constantly advertised through the media, making people believe that they need these products to improve their life, when in reality the product will break in less than six months or the style will advance/change. Therefore, the advertisements will never end for there will always be new items that will persuade the consumer whether they need it or not.


 * Disposal:** this is the last stage of how stuff is finally disposed. Many items are designed in order not to be recyclable therefore they are either dumped in landfills or first burned in an incinerator and then dumped. Either way it is harmful to the environment for it causes pollution, harms one’s health and changes the climate. In addition, the burned garbage creates the most dangerous toxin – dioxin affecting the overall environment.


 * //How does her Flash presentation effectively organize the categories comprising 'the materials economy' in its interface design?//**

The flash presentation effectively organizes the categories of the material economy in its interface design by being very simple and direct. Positioning her against a white background in the presentation gives a good contrast for something realistic and unrealistic. Her verbal language is directly communicated with the images that are presented.

The images seem to be designed in a way so that universally, no matter what age group, the presentation could be understood. The movement of these images is also effective in giving a sense of realism and allowing the individual to grasp a better and clearer understanding of what she is trying to present. The audio is also effective in the same way for it is just background sound so that another sense of realism can be added.