mind and muse

We live in a time where deconstructed lattes and wearing eye patches to the gym exists. It has me at a loss. No judgement here, just a sliver of concern.

I recently did a series in my latest art class where I focused on creating pieces that surrounded my chosen theme: overconsumption. I’m someone who is a maximalist through and through, I honestly live in excess when it comes to my room decor, my closet, and everything. I simply don’t believe in millennial gray homes, throwing away things even when you use them daily, simply to be able to say you haven’t fallen for this modern day epidemic. As i’ve gotten older with my cluttered mindset, i’ve gotten into a cycle of shopping more ethically and becoming more realistic in terms of spending. I want to know the psychology behind the “more more more” mentality? marketplace mentality? consumerism? all of it, because it truly is an addiction no seems to talk about. I think that’s because another addiction that lives, is trying to seem like you have it all, in all the wrong ways. Influencers on the internet make it so easy to believe that you should own 5 different pairs of white jeans, and a collection of at least 10 pairs of flip-flops. Every store I go into is like a landfill, I don’t know…I just think enough stuff exists already. Yet again, I blame social media. With how overwhelming this crisis is, people have a warped view on what’s normal. It’s something I would even say is a dysmorphia. $3k hauls, “Things you need for summer 2026”, CLOSETS of skincare, etc. Obviously it’s an influencer’s job to tell us what we “need”, the issue isn’t those people, it’s the principle of what’s being promoted. Half the time I do enjoy doom scrolling through Brandy Melville hauls as inspiration, but when do we draw the line? The negative environmental effect? Decline in social well-being? Consuming media like this can’t be healthy, and the worst part, is it seems unavoidable especially for women.

Part of me believes it’s simply clickbait. People buy thousands of dollars worth of Edikted clothing, and then return it after the video has reached 100k. Or someone posts a video of them with a cart full of product at Sephora, but then puts it all back afterwards. However, in a way, I think that may be just as low as actually spending the money. The whole argument of “don’t comment on what other people do with their money” is nonsensical. It has nothing to do with bank accounts, and everything to do with the effects of macro consumerism. Purchasing habits are not isolated personal actions when they collectively drive waste, pollution, exploitative labor practices, and unsustainable use of resources. Critiquing overconsumption is not about policing someone’s finances; it is about recognizing the broader consequences of a culture built on excessive consumption. And trust me, there have been many points in my life (especially more recently) where I justify things like “retail therapy” or pointless trips to Target, but all I feel afterwards is guilt. It’s a 10 minute dopamine hit, nothing more.

I also recently saw the word “LARPing” used in a photo dump on Instagram. I researched it, and immediately I realized it was a concept that does not align with my beliefs on how life should be perceived. A huge pet peeve of mine is someone who does things unauthentically. Pretending to be or do something you’re not for the social status, and attention. For example, you post a picture outside of a high end restaurant, but you didn’t actually go in and have a meal. Or going to a concert for an artist you don’t even listen to, just to post to a fanbase you aren’t even technically a part of. Obviously this trend is objectively harmless, but for some reason, it give me the same disgust that heavy consuming does. Being yourself in a world full of posers is such a lost art, personal taste and unique personas seem to be disappearing. Life is more than a performative instagram story, at least that’s my take. I know everyone has such mixed opinions about this, but I find it to be sort of shallow, especially in a society where so much false media exists already.

I don’t think there really is an answer to this problem, because no matter what, at least for now, it will be everywhere. But I think we have to stop pretending like it doesn’t exist freely, and excessively. I’m going to continue to WANT to travel to huge malls, but it’s more about coming to realization that none of us NEED anything. Seeing the obscene craziness when it comes to this exigency, and learning to be an individual, with our own opinions and developing personal style without any faking is a craft, and it’s crucially important to me.