Let's Talk About “Underconsumption-core” | analyzing the tiktok trend and its discourse

Summary

The video script delves into the 'Underconsumption Core' trend on TikTok, a response to overconsumption, showcasing minimalist lifestyles. The speaker, a self-proclaimed thrifty individual, explores the trend's meaning, its reception, and the discourse surrounding it, including accusations of normalizing poverty or being preachy. They suggest the trend reflects a societal shift towards sustainability and mindfulness in consumption, potentially influenced by economic hardships and a desire for authenticity amid the curated aesthetics of social media.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses 'underconsumption core', a TikTok trend where people share content about minimizing or avoiding overconsumption in their lives.
• 🔄 It is a response to 'overconsumption', a societal and economic expectation of excessive buying and using up goods or resources, which is incentivized by capitalism and can be wasteful and destructive.
• 💬 The term 'core' in 'underconsumption core' implies an associated visual aesthetic and online content presence, distinguishing it from the behavior of underconsumption itself.
• 🤔 The script raises questions about what qualifies as underconsumption and why it is labeled as a 'core', highlighting the lack of a clear, shared definition.
• 👗 Examples of underconsumption behaviors include owning a few pairs of shoes, not getting nails done, or using an old phone instead of upgrading, which some viewers argue is just normal consumption.
• 💭 The script explores the discourse around whether the trend is preachy or judgmental, with the creator suggesting that feelings of judgment may be a projection from viewers.
• 🚫 There is also concern that the trend could promote hazardous behaviors, like using expired makeup, although the creator has not personally seen content that seems unsafe.
• 🏛 The trend is criticized by some for aestheticizing poverty, but the creator argues that the behaviors shown are not exclusive to poverty and can be part of a middle-class lifestyle.
• 🎭 Some people are making fun of the trend by showcasing their own high levels of consumption, which the creator finds confusing but suggests might be a form of self-deprecation.
• 🌐 The script speculates that the trend is happening due to a cultural jadedness with overconsumption and a desire for more realistic and sustainable lifestyles, as well as economic factors and a growing interest in sustainability.
• 🔑 The potential positive impact of the trend is to encourage more people to consume less, which aligns with broader cultural shifts towards sustainability and mindfulness in consumption.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?

The main topic discussed is 'underconsumption core,' a trend on TikTok where people share content showing ways to minimize or avoid overconsumption in their lives.

Why is the 'underconsumption core' trend considered a response to 'overconsumption'?

The 'underconsumption core' trend is a direct response to 'overconsumption' as it promotes a lifestyle that is more mindful and less wasteful, contrasting the excessive buying and using of goods and resources that 'overconsumption' entails.

What does the suffix 'core' typically imply in internet aesthetics?

The suffix 'core' in internet aesthetics usually implies an associated visual aesthetic and a presence of online content oriented around that topic or aesthetic.

What is the economic term for 'underconsumption' and how does it differ from its use in the TikTok trend?

The economic term for 'underconsumption' refers to the purchase of goods and services at a level lower than that of their supply. In the TikTok trend, 'underconsumption' is used to describe individual consumption habits that are more sustainable and less excessive, which is a new application of the term.

Why might some people argue that the 'underconsumption core' trend is just showing 'normal consumption'?

Some people might argue that the trend is showing 'normal consumption' because they believe that the behaviors displayed, such as owning a few pairs of shoes or using the same phone for years, are already common and not necessarily indicative of underconsumption.

What is the potential issue with the 'underconsumption core' trend becoming 'preachy' or judgmental?

The potential issue is that the trend could alienate or make people feel judged for their own consumption habits, which could detract from the overall positive message of promoting sustainable and mindful consumption.

Why might some critics say that the 'underconsumption core' trend is 'aestheticizing poverty'?

Critics might say this because they believe the trend is capitalizing on and making trendy the behaviors that low-income individuals have had to adopt out of necessity, rather than choice.

What is the speaker's theory on why some people might feel judged by the 'underconsumption core' content?

The speaker's theory is that some people might feel judged because they are projecting their own feelings of guilt or inadequacy about their consumption habits onto the content creators, rather than the creators actually judging them.

What are some potential negative impacts of the 'underconsumption core' trend that the speaker considers?

The potential negative impacts considered include people lying about their consumption habits to fit the trend or a possible backlash that promotes consumerism as a response to the trend.

What does the speaker suggest as the main reasons behind the rise of the 'underconsumption core' trend?

The speaker suggests that the trend is rising due to people's jadedness with overconsumption, the current economic climate, and a growing interest in sustainability, especially among younger people.

What is the speaker's overall view on the 'underconsumption core' trend?

The speaker views the trend as interesting and potentially beneficial for promoting more conscious consumption habits, despite acknowledging that it might not be the most effective tool due to its vagueness.