Hammer Forum

Life After Shopping

  • to This is a past program

In an economy 70% dependent on consumption, should recession ravaged Americans rescue the holidays and shop 'til they drop? Dr. Benjamin R. Barber is Distinguished Senior Fellow, Demos and President CivWorld @ Demos and Walt Whitman Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University. Barber is the author of Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole. Consumer artists/activists the Reverend Billy and director Savitri D of the Church of Life After Shopping believe that consumerism is overwhelming our lives as our neighborhood parks, streets and libraries are disappearing into the corporatized world of big boxes and chain stores. Warning of the "Shopocalypse", the Church preaches against the sins of branding while praying for local economies and real experiences, not those mediated through products.

 

Public programs are made possible, in part, by a major gift from Ann and Jerry Moss. 

Additional support is provided by Bronya and Andrew Galef, Good Works Foundation and Laura Donnelley, an anonymous donor, and the Hammer Programs Committee.

This ongoing series of timely, thought-provoking events addresses current social and political issues.
Hammer Forum is moderated by Ian Masters, journalist, author, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and host of the radio programs Background Briefing, Sundays at 11AM, and The Daily Briefing, Monday through Thursday at 5PM, on KPFK 90.7 FM.