This 2008 short documentary is as eye opening as it is repulsive. The state of American consumerism and self-indulgence is spewed from the mouth of a dozen Los Angeles teenagers whose preoccupation with wealth supersedes their attention to race. Having been bred in a culture of heightened awareness to financial status has more demanded than created the infatuation with presentation and social awareness.
The numerous talking heads are usually smack dab in the middle of an expansive abode or amongst hoards of frivolous clothing purchases. One girl, hyper-aware of social stratification at her high school, models the various clique clothing while articulating the general expense. Another boy sorts through stacks of $300 jeans and dozens of $100-300 dollars sneakers scattered across is floor. On numerous occasions the kids recount their general expenditures, whether it be hundreds of dollars for casual shopping or the same amount for pre and post-prom activities. And while a few kids provide the monetary supplement themselves, one girl scoffs at the idea that she will ever have to work. Perhaps the most interesting thing we see in these kids is a semi-developed attention to social stratification and organization. Miniature sociologists with surprising scrutiny. They identify, clearly, the importance of money in everything they say and do. At the same time, for many of them, the dollars directly inhibit their attention to everything else. A day at school is composed of gathering visual data about everyone else’s clothing choices. Their approval depends on its quality, uniqueness, and brand.
