Consumerism has become an important part of American culture. American culture has been so strongly linked with buying that it has even spawned its own cultural traditions (Black Friday, malls, device upgrades, brand loyalty). However, as Americans we often see consumerism as something that others do, not us. It’s time to look a bit more closely at our own relationship to consumerism. Take a look at your cultural activities and observe the way consumer culture manifests itself. How have some of your social activities become intertwined with consumerism? For example, how does consumerism impact something like skateboard culture or pet ownership? Use the articles from Signs of Life as well as your own experience to analyze the current consumer culture. You will select a particular product, service, or activity of American consumerism you have familiarity with and performing a semiotic analysis. How does this item of consumerism shape the cultural interactions of your daily life? Focus your essay on explaining the ways consumerism impacts your selected cultural activity. Definitions and descriptions of the activity should be brief and to the point. You may center your essay around a specific object, service, or activity. You are required to incorporate two articles from Signs of Life, properly cited according to MLA style. Strongly consider additional research to strengthen the support for your argument. All sources must be properly cited within your essay and with a works cited.