There are more slaves today than at any other time in history

[Fenrir]

I think the broadest definition of slavery would be any form of indentured servitude in which the worker is coerced into and cannot free themselves from it of their own accord. Child labour, if those children are willing to work and can walk away if they ever so desired, does not qualify as slavery but the (perfectly legal ) sponsorship system as practiced in Gulf countries today most certainly does.

The structural framework of the whole aristocrat-peasant social dynamic may have changed over the years, but the ideas continue to persist in subtle ways. Take any country in which immigrants are wholeheartedly assigned menial or low-level jobs (because the natives of the land consider it beneath themselves) but are covertly discriminated against in more 'respectable' occupations.

The fundamental principle behind slavery is the notion that there exists a class of inferior sub-humans with far fewer rights whose sole purpose is to serve the 'master' race. Social and economic exclusion were the main instruments of the slave-drivers and those instruments are very much alive even today.

 

[redhawk23]

Agreed.

"The gun to your head is your head". We are the most effective agents of our own oppression. The more we become a consumer society, and the more time we spend on having rather then being, we become more oppressed as a people.

Go to the projects, and these kids are poor as hell, but they make sure to spend all of their money and funds to get the latest Jordans, the latest phones, instead of investing that money, time, and effort to further their development. That is the very definition of slavery in my opinion.

In a consumer society, consumption itself is the dominant form of self definition and development. Advertising works not just by presenting the product its self but by drawing connections between the product and ideals and beliefs. The products become symbols for those ideals. People define themselves through the consumption of the products and therefore seek associate themselves with the ideals the products indicate.

The variety of different products, the variety of advertising messages, presents us with a sense of choice and agency. Consumption, rather than action is what counts as self expression.

 

[superpower]

In a consumer society, consumption itself is the dominant form of self definition and development. Advertising works not just by presenting the product its self but by drawing connections between the product and ideals and beliefs. The products become symbols for those ideals. People define themselves through the consumption of the products and therefore seek associate themselves with the ideals the products indicate.

The variety of different products, the variety of advertising messages, presents us with a sense of choice and agency. Consumption, rather than action is what counts as self expression.

Seems like a bit more drawn out way of saying "you are what you eat".

Now to me this sounds like something the head of a consumer society would want you to believe. Buy this to be that.

I see your point and agree though. When someone is raised believing jordans make you cool..... We are screwed.