A Four Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

LOST IN THE SUPERMARKET: CONSUMERISM

Program 09-11-29-A

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Outlet malls are America's number-one travel destination. They get more visitors every year than Times Square, Disney World and the Grand Canyon combined. We definitely have a lust for low prices. But this discount culture comes with a high cost. In this hour of TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, we'll explore the high price we're paying for living in "The Age of Cheap."Also, "Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays."

SEGMENT 1:

Rob Walker writes the weekly column "Consumed," for the New York Times Magazine, and is the author of "Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are." He talks with Steve Paulson about branding. And essayist Chuck Klosterman talks with Steve about TV's "Mad Men." He reads from his essay on the subject: "It Will Shock You How Much It Never Happened" is included in Klosterman's latest book, "Eating th Dinosaur."

SEGMENT 2:

Ellen Ruppel Shell teaches journalism at Boston University and is the author of "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture." She talks with Anne Strainchamps about the effects of our obsession with low prices. Also, Joel Waldfogel is the author of "Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays." He talks with Jim Fleming about what's really wrong with all those cringe-inducing neckties and fruitcakes nobody eats

SEGMENT 3:

David Dalton and Tony Scherman are co-authors of "Pop: The Genius of Andy Warhol." Dalton and his sister were assistants on Warhol's early Pop Art paintings when they were in their teens. Dalton tells Jim Fleming he remembers Warhol as a man with big plans.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 09-11-29-A.

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Books & CDs:

Ellen Ruppel Shell, Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture (The Penguin Press)
Joel Waldfogel, Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Presents for the Holidays (Princeton University Press)
Rob Walker, Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are (Random House)
Chuck Klosterman, Eating The Dinosaur (Scribner)
Tony Scherman and David Dalton, Pop: The Genius of Andy Warhol (Harper)

Websites:

• -- Rob Walker
  http://www.robwalker.net/
  
• -- Chuck Klosterman
  http://promo.simonandschuster.com/chuckklosterman/
  
• -- Ellen Ruppel Shell
  http://www.ellenruppelshell.com/
  
• -- Joel Waldfogel/Scroogenomics
  http://www.scroogenomics.com/
  
• -- David Dalton/ ?Pop: The Genius of Andy Warhol? http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780066212432/Pop/index.aspx

Clips:

• -- Music and clips heard in Consumerism mashup:
  
• -- Money/Pink Floyd
  from the CD, Dark Side of the Moon (EMI Records)
  
• -- Clips from "Big Ideas That Changed the World: Consumerism"
  from the UK Channel 5 series, "Big Ideas That Changed The World"
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ29DQvopZo
  
• -- "Shoppin' for Clothes"/The Coasters
  from the CD, "The Very Best of the Coasters"
  
• -- "Ebay (Parody of "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys)"/"Weird Al" Yankovic"
  from the CD, "Poodle Hat" (Volcano)
  http://www.weirdal.com/
  
• -- Clip heard in Chuck Klosterman interview:
  -- "Mad Men: Season One" DVD (Lionsgate)

Music:

• -- Music heard after Rob Walker interview:
  -- "Pabst Blue Ribbon"/The Untamed Youth from the CD, "Untamed Melodies" (Norton Records)
  http://www.juvalamu.com/youth/ http://www.nortonrecords.com/youth.html
  
• -- Music heard after Chuck Klosterman interview:
  -- "Mongoloid"/Devo
  from the CD, "Devo E-Z Listening Disc" (Rykodisc) http://www.clubdevo.com/shop http://www.myspace.com/devo Music heard after Ellen Ruppel Shell interview:
  -- "Sprite: Mellonball Bounce (Instrumental)"/Raymond Scott from the CD, "Manhattan Research Inc."
  http://www.raymondscott.com/
  
• -- Music heard after Joel Waldfogel interview:
  -- "Satisfaction"/Devo
  from the CD, "Devo E-Z Listening Disc" (Rykodisc) http://www.clubdevo.com/shop http://www.myspace.com/devo
  
• -- Music heard after David Dalton interview:
  -- "Guess I'm Falling In Love (Instrumental Version)"/The Velvet Underground from the CD, "Another View" (Verve Records)

Distribution dates: week of 11/28/2010 - hour 2 week of 11/29/2009 - hour 1 click HERE for timings and cues

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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