Planned Obsolescence or the Fall of "Cool" Smoking

They don't make them like they used to. Do you ever hear your parents saying this when something breaks or somehow loses its functionality? Maybe it's just a cheap piece of plastic, but maybe it's something as valuable as an automobile. And whether the product wears down to worthlessness or simply goes out of style, we all have possessions that will eventually (and much sooner than we would like) become useless or outdated.

Planned obsolescence is a strategy employed by industries that involves intentionally designing products that will have a very limited life span, and it represents a distinct paradigm shift within the American industrial system. Taking its roots in the early to mid twentieth century, planned obsolescence has become an increasingly prevalent practice in the world today. There is clear reasoning (however corrupt), for why this system developed. If the perfect product is sold by a manufacturer, then consumers must only buy it once, and it should last them for their lives. To combat this financial pitfall and establish a dependable mode of profit that may last over time, manufacturers now sell products that are bound to break or become outdated, forcing consumers to return to the market much sooner. This paradigm shift is a clear development in the US that affects the life of every consumer.

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Do you remember when it was cool to smoke cigarettes? It's likely that you don't! At least you don't remember such an era during your lifetime, that is.  Midway through the twentieth century, smoking was often viewed as the "cool" thing to do. Whether you were with your friends, relaxing, or starring in a movie, it was popular to have a cigarette in your hand.

However, as the dangers of smoking became more aware to health administrations and the public community, a clear paradigm shift occurred within American culture that would reshape the perspective of this popular trend. American attitudes towards smoking have changed dramatically in less than a century, and today's society is being warned against its dangers and harmful health effects through public education and media. This paradigm shift has reshaped cultural beliefs and influenced the lives of countless Americans.