Sunday, January 29, 2012

Video: The Lightbulb Conspiracy

The Light Bulb Conspiracy from Pete Hinne on Vimeo.





Once upon a time..... products were made to last. Then, at the beginning of the 1920s, a group of businessmen were struck by the following insight: 'A product that refuses to wear out is a tragedy of business' (1928). Thus Planned Obsolescence was born. Shortly after, the first worldwide cartel was set up expressly to reduce the life span of the incandescent light bulb, a symbol for innovation and bright new ideas, and the first official victim of Planned Obsolescence. During the 1950s, with the birth of the consumer society, the concept took on a whole new meaning, as explained by flamboyant designer Brooks Stevens: 'Planned Obsolescence, the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary...'. The growth society flourished, everybody had everything, the waste was piling up (preferably far away in illegal dumps in the Third World) - until consumers started rebelling.

©2010 Arte France. 75 min.

http://documentaryheaven.com/the-lightbulb-conspiracy

http://www.facebook.com/TheLightBulbConspiracy?ref=sgm

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