Conspicuous Consumption –Reveal the Wealth during the Funeral

Conspicuous Consumption –Reveal the Wealth during the Funeral
One of the aspects of the funeral reveals the wealth and social position of the members of the family which have left behind. The car at the head of the funeral procession is a good example.

The car at the head of the funeral procession is a good example. The head car is usually a Cadillac limousine, not because it gives a smoother ride than a Ford or a Chevy, although it might, but because it is a high prestige car, other ways of exhibiting wealth include the type of funeral home used, the way it is decorated, and the number and type of floral arrangement displayed.

In addition, there is the cemetery itself, which offers another chance for conspicuous consumption, the location of the grave the neighborhood in which the cemetery is located, even the view from the grave site - all the examples of how the family uses the funerals to exhibit its wealth.

Finally the tombstone will vary in size and quality according to how much the size and quality according to how much the family wishes to spend.
Conspicuous Consumption –Reveal the Wealth during the Funeral

Conspicuous Consumption

Conspicuous Consumption Continue from last post………. From one thing, the funeral service is a way of displaying wealth. The family may not want to admit it, but their actions are clearly part of a pattern that is commonly called “conspicuous consumption”: 

The things that we buy (consume) and the openly (conspicuously) display are designed not just for our own enjoyment but also for the impression they will make on others. This pattern may be seen in many aspects of funerals. 

The size, shape, and material of the casket are important, not because we are concerned about whether the deceased will be comfortable in the grave, and certainly not because we are worried about how long the casket will last under the ground, bur simply because for the few minutes that it will be seen by those who attend the funeral it will serve as an indicator of wealth and social position. 

Surely no one would claim that the deceased is more likely to be admitted top heaven in a metal casket than in a pine box. 

Conspicuous Consumption