@article{THESIS,
      recid = {6086},
      author = {Tang, Xin},
      title = {Consumerism and Individualism in Popular Song Lyrics  From  1958 to 2021},
      publisher = {University of Chicago},
      school = {M.A.},
      address = {2023-06},
      number = {THESIS},
      abstract = {Popular music provides a unique lens through which to  examine the representation of consumerism and individualism  in contemporary culture. My paper investigates consumerism  and individualism in popular song lyrics from 1958 to 2021.  By analyzing the lyrics of Billboard Top 100 songs across  different genres, I track the frequency of materialistic  references, such as luxury items, money, designer brands,  food and beverages, and travel and tourism. My study sheds  light on the changing cultural values reflected in popular  music and explores how these values have evolved. I find  that while consumerism and individualism are not explicitly  mentioned in many songs, the frequent references to  material goods and personal experiences suggest the  salience of these concepts in popular culture. Furthermore,  my analysis reveals that consumerism and individualism have  become more prominent in popular music since the 1980s,  with certain genres such as hip hop and funk consistently  emphasizing these themes. Overall, my study contributes to  our understanding of how popular music reflects and shapes  cultural values.},
      url = {http://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/6086},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.6082/uchicago.6086},
}