The Modern Day Consumer 1987
Dive into Brian Burman's biting 1987 stop-motion claymation short, *The Modern Day Consumer*, a provocative 11-minute critique of how industrial capitalism reshaped human behavior.
Director: Brian Burman
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Modern Day Consumer (1987) about?
*The Modern Day Consumer* is a stop-motion claymation short that explores how industrial capitalism transformed human existence into a cycle of consumption. The film uses stylized animation to depict everyday rituals—eating, socializing, aging—as extensions of a system that thrives on dependency. It's a surreal, thought-provoking take on the absurdity of modern consumer culture.
Who directed The Modern Day Consumer?
The film was directed by Brian Burman, a visionary animator known for his bold, socially conscious storytelling through stop-motion and claymation.
Who stars in The Modern Day Consumer?
Cast details for *The Modern Day Consumer* are not publicly listed, a common feature of short films from this era.
Is The Modern Day Consumer (1987) worth watching?
While short in runtime, Burman's film is a visual masterpiece packed with sharp social commentary. Its unconventional style and biting critique make it a standout in 1980s animation, ideal for those who appreciate thought-provoking, offbeat cinema. Worth it for animation fans and cultural critics alike.
How long is The Modern Day Consumer?
The film runs for 11 minutes, a compact yet impactful runtime perfect for its condensed yet dense narrative.
About The Modern Day Consumer (1987) — A Claymation Critique of Consumer Culture
Dive into Brian Burman's biting 1987 stop-motion claymation short, *The Modern Day Consumer*, a provocative 11-minute critique of how industrial capitalism reshaped human behavior. Burman's visionary animation strips away the gloss of modern life to expose the raw mechanics of consumption—our eating, socializing, grooming, and even aging—all steeped in ritualistic compliance with a system that thrives on dependency. The film's surreal, exaggerated world mirrors our own, pushing viewers to question the absurdity of packaging humanity as just another product on the shelf.
This isn't just a film; it's a darkly playful dissection of a society wired to prioritize acquisition over connection. Burman's clay figures twist and contort through the motions of everyday life, their movements both hypnotic and unsettling, as they illustrate a world where even the most personal acts—from feasting to retirement—are choreographed by the invisible hand of capitalism. A cult favorite among animation scholars, *The Modern Day Consumer (1987)* challenges audiences to look beyond the glitter of consumer culture and confront its dehumanizing underbelly.