The Pink Flamingo

It's pink, it's bright, and it's very hard to miss.  The plastic pink flamingo, which came into the market in the 1950's, became an instant hit and a popular lawn accessory.  In Jennifer Price's essay, "The Plastic Pink Flamingo:  A Natural History," Price satirizes the wild popularity of these souvenirs as a symbol of American wealth and greed.  She uses these flamingos to show that Americans were greedy with their newly obtained affluence in the post-war era of the 1950's.  

With World War II coming to an end, American entered a new period of affluence, in which the entire society was driven by rampant consumerism.  People would buy things that they would not even need, "just because."  Price correctly symbolizes the plastic pink flamingo to this behavior.  The pink flamingo is, "synonymous with wealth and pizzazz" (7-8).  People began buying things such as, "washing machines, cars, and kitchen counters," all of which were, "proliferated in passion pink, sunset pink, and Bermuda pink" (41-43). Price uses the color pink to show the overzealous display of wealth that was characteristic of Americans in this era and to mock it.  She also uses a sarcastic and mocking tone throughout the essay to show her disapproval of this behavior.

This display of wealth is still present today.  Although it is true that most people do not have pink flamingos in their lawn, people who wear designer clothes are the prime example of people's need to display their wealth.  It isn't hard to see someone walking around with Aeropastale or Hollister clothing.  These company's t-shirts are not that special, except for the fact that the company's name is written on the front of them; however, these t-shirts are almost 3 times the price of a normal t-shirt.  Why buy the designer one? I never understood this.  I myself, a proud Indian, always look for the best deal, going to Kohl's, armed with my 30 percent discount coupons, and I am always headed toward the clearance section.  Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but the point is, why buy a t-shirt for 30 dollars, when you can buy the same thing for a much cheaper price?  It is to display one's own wealth.  It is human nature to want to be above your peers, and one way would be buying more expensive clothing and showing it off, whether it is an expensive Rolex, or a t-shirt with some extra print on the front.