Gifts

Today I think the idea of a gift has changed. It no longer seems as acceptable to give something that simply holds significant value between the giver and receiver. Because of the way society is gifts are bought and given that are deemed 'useful' to the receiver. In other words gifts are simply products to help reinforce the desired identity and standing of someone in society. We all fall into this, I myself ask for example what someone would like as a present, what they need. Because of society seemingly dependant on consumership and identity, we have an imbedded fear of parting with money or 'wasting' time on something that holds no relevance to someones status in society.

I agree with Baudrillard that the code is really impossible to escape from. The way that society has been moulded means we unconciously fall into the 'traps', it has become innate in us. In the same way that the Dutch outlawed cockfighting in Bali for being unproductive and time wasting, similar things have happened here. This has built up to now, when anything that doesn't contribute to someones identity, to society and social standing is deemed wasteful and pointless.