Compare and contrast what is considered " the Rise of Consumer Society" in both the Upper and Middle classes.

I do not think there is a perceptible rise in "conpicuous
consumerism" in the upper classes, they don't need to show how rich they are; in the
middle classes the rise in consumerism, (hence the consumer society) is related to the
advent of the media, from periodicals and journals in the 19th century to the techno
media we have today.

This works in 2 ways: by absorbing
advertising telling us what we "need", then by not only purchasing the article "needed"
but also diplaying you have that article.

Why spend
£120,000 on a car which does more or less the same thing as a £500 second hand
banger?

One can rationalise -better safety, improved
performance, and other supposedly sound reasons for not spending £119,500 on you family.
but how valid are these arguments?

Owt else you need to
know?