Consumerism as fascism

Sadly it seems that JG Ballard’s new novel, Kingdom Come (Published in Britain by Fourth Estate), portrays consumerism as a form of fascism. An article in today’s Independent quotes one of Ballard’s characters saying: “Consumerism creates huge unconscious needs that only fascism can satisfy. If anything, fascism is the form that consumerism takes when it opts for elective madness.”

Judging by the rest of the article, which is partly based on an interview with Ballard, the novelist shares the opinions of his character. For instance, he boasts of his modest semi-detached house in Shepperton: “My three children were brought up in this house and it hasn’t changed at all. Nothing has been moved for 30 years.”