Patricia Martin, author of RenGen: Renaissance Generation--The Rise of the Cultural Consumer and What it Means to your Business, pioneered the point of view that the convergence of art, technology and information is remaking the American consumer. Martin has been called the “The Margaret Mead” of consumer culture, and her work has been featured in Advertising Age, Brandweek, Chicago Tribune, the Harvard Business Review, and the New York Times, as well as ABC News and NPR.

Blog Entries by Patricia Martin

Death Becomes Us: How Culture Is Redefining the Way We Die

Posted December 8, 2009 | 02:13 PM (EST)


The holidays are no time to think about death. But then again, many of us will be re-connecting with extended family during the holidays, and we can't help but notice that our folks are "getting up there" in age. A new report from Northwestern University points out that obituaries...

Read Post

Volunteering to Change the World: Top 15 Reasons People Join

1 Comments | Posted October 28, 2009 | 05:18 PM (EST)


In cities across America, it's the season of the "cause." From charity 10K runs to sumptuous galas, volunteers of all sizes and stripes step forward in the fall to do their part. Chicago's no different. In fact, 1.7 million people volunteer in Chicago, contributing an equivalent of $3.6 million...

Read Post

Progressive Cultural Consumers Far From Socialists

5 Comments | Posted October 20, 2009 | 11:55 AM (EST)


On October 28, 1938 the first mass gathering of American Marxists was held in New York City. Glenn Beck seems set on marking the occasion. I'm referring to his flagrant use of the word "socialism" to describe the Obama administration's policies.

Whether it's the federal bail-out or health care reform,...

Read Post

Auto Industry, Meet Twitter: Ford Re-Launches Fiesta

3 Comments | Posted September 21, 2009 | 12:25 PM (EST)


Like many Chicago residents, I grew up somewhere else. After graduating from college in the early 1980s, I was unable to find meaningful work in my hometown of Detroit. Frustrated, I crammed my clothes, record albums and a howling cat into my Ford Fiesta and split for Chicago. Years later,...

Read Post

Culture and Commerce: Zappos, Francesca's Sow Spirit

1 Comments | Posted August 12, 2009 | 05:20 PM (EST)


Amazon is acquiring Zappos. On the face of it, the deal should work. Similarities abound. Both companies are online retailers -- one sells books CDs, and devices; the other, shoes. Both CEOs are visionary and respected. It should be a happy union save one striking difference: Zappos' legendary...

Read Post

Chicago Director Kyle Alvarez Debuts First Film in Vegas

Posted June 12, 2009 | 05:41 PM (EST)


Meet Kyle Alvarez, a young, ambitious Chicago filmmaker who is officially launching his first feature film, Easier With Practice, at CineVegas Film Festival in Las Vegas. I learned about Kyle through an acquaintance. And I plan to follow his exploits because I'm sure his journey will be chock-full...

Read Post

Alternative Energy: Rebirth of Our Economic Engine in the Wind

12 Comments | Posted May 13, 2009 | 08:35 PM (EST)


Pundits are fond of comparing Americans to Romans and forecasting our imminent fall. The plain truth is that we're living up to the reputation. But as we enter the death spiral of our civilization, history also teaches that this is what it looks like right before a renaissance. Nothing drove...

Read Post

Fashion Emergency: Designs for a Changed World

3 Comments | Posted April 29, 2009 | 12:21 PM (EST)


2009-04-28-JessicaMikeselldesign.jpg

Al Gore's consciousness raising over global warming appears to be making its way into the fashion world. Last week, as the School of the Art Institute's top design students took their visionary designs to the runway, the most consistent theme was fashion for...

Read Post

Farewell to Judith Krug, Champion for Intellectual Freedom

Posted April 14, 2009 | 09:43 PM (EST)


A few years ago, Judith Krug, Director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom and resident of Evanston, IL, invited me to lunch to discuss an idea she had. Over iced tea and fancy salads, she explained that she found the erosion of reader privacy in the digital...

Read Post

Dear Barney Frank: Sponsorship Policies for Bailed Out Banks

Posted March 10, 2009 | 01:05 PM (EST)


Dear Barney Frank:

Thanks for lowering the boom on Northern Trust for its lavish PGA sponsorship. But is a letter from you enough to reform an entire industry's marketing mentality? I'm dubious.

Your letter to CEO Rick Waddell describes the foul deed:

"Your bank not only sponsored the...
Read Post

Riveting Photos of the Inauguration: Valentine for a New President

Posted January 27, 2009 | 06:35 PM (EST)


As an expert on consumer culture, I'm always on the prowl for fresh insights into human behavior. Last week I had the opportunity to team up with award-winning photographer Catherine Karnow. She travels the globe photographing rare and often surprising aspects of world cultures.

She attended the inauguration...

Read Post

Dear Laura Bush: Leave Us Laughing, Please

Posted January 21, 2009 | 10:23 AM (EST)


Dear Laura Bush,

You made it. It's over, finally. I can only imagine the relief you must feel as you stroll across the White House lawn and into the helicopter leaving the whole sorry eight years behind you.

I want you to know that I always rooted for you....

Read Post

Blago Impersonator or a Real Twit?

Posted December 30, 2008 | 06:29 PM (EST)


Is Rod Blagojevich out Twittering today to tell his side of the story? Or is an impostor posting tweets like "How about joining me for a keg party in my office later?" Given a ribald remark such as this it may seem obvious to people living outside Illinois that it...

Read Post

Rick Warren's Secret Weapon: Killer Marketing Instincts

Posted December 22, 2008 | 12:37 PM (EST)


Dear Rick Warren,

From one marketer to another, my hat's off to you. You've built one of the world's most successful franchises: The Purpose Driven Life. I suspect you didn't set out to be a marketer. I assume that you wanted to be a preacher, but somehow the mega-church concept...

Read Post

Dear NASCAR: Get a Clue!

Posted November 21, 2008 | 12:58 PM (EST)


Dear Brian France:

It's time to retool NASCAR. While your family guided the franchise through good times, there's no denying that times have changed. The economic crisis means the bottom is falling out of pricey sponsorship deals that fueled the NASCAR machine for years. With corporate sponsors accounting for roughly...

Read Post