The Light Bulb Conspiracy documentary starts in 1928 when a number of businessmen decided that when the products they are selling are made to last a long time it is detrimental to their businesses. Ever since the 1920’s the Obsolescence of products has increased massively. Take for example the average phone which people tend to only use for a maximum of two years before it becomes “obsolete”, thrown out and replaced with the latest and greatest phone. Something that is massively beneficial to phone companies. This documentary focuses specifically on the conspiracy to reduce the life of incandescent light bulbs in order to make massive profits.
In the 1950’s the consumer society was truly born. During this time the designer Brooks Stevens was quoted as saying: “Planned Obsolescence, the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary...”. This was how products are made to this day, in the pre-planned knowledge that consumers would stop using the product in a short period of time, ready to purchase the new model. The documentary asks the question; Can we develop as a society without this mindset?
