The luxurious isolation of a well-stocked home
How did we get from Tupperware parties to ASMR restocking TikToks?
I heard a podcast the other day that got the old wheels turning. It was a Decoder Ring episode about the evolution of Tupperware (yes, this is the sort of stuff I listen to). The host drew a line between Tupperware of the 1970s and those weird ASMR restock videos pervading TikTok lately.
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Since when did every good we own need to get put into an acrylic plastic bin? An Atlantic article referenced in the podcast bears an all-star headline: Home Influencers Will Not Rest Until Everything Has Been Put in a Clear Plastic Storage Bin
How did we get here, and WHY? Here are some lenses through which we can examine this behavior.
1. Extreme individualism and self-reliance
Stocking up has become something of a religion. We schlep out to Costco with our double-wide shopping carts and stock up on well-priced goods we will use for months. I know because I do the schlep.
Then you need to store all these supplies. And as long as you’re storing everything, might as well make it beautiful so it sparks joy every time you open the door. And before long we are all running little stores inside our houses.
There is nothing inherently wrong with having a well-supplied home. On the other hand, we used to let STORES store our things. When we needed stuff, we’d go to the store to get what we needed. While there we’d interact with other humans, maybe say hi to a neighbor, chat with the cashier, and feel connected to our community. Now we buy bigger homes so we have room to store all the stuff we buy.
A little aside: When I first met my husband, when he was out of toilet paper, he’d walk a couple blocks to the store and buy…2 rolls. One to use, and one (!!) extra. My brain nearly exploded the first time I witnessed this, but I also appreciated his dramatically simplified approach to living. I had—and have—a lot to learn from him.
As someone who both stocks up and spends way too much time running out to the store realquick, I see the loss of interconnectedness in action. I’m starting to rethink my Costco runs already.