Fake religion. In the article “_The Temple of Fashion_”, Joyce Nelson uses exaggerated and complex words, strong comparisons, and vivid imagery to argue the point that shopping has become the center of our world, therefore convincing the reader that society is slowly starting to treat the act of buying as a practice. Nelson also uses many comparisons between fashion and religion to convince the reader how much society is turning into a consumer’s world. She compares the bible to fashion magazines, religious statues to mannequins, the confession box to the dressing room, and finally she compares a holy pilgrimage to the visit of different malls. Within the essay, Nelson writes, “It also has its important sites of pilgrimage (in Canada, the West Edmonton Mall and Toronto’s Eaton Center)” (76.), which shows how much the world values shopping. Instead of going on a holy pilgrimage to visit sacred churches and practice religion, instead, one might chose to visit different malls to practice the art of shopping. This proves how much society has changed and shifted towards a consumer’s world as if it were a religion itself. Nelson describes shopping malls as “_The cathedrals of our time”_ (76.), which allows the reader use their imagination when interpreting this idea, but also gives us a vivid image of the situation. When one thinks of a cathedral, the first thing that comes to mind is a huge echoing room used as a gathering place, usually filled with people. Churches and cathedrals used to be intended for gatherings such as Sunday mass, weddings and such. Nelson however, in this context, has let us create an image of gatherings, but in the place of a shopping mall. Throughout the entire essay, Nelson has used elements such as comparisons, strong and vivid imagery along with extreme and exaggerated words, to imprint the image into our brains that shopping has become a modern religion. Using these techniques she was able to prove how much the world is changing and...