Today is November 2nd. That’s a mere two days after Halloween
and a solid fifty three days before Christmas. So why is it that when I went to
the grocery store today I saw displays with Santas and reindeers and phrases
like “joy to all” and “be merry, be bright” scattered in every aisle the way
you find pine needles hiding in every crook of your house months after
Christmas? It seems every year that preparation for the jolliest time of the year
begins earlier and earlier, to the point of absurdity. This is, no doubt,
because Christmas is to companies as, well, Christmas is to a little kid! The holiday
season is a time for businesses to profit off of distant relatives trying to
get a gift for a teenage girl they see once a year, families who want to make
the perfect Christmas meal and over eager party hosts searching for the most
festive decorations.
Not that I mind. After all, no one could call me a Grinch. I love
the holidays; it’s a time for snow and hot chocolate and cheesy Christmas
movies. What’s not to like? Yes, seeing a Christmas tree where there was a jack
o’ lantern a few days before is a little ridiculous, but that didn’t stop me
from going home and doing some home work to the sounds of Mariah Carey telling
me that I’m all she wants for Christmas. If companies want to start their attack
of red and green this early, where is the harm?
There is no question that businesses take full advantage of Christmas’
inherent materialistic nature. After all, companies have to make money; it’s
the whole point of a company. So isn’t it good that, for about two months of
the year, companies profit off of promoting holiday spirit? Companies typically
prey on the insecurities of their potential customers. Not cool enough? Buy
this car. Not pretty enough? Try out our makeup. Not thin enough? Our weight
loss program is for you. Not enough? Our product can fix you. It has been
established that this type of advertisement is every bit as harmful as it is
effective. This poisonous propaganda can contribute to eating disorders, social
discrimination, and emotional insecurity.
During the holiday season, many companies shift from this accusatory
type of endorsement in favor of commercials built on foundations of laughter
and joy and family spirit. So what if it’s
a money-making tactic? Companies always have and always will manipulate the
general public into wanting their product, whether they do so by making us
ashamed of ourselves or by tricking us into believing that they are all about
love and acceptance. During the holiday
season we see positive images of happy families rather than guilt trips in our
everyday lives, and no matter the
reason, that jingle bell rocks.
Works Cited:
http://www.academia.edu/1211047/Advertising_has_bad_effects_on_all_of_society_Advertising_has_bad_effects_on_all_of_society_Advertising_has_bad_effects_on_all_of_society
Audrey, this post strikes me as odd. It reminds me of Simon's post. No doubt, like Simon, you are a talented writer. I love reading your stuff. It is witty, detailed, engaging. In addition, I can usually relate to your perspective. Unfortunately, at the end of this post, I am left with not much more than just the satisfaction of having read a good piece of writing. You essentially write that excessive marketing, especially around the holidays, can be destructive, but you don't mind because you like the holidays. That's it. At no point in the post do you seize on any idea and elaborate that idea so that your audience can learn something. The only thing that I have learned is that you are a good writer and that you like the holidays. This post kind of feels like a tautology. Oddly, you cite a source at the end. What part of your post did this source contribute to?
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