Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas! Is it really a Merry Christmas when we are being manipulated into overspending and indulging in our selfish desires with resources that we don't even have?
Our culture has become saturated with advertisements and promotions during the holidays within print, online and television media forms. In an article on their website, WOAI, a NBC affiliate, discusses the actions of one of the world's largest retailers to lure in shoppers into focusing on Christmas shopping. Because of the recent downturn in the global economy, Walmart has adjusted their marketing strategy to convince the everyday customer to begin investing in gifts for their loved ones now. This comes as strange news due to the fact that the norm is to turn one's attention towards Christmas after Halloween at the earliest. According to the article, Walmart has made about one hundred toys available for ten dollars at this time versus beginning Christmas promotions after the American thanksgiving.
Here in Canada, others have followed suit with stores like Zellers putting out their Christmas related merchandise two weeks before Thanksgiving. Such action is mind boggling because when people are forced to view such promotions, they are eventually to spend money that they do not have. On the second page of the most recent flyer from Zellers online and in print, there is a Christmas tree already being made available. I find such action disturbing and it leads me to agree with the first myth discussed in "The Problem of the Media" reading. This myth is that the media does not shape society, it just reflects it. The Canadian masses are not a self-absorbed people but the media is pushing its people to move past its honourable efforts to think otherwise. With a constant outpouring of advertising directed towards the purchase of Christmas-related merchandise, the Canadian society at large is forced to believe that there is a need to buy these items in order to find happiness and bliss. The main message of the Christmas holiday is one of love, unity and appreciation, with the gifts serving as a secondary element of the celebration. With the turn in focus towards the pleasantries, how is the next generation of Canadians going to carry on the Christmas tradition in a way that effectively combines giving and sharing with the aforementioned positive ideals of unity, love and appreciation?
The WOAI article can be found here: http://www.woai.com/business/story/In-a-sign-of-the-times-Wal-Mart-pushes-Christmas/uj-znDc4JEemEWSDaSyg-w.cspx
2008 Walmart Christmas Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7QKsTmE7jY
-Sammy Kyereme
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I feel the same way. Christmas is essentially a big advertisement opportunity for retailers, telling us to buy extravagant things for ourselves to be happy, when rather, spending time with family would already be enough for most people. The banks love this too, because people get into so much debt during Christmas, that they'll make so much money from interests. I wouldn't be surprised if the banks paid for christmas commercials.
ReplyDelete- Henry Huang
Alright, so i HAD to comment on this post because I was out shopping today and was amazed at the fact that almost every store that sells Christmas items already has them out. Even stores like Winners and Home Sense have their Christmas themed sections out and full. What was even more amazing was that people were already shopping in these sections. Here I am still trying to live in the summer and people have already moved on to this commercialized holiday!
ReplyDeleteNot only did that amaze me but the night before I was driving home at night and someone already had their Chrismas Tree up in their front window.
-A.Rau