I recently finished reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray
Bradbury, this book is absolutely astonishing to me. Mostly due to the
fact that it was written in 1953, during an era of voluntary oppression
where people went to their industrial job for 8-10 hours a day, every
single day, without complaint, and without thought as to the meaning of
life. It was a time when women willingly set back women's rights by 20
years to become Susie Homemaker and had no other aspirations in life
other than to be pregnant tending house for their men. Anyways, off
point there.
The 50's was a great time for books, and
in my humble opinion one of the most remarkable times for literature.
Some of the greatest stories ever told came out of the 50's, such as
Catcher in the Rye, 1984 (although written in 1949), Lord of the Flies,
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Fahrenheit 451, Night, Charlotte's Web,
and so many more. Books that have relevance now more than ever. The
funny part is that many of those books were banned and even burned in
the 50's for being irreligious, too sexually explicit, or using some
word that was offensive in some way to one person or another. The
premise of the book Fahrenheit 451 is a society where books are burned
on sight, that the only books allowed to be read are shortened versions
of books that have been reduced to a single paragraph summing up the
book (Spark Notes), but removing anything that someone could find
offensive. (Wow, I couldn't imagine a life with not being able to get
my hands on any book I want to read at any time.)
The only books that were available were comic books and
erotica. While reading this book, it stuck me as odd because in the book
it made constant mention to DentiFloss and the constant advertising
being jammed down the throat of society by the multitude of hours spent
in front of televisions trying to find happiness through other people's
lives. They would spend hours in their "parlors" surrounded by massive
television sets that were constantly blaring loud programs and
advertising about what will make you happiest. They commonly referred to
these programs as "The Relatives" because they spent so much time with
them and they were essentially part of the family. People became so
engrossed by the television that eventually they voluntarily gave up
books and there was little resistance when they began burning them.
Their lives were boring and dull, all the excitement they got was from
watching other people live their lives on television... and they were ok
with this because they would just take their "happy" pills to make them
numb to all the things that felt wrong or are missing from their lives.
They took sleeping pills to sleep, happy pills to be happy, and new
blood when they happened to have too much of one thing or another. They
drove extremely fast when they needed to feel some sort of excitement
about life and their children were nothing more than for show.
Boy how close this apple fell... I know people who
have lives that revolve around their "programs" and television. People
who have massive televisions that blare all the time and they get all
their information from what is spewed out of the television. They don't
read books, they have massive televisions that are constantly blaring
advertisement and programs telling them how to live "their best life"
and what to wear to make them happiest. I speculate that The Jersey
Shore and 16 and Pregnant are only popular television shows because
their lives are such train wrecks, that it makes people feel better
about their own life. People who would kill themselves without their
happy pills, people who drive dangerously to feel excited about life,
and people who have children because that is what is expected of them.
Myself included in this, when I feel myself getting upset or sad about
something I will turn on the TV so that I have a distraction. So I can
just watch TV and "zone" out so I don't have to think about anything. I
drive fast when I am angry and slow when I am thinking about things.
Advertising
is what tells us what we need and what will make us happy if we acquire
it. It is a constant stream of chatter about how much stuff we need...
the more stuff we have the happier we will be right? It is my personal
opinion that this type of thinking has resulted in a lot of people being
extremely unhappy with their lives. Not only are they massively in
debt, they are now slaves to their jobs and their lifestyles because of
all this "stuff" that was supposed to make them happy but has not so
they buy more, perpetuating the cycle. Instead of working on themselves
as human beings, when they feel a void in their lives, or a tinge of
unhappiness, they run to the nearest store and buy something new to make
themselves feel better. Advertising is a constant drone in the
background to life and it has created a
massive market for pharmaceutical companies because people seem to be
missing one fundamental concept... more stuff does not make you
happier... so they keep buying and digging their hole filling it with
stuff as they pop their pills to feel better about life.
I was recently having a conversation with someone about the brand
North Face. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a label whore when it comes
to The North Face product line. I have at least 6 different North Face
jackets, backpacks, fleeces, hats, gloves, etc. I willingly pay more for
the brand because I think it performs better even though it often costs
more than brands with proven track records that perform equally or
better. I am not entirely sure where I got the idea that it performs
better, I just feel like it does. One of the people I was having this
conversation with said something about wanting a North Face jacket
because they looked cool, and then went on to say that is what North
Face wants you to think though right? So maybe he wanted the coat
because North Face made him think he needed the coat to be cooler. The
North Face has advertised extensively to break out of just being a
mountaineering brand to become a brand to be worn by suburbanites
following the wilderness chic trend, who could never even dream up the
idea to climb a mountain nor ever need a jacket that is 850 fill goose
down to keep you warm in -30 degree weather. I am making a conscious
effort starting right now to stop being a label whore with this brand
and to question why I felt the need to in the first place.
I feel like this is an important subject right now because
Christmas is right around the corner. I am seeing people fighting over
toys for their children that are sold out because their children are
also being subjected to extensive advertising telling them what they
would want to play with. We are letting companies that have a financial
interest in us wanting their product telling us what we want in life and
what will make us happy. Only we can decide what will make us happy and
I assure you, it is not a material item. This holiday season, try to
remember what is important. It is not about buying a ton of presents for
someone to show them that you care about them... the more money spent
does not mean they love you more. It is about spending time with the
ones you love and care about. The ones who make your life a better
place, the ones who help you to stay off the happy pills, the ones who
make you a better person, and the ones who help you build the life you
want. Celebrate your friendships, your relationships, your families and
let them all know how much they mean to you. Tell them, and show them,
don't assume that they know... and for gods sake don't go in debt trying
to buy their love. Happy Holidays from an atheist who has nothing to
gain from this rant about advertising or the commercialism that has
taken over this world. Good day all! <3
agree but I have been eyeing those soft looking North face jackets, would keep me super warm in stupid cold ass NY
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ReplyDeleteppantz I <3 you too. I know you read it since you were at work and didn't have much else to do besides read my ramblings. Thanks! :)
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