What Happened To Christmas?
Christmas in New York is larger than life but is that a good thing? I rode a commuter train into the city last week, found myself chatting amiably with a stranger across the aisle. So not New York (and with a criminal defense attorney no less). We agreed that our addiction to social media is the source of many problems in society. No one noticed us chatting. Every single person around us was either on their cell, iPad, iPod, plugged in, tuned out. We parted ways and I entered the subway at Grand Central, happy to take in the holiday vibe until I saw this life-sized display and the distortion jarred me. This wasn't Santa's sleigh or was it?
Without thinking, I entered a subway car and saw this. Aha, advertising a movie. Cute
to wrap an ad on one seat. The crowded car lurched forward and one stop later most of the passengers shuffled off. I did a double take. Isn't that what ad agencies want you to do? Every seat was an ad. I didn't think it clever anymore.
Anxious to get out of a 3-D billboard, I exited and did another double take. Over kill.
Ho ho ho was not on my mind. My mind boggled at the film's advertising budget which could probably feed a small third world country for day. It's the only animated film suitable for kids over the holidays, but I think I'll pass. I've seen enough. I left with a question or three: What happened to Christmas? What happened to simple joy? And what exactly are we celebrating?
Without thinking, I entered a subway car and saw this. Aha, advertising a movie. Cuteto wrap an ad on one seat. The crowded car lurched forward and one stop later most of the passengers shuffled off. I did a double take. Isn't that what ad agencies want you to do? Every seat was an ad. I didn't think it clever anymore.
Anxious to get out of a 3-D billboard, I exited and did another double take. Over kill.
Ho ho ho was not on my mind. My mind boggled at the film's advertising budget which could probably feed a small third world country for day. It's the only animated film suitable for kids over the holidays, but I think I'll pass. I've seen enough. I left with a question or three: What happened to Christmas? What happened to simple joy? And what exactly are we celebrating?
Posted by Layla Morgan Wilde at 12/5/2011 12:00 AM 
Categories: Design, Media, New York, Holiday, Photography, Sign of the Times
Tags: what happened to Christmas arthur christmas film-too commercial ruined christmas bah humbug christmas - new york-tourism
Categories: Design, Media, New York, Holiday, Photography, Sign of the Times
Tags: what happened to Christmas arthur christmas film-too commercial ruined christmas bah humbug christmas - new york-tourism
Oh my, Layla. What a relevant comment about our society. And so true. Commercialism everywhere. Never seen NY subway cars that bad before. Such a great irony that you and the attorney were discussing this!
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Kathryn, a delicious irony. Every year the advertising gets worse. Just when you think there is no surface safe from ads, they find another.
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So very true and at no time is it worse than at Christmas.
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I like the spirit of Christmas that had 2 strangers in New York talking. The advertising is corporate white noise that intrudes into every aspect of our lives. The greed or need to reap profits drive the business to get in our faces. Yet, we need businesses to supply the jobs for us to provide a living for our families. I just wish it wouldn't be so intrusive. May the spirit of this season come to all of us!
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Frank, it was a blessing for two strangers connecting face to face. This experience reminded me how important it is to stay balanced and not get sucked into the commercialism.
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Where I live one hardly even knows Christmas is approaching. I'm beginning to think I live in a city of atheists. I hear church bells ringing every Sunday morning but they seem to be saying what Milton said:
God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke,they serve him best.His state Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.
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Marty, lucky you and thanks for this poem.
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A very costly advertising indeed. I wonder how huge is their marketing fund.
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