As a companion piece to the Of Many Things this week, here's a briefer (and more business-oriented) op-ed in The Wall Street Journal today called "Merry Marketing," which takes aim at corporations who use and abuse religious themes in their Christmas (sorry, holiday) campaigns. Happily, it offers the opportunity to comment on those ridiculous Gap ads this year. Am I the only one that finds their peppy singing a tad, um, aggressive? Like after they're dancing they're going to clock you?
And this year the Gap's ads are just plain weird. Their TV commercials feature perky models rapping out the following ditty: "Go Christmas! Go Hannukah! Go Kwanzaa! Go Solstice! You 86 the rules, you do what just feels right. Happy Whatever-you-wannukah, and to all a cheery night!" But the models are clearly wearing sweaters and scarves in bright red, the traditional Christmas color. In other words, the Gap is selective about what gets 86ed. Actual religious beliefs? Those go. Holiday trappings that can move a few sweaters? Those stay.
Read the rest here.
James Martin, SJ
These folks have the right idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU
A war on Christmas consumerism? Now THAT I can get behind.