“…and unto us a saviour is born, and he shall be named Black Friday… and at the sound of his name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Black Friday is lord…” -The Book Of Consumerism
Black Friday. Apparently (according to Wikipedia) first named in 1961 by police in Philadelphia for the irksome traffic jams caused by the two busy shopping days following American Thanksgiving. Later, after unsuccessfully trying to change the name, it was accepted that the term would refer to that critical time when businesses turned the most significant profit of the year, going from being ‘in the red’ to being, ‘in the black’. Malarky.
I think it is aptly named, bold in the unabashed self-admission of its dark nature.
Black Friday; a mass Pavlovian trigger that sends the population into a seething mass of gate-crashers, desperate for a lower price than last year.
Ok, I have a beef to air out. I understand marketing, and I can see the effectiveness of the campaign, seemingly driving spending appetites to new heights. It’s business. I’m also not judging; hey, if you’re standing in line for hours to secure your share of limited supply only gadgetry, I get it. If the deal is there, go for it.
What angers me is that the concept of ‘Black Friday’ seems to be the manifestation of the new religion that Christmas has become: Consumerism. I remember when the big stores first began to open on Sundays. It was a huge controversy, rife with debate: (Sunday should be a day of rest… family day… why do we need to shop on Sunday anyways? What about church?..) It was a big news story. I also remember when Boxing Day was Boxing Day, not Boxing Week. I think I even saw one advertisement touting Boxing Month last year. This year, the Christmas decorations were out before Remembrance Day was even here. One store had to stop playing Christmas carols because customers complained that it was disrespectful to our veterans. I think so too. How much is fucking enough, I ask?
The irony is that this new false idol is a monster which is ultimately consuming itself in its own greed: reports show Black Friday to be a race to the bottom, with businesses cutting prices so low for the sake of competition that nobody makes a profit anyways. (See article: Wall Street Journal- Retailers’ Black Friday Arms Race Backfires)
As such, in protest to this debauchery, I have decided to hereafter refer to said holiday as ‘Xmas’, since all resemblance to the traditional family celebration has been warped into a swirling abyss of consumer bloodlust, corporate greed and last-minute credit manipulation in a red suit.
Will the real Christmas please stand up?
Jingle Bells, baby.
Feel free to leave a comment. It’s free.
artboy68
I am absolutely with you on this and nice to see you posting again Scott … http://hellenjc.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/buy-nothing-day-a-protest-against-consumerism/
Thank you Helen! And thank you for the link- a fantastic post & I encourage everyone to read it and have a good think. I think I will subscribe to Buy Nothing Day.
Yes, yes and yes. Terrific post!
Thanks Elena. Viva la resistance!
Hi, Scott. We enjoy reading your blogs that you are sending to us. This most current one is also interesting reading but I’m disappointed that you used the “f “ word. You don’t need to use it to get your point across. You are degrading yourself to stoop that kind of language when your writings are so good. You are a wonderful artist in all mediums; painting and writing, drawing, woodworking. Whatever you put your hand to, you do well. I know it is a God-given gift for you, Scott. Please don’t give up when you get down. Get serious and ask God and He will show you the way. See you tomorrow.
Oh mom….