So today, (lazy day) I will confess I was watching 'Tori and Dean' this is tragic TV, but I just couldn't stop watching it. But this blog isn't about my obvious addiction to appalling American 'real life' shows.
This blog is about the advertisements I watched between the emotional tribulations of said Tori and family...
I'm curious to know to what extent the regular American's psyche is affected by advertising. Most of the ads I observed today were either various diet products (that potentially caused anal bleeding, erectile dysfunction and couldn't be used in conjunction with aspirin, food or blinking) or fatty food ads.
My heart went out to the American people and I considered how they coped with the paradox of being a 'good capitalist consumerist' through purchasing all the right kind of spreads, burgers and sugary drinks versus attractive = skinny.
When I lived in England I was aware that most people I knew were compelled to eat everything on their plate and I really would have loved to have researched this topic further during my degree.
My thoughts were that most of these people were children of baby boomers, and therefore grew up with rationing. They were taught to be grateful for every bit of food they got and not to be wasteful of what was on their plate and this habit was then passed on to the next generation. I personally don't ever remember as a child in Australia being forced to sit at the table until everything was finished.
But now Australia has the dubious privilege of having the biggest and the best 'fatties' in the world. HA!!! In your face USA!!!...oh hang on a sec...
Our relationship with food in the West is extremely complex and intricate and I'm curious to know how much of this is due to social influences, consumerism and capitalist greed. Once our size was proof of our success the bigger the better, we can afford food, we eat, we waste.... poor people were thin, but this is no more. The rich are thin, successful and beautiful, Western media follows celebs around and discusses their diets, suspected anorexia...this is what a majority of us are taught to aspire to, this beautiful thinspiration.
How much psychological pressure does this put on us as a civilization? Is advertising evil? Are we eternally going to be in a love/hate relationship with food? Does a chocolate spread really make healthy food taste better for children? Is mayonnaise really boring? Should I buy cheese that comes out of a spray can? Is rectal dysfunction really as bad as it sounds if I can lose 2 pounds a week and wear that bikini for summer? (Of course making sure it's in a dark colour and I spend most of my time in the water)
...should I just stop watching 'Tori and Dean' and the ads in between?
Your observation of American advertisements is so astute, Mel. You can watch a commercial on one program touting the whole grain goodness of Whole Grain Cheerios, and on another station they are pushing the delicious goodness of chocolate cheerios. Just plain stupid!
ReplyDeleteYou never see a commercial for our organic food store, Whole Foods, even though they are now everywhere in California, and almost everything sold there is excellent and tasty food.
It reminds me of how my own Mother raised me. Eat well, clean your plate, OH... and eat this really delicious cake I made, and these really fatty snacks I purchased, and if you gain any weight, I will remind you over and over that you could possibly become unloveable.Crazed upbringing. Jen.