Madison Avenue – Vanguard for Crass Christmas Commercialism

Valerie Cullers 22 Comments
multicolored imax theater

Photo by Jayson Gomes on Pexels.com

Madison Avenue has always been the vanguard for Christmas commercialism. Over the decades, it has moved the cultural needle on Christmas from a religious holiday to one that is secular. I have watched this trend over the years but I was not prepared for what was presented to the public this holiday season. I probably should have seen it coming but I didn’t. Madison Avenue gave us its ultimate goal in crass Christmas commercialism…egocentric giving.

You heard it right. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the majority of commercials on television sent out the message loud and clear. The goal for this season is to give yourself the gift you want. It started with a commercial for a luxury model car. Every person in the commercial had given themselves one for Christmas. Just in case the gullible consumer was not picking up on the message, one man’s car had a tag on it that said : To James, From James. This commercial has continued to air on prime time during the month of December.

The second commercial only lasted a few days. Was there an outcry from the public that it was completely over the top? A woman went into a store and as she passed the kitchen appliance section, she hesitated, then she put one item after another in her cart until it was full. She essentially had spent her entire Christmas budget on herself. Was it too ludicrous for the public to believe? I don’t know, but it was pulled after a few days.

I could give you another example but I know you get the drift. The geniuses on Madison Avenue want us to be completely egocentric in our giving. To say their approach to Christmas is crass is an understatement. There’s not much we can do except contact the company who bought the ad and express our displeasure at the sentiment. 

I for one will reject these not so subtle messages to become egocentric in my giving and I have one word for Madison Avenue this Christmas…REALLY?

22 thoughts on “Madison Avenue – Vanguard for Crass Christmas Commercialism”

  1. Oh, Valerie! I am SO with you on this!! This kind of thing just turns my stomach. I know exactly which auto commercial you’re talking about. This kind of thing seems to get worse and worse as time goes by. There is an athletic store commercial running right now that I find so ridiculous that I have to turn the channel when I hear it. It grates on my nerves so bad!
    Despite all of this, Merry Christmas!! ❤

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  2. Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
    WE ARE SELFISH CHILDREN AND MADISON AVENUE IS—BECAUSE “tHEY” ARE US—CATERING TO THE IMMATURE, EGOCENTRIC BABIES WHO DON’T WANT TO COME OUT OF THE WOMB THAT WE HAVE BECOME….THOSE OF US WHO ESCAPE ABORTION, THAT IS—ANOTHER HUGELY SELFISH ACT DOME BY A PROSPECTIVE MOTHER TO AN INFANT SHE CLAIMS IS STILL A PART OF HER OWN BODY—AND IT IS A SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL FROM CONCEPTION, SCIENTIFICALLY! COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS—SAVE US FROM THIS EVIL!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Fortunately, I don’t watch television. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I don’t fall to consumerism. I check Amazon for the lowest price on that killer item I just can’t live without — at least I can’t now since I saw it for the first time a week ago as a “featured product.” I wish I could blame the advertisers but I can’t. I can blame only my own, misguided heart. My heart needs to fully belong to Christ. All year long. Not to Amazon, not to Madison Avenue, not to the calls for me to attempt to find joy in that which is wholly fleeting. So I pray that Jesus gives me the grace to open my heart to his love and then I attempt to live in a manner that reflects that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. You are spot on with this post and observations. Luckily our family is still about giving instead of getting. We have a smallish budget and we stick to it… the lion’s share goes to the annual Bishop’s Appeal to do good in the world!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  7. Oh Val, it’s so true. And the other sad trend (which I fall prey to but my wise friends pointed out) is the happy “family” commercials where everyone is on their screens and in different rooms, or distracted. This is what we are now calling “peace”? Digital isolation? As an introvert I have to be careful of this myself.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. We too experience that here In SA. They already started on the Easter eggs and the Easter savings on cell phones and i-pads . I cringe given how many kids use TV as pass time and baby sitter… Children learn what they live and it being thrust under the noses, carrots begging to be asked or cajoled for.
    NOT HOW WE SHOULD BE RAISING OUR KIDS.
    Crass commercialism indeed.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

Leave a comment