[lbo-talk] Gazillion sub-lifestyles

Kenneth MacKendrick kenneth.mackendrick at utoronto.ca
Sat Feb 21 07:44:03 PST 2004


-----Original Message----- From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org] On Behalf Of Christian Gregory Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 6:06 AM To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Re: RIP, Dr. Fraud

Yes, but you might want to include the "Soap is Civilization" advertisements from the 1850's.

Another example is toy culture, which, from what I can see, is an expensive and sometimes perverse (understand that how you will) elaboration of the _Three Essays_. I mean, isn't all the creation of and advertising for a gazillion sub-lifestyles all about the erotics of the part-object?

Christian

****

"In high fashion, the dominant trend of recent years has been the so-called new simplicity; clothes are unpretentious in style, colours are dark and the designer's name is not displayed on the outside of the garment. The goal of this style is to accentuate the individual's inner qualities; the dress just helps the individual express what he or she is. Thus it does not try to change the individual into someone else or crate an image in which the individual would like to see him- or herself; it merely enhances his or her already existing individuality. Today, the individual is not supposed to buy high fashion in order to follow some imposed ideal of beauty, but rather to aid perception of him- or herself as an ideal." Renata Salecl, (Per)Versions of Love and Hate, pg. 1.

I happen to have a copy of Chatelaine here. Let me flip through the June 2003 issue to see what's up.

"The Only Thing You Feel is Luscious." - Revlon <isn't this what the death drive is?> "Purified. Again and Again." - Biotherm <religion defined> "Fresh-obsessed?" - Loreal Paris <if only it worked on fruit!> "My sister moved to Australia, but I still see her everyday." - Windows XP <insert diminishing privacy here> "For simplified shaving, trust your intuition." Schick <ah, good... I was hoping I wouldn't have to think> "Live large with smaller payments." - Mastercard <life has a price> "It's not what you say, it's how you say it." - Samsung <heh heh... dangerous man, madman... dangerous part of the world...> "Does she know something that you don't?" - Botox <paranoia> "Exercise your options." - McDonald's <freedom is wrap> "Colour as natural as nature intended." - Garnier <mimesis until death> "Regimen for sucess." - Schick (Xtreme 3 for women) <reasoning with a purpose> "A new concept of style and confience." - Chrysler <yum> "This is the look of a totally satisfied woman." - Herbal Essences <now we don't have to wonder> "It does more than conceal." - Reversa UV <you bet it does!>

ken

ps. sorry, didn't have much to say about toy culture... other than I had the worst time finding a nice chess set in December



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list