I am not, or do not see myself as, a pundit in the culture wars, or (even more broadly) a cultural commentator. However, I suppose any art, or any attempt at art, is a bit of cultural commentatery. Hmmm. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I am not the kind of blogger who reads the headlines, thinks (deeply, I’m sure) about the cultural impact of said headlines, and then puts in my two cents on the meaning of those headlines. There is a reason I insist on the term “blahg.” Perhaps it’s pretentiously high-minded of me, but I’m hoping to create a kind of antidote to the cacophony of the s0-called blogosphere, rather than add another “voice” to it.
That being said, I would like to make a small-ish comment on the nature of the Winter Holidays here in the good ol’ United States of America.
- Yes, I did say “Winter Holidays.”
- It most certainly is better to give than receive, but you know, and I know, we all know, that these Holidays and that notion give a great deal of credence to the idea that Money is Everything.
- The so-called split in American culture and society is older than red states vs. blue states, or even older than this season’s battle for the meaning of Xmas. All of those people who are screaming that we should put Christmas back in the Holidays are probably still going to buy their children a whole big pile of stuff this Holiday Season.
- And then they’re going go home and watch heart-warming television specials (both animated and not) that purport to remind us all of the true meaning of the Holidays: It is better to give than receive. Each and every one of those heart-warming television specials will be presented with commercial breaks.
- I am not trying to comment (well, not really) on America’s consumerist culture. I’m trying to comment on the split between what we think we’re doing, and what we’re really doing. That’s the old split, and it’s as old (probably older) than this country. These culture wars are not new, and I’m quite certain we’ve lost sight of their true meaning.
- A really good discussion of the very split I’m talking about (what we’re doing vs. what we think we’re doing) can be found in an essay by Gilbert Sorrentino about the true true meaning of It’s a Wonderful Life.
- If that depresses you, check out this presentation of It’s a Wonderful Life in 30 seconds as re-enacted by bunnies.
