Please read “Religious
Holidays.” I would love to hear your thoughts on today’s readings and the line
of thinking presented in the reading assignment. Do you agree or disagree that
TV has contributed to the over-commercialization and commodification of
religious holidays? Please answer the questions in the reading assignment.
Finally, I’m interested in your thoughts on the social media version of the
last supper and crucifixion.
I don’t agree with the author. I do agree that Christmas has become commercialized and that the season is focused on getting us to buy things for ourselves and each other. However, I don’t agree with his argument that TV shows are focused on making us feel guilty so we buy things. I feel Christmas TV is meant to make us look at our lives and reflect on how we can better celebrate the season. The right way, through service and love. Maybe some people take that and use it as an excuse to buy more things but from my viewpoint I see it is as a way to improve myself. If anything it’s the ads that are focused on guilt tripping us. Children watch TV, see all these ads and then beg and beg until we give in and buy what they want. But this is due to the commercials, not the the Christmas special itself.
ReplyDeleteThis just came to my mind, Christmas has a very special feeling a real, physical feeling. When I was on my mission Christmas time was amazing. Aussies are atheist so the holiday is purely focused on gifts and stuff. But the Christmas spirit changed them, even if they didn’t notice. People we’re nicer and more willing to listen and talk with us. There was just a nicer atmosphere across the country (despite the fact it was burning hot). I am a firm believer that there really is a spirit of Christmas, and no amount of ads or commercialism can bury that.
Reflecting on the Social media version of the last supper and crucifixion. When I first started it I thought it was kind of odd. It's not a very traditional way of telling the story. But by the end I thought it was a well done. I know I felt something watching it.
I do believe that TV has contributed to the over-commercialization and commodification of religious holidays. Instead of focusing behind the spiritual nature of the holidays, we are forced to build up the ideology behind gifts, food, and decorations. Expectations are constantly being made about society through television. Holiday expectations are being added to that as television usually shows the ideal holiday. Not that everything has to be realistic in television, but it does not help to build up ideas of how the holidays in suburbia should be. I especially see this because religion is not usually applied in these television settings.
ReplyDeleteIt frustrated me on my mission to see where religion fell in the holiday season. In Finland, Christmas eve and day were when all of the chapels were completely filled with individuals worshipping. At any other time, you would only find a small group participating in worship. As promotion for holiday activities has increased, even the minimalist's religious side of Christmas is being dismissed.
The social media of Christ's crucifixion was innovative, but I feel like there is a beauty in the original writings of the scriptures. For a social media obsessed teenager, this could be a way to learn with entertainment. But, the sacred experiences of Christ are not meant to be convenient or entertaining. The experiences are there to learn and grow.