January 29th, 2014

The Best Things In Life Are Expensive

by Wayno & Piraro

Bizarro is brought to you today by Art Imitates Life.

I often find the world of advertising and marketing pretty offensive. Not in the typical ways––too sexual, too violent, etc.––but because they so often offend my intelligence. Wouldn’t it be great if I could think of a perfect example of such a thing right now? But I can’t.

One reason I can’t think of one is that I avoid ads of almost all kinds at all cost. I watch virtually no television live, so I fast forward through all commercials religiously. If it is impossible to fast forward, I mute them. The stupidity of the overwhelming majority of TV commercials is unbearable, whether they’re trying to get me to fill my body with toxic fast-food garbage because of the cool music the cool people who go there are listening to, or buy a car because a sexually attractive woman appears to be in heat as she drives it.

But the saddest thing about this topic is that ads are this dumb because they work. Which means most consumers are stupid enough to buy into what they are selling. Are you moved by a soldier in the desert saving a kitten? Then you’ll want this brand of insurance, whether they plan to deny your claim or not. Do you think rednecks driving in circles are heroes? Then drink this beer, regardless of how much like dirty water it tastes.

But a Barbi Bear is different. I would totally buy one of those for myself. And it’s the perfect gift for that future “plushy” child you know.

PICKLED JAZZ: This elderly cartoon of mine from 1997 tells a similar story about human nature in a material society. I’m not saying I’m much different, of course. I long for things I see in the world around me, too. I’d love to have a Tesla luxury sedan, for instance. Shame on me.