The Society of the Spectacle

February 4, 2008

Guy Debord described our predicament best in 1967: We are living in the “society of the spectacle.” While he wrote it 31 years ago, it sure felt like he was describing last weekend. And so it was, the sound and the fury of America’s great spectacles draped us like a wet blanket. The Super Bowl and the Presidential “race.” All, in the end, signifying nothing but the continuance of the spectacle. And over and over it goes.

But now America wakes to the constipation of consumption. We arise to that awkward moment between the flashes of nothingness. Our eyes stinging from the visions. Our bodies aching from withstanding the gluttony required to watch and to listen to the charade. Our minds filthy with the false promises of hope and change and the illusion of winners and losers.

America, you’ve been given your marching orders: consume and vote. Pick a product and a prophet:

Pepsi or Coke.
Paper or Plastic.
Hillary or Obama.
Democrat or Republican.
Giants or Patriots.
CNN or Fox.
The Baby Jesus or the Crucified Jesus.
Chevy or Ford.
Us or Them.

Lights. Camera. Action.

All signifying nothing, indeed.

Posted by M. Colby | Filed Under blog, essays & columns 

Comments

2 Responses to “The Society of the Spectacle”

  1. NTodd on February 4th, 2008 7:34 pm

    Excluded middle? What’s that?

    You have e-mail, BTW.

  2. JD Ryan on February 6th, 2008 12:04 am

    Baby Jesus tastes much, much better. Juicy, as long as you don’t overcook it. Makes a good fajita, too.
    Crucified Jesus tends to have a bit of a gamey taste to it, but if you cook it a long time, the meat falls right off of the bone and the gamey taste is subdued if you season it well.

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