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From: jj@rabbit.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.singles
Subject: "Manhattanization" and appearance
Message-ID: <1701@nsc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Oct-84 22:13:06 EDT
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Posted: Tue Oct 23 22:13:06 1984
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- - - mod.singles- - -          - - - Volume 1, Issue 14 - - -


In reading the discussion on "The Manhattanization of America"
I've been angered by several of the scoffers who make comments
regarding "well, if you weren't insecure" and the like. 

As I understand, a person's self image is created from the
information around them.  Given that the entire USA is immersed in
advertising of the Madison Avenue variety, one of the inputs
that people find readily available (and not personally judgemental)
is advertising.  Given our total immersion,  (and I  rarely
watch TV , so I if anything understate the immersion)
it's not surprising that many people begin to accept the
advertised "ideals" as their own.

UNFORTUNATELY, advertising does not have any interest in what
sort of {clothing/perfume/makeup/car/booze/cigarette/nylons/underware/
3-peice suit/tie/work cloths} are appropriate for any given individual.
Advertising, rather, considers ONLY what the marketeer wants the
individual to BUY, regardless of the usefulness or appropriateness
of the item to that individual. At least in my perception,
the marketeer is often trying to convice people that an
inappropriate product is indeed desirable to them.

Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what to buy,
and what not to buy,  HOWEVER, if that individual has been immersed
in "Madison Avenue" since birth, chances are that the individual
will be, in great part, guided by the same.

What to do?  I don't know.  When I'm faced with individuals who allow
ad writers to govern their lives, I find myself often insulted
for not being "with it". 

Perhaps this is a symptom of advancing age, but I have noticed that
my perceptions of the effectiveness of advertisment indicate that
individuals are ?once again? beginning to look in the mirror, so
to speak (I refer to more than clothing, please), and decide for
THEMSELVES what is correct and/or desired.  (This in opposition
to the 1960's "be yourself, be like me" attitude. I was there.
I left. So did we all.)    While I don't have a solution,
I encourage people to look at media assumptions with a jaundiced
eye  and to consider
the relationship between the media ideal (I almost said
prejudice, perhaps I should have) and their own selves.

Have a good day,

			Not Chuq.

"...How do you get this thing out of second gear?  Beep Beep!"

(allegra,ihnp4,ulysses)!rabbit!jj

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