I recently ran across this article on NPR detailing some strange election paraphernalia. The common theme of these six bizarre ideas are that they are playing off the 2012 Election.
One of the most prominent is the 7-11's 7-Election where coffee drinkers choose either a red cup for Republican, a blue cup for Democrat, or a purple Slurpee for Independent; based on the color of the cups, 7-11 can "see who is winning" by state or in the nation (obviously this is not a poll that will accurately predict the results of the election due to small, self-selective sampling). Other companies emulating the food duel, the Boston Market is doing a Left Wing Bowl vs. Right Wing Bowl competition, and California Tortilla is having a face-off between "Obama's Chicken Teriyaki Luau Bowl" and "Romney's Mexican Mitt-Loaf Bowl."
The Spirit (costume vendors) stores are tracking the sales of the two candidate's masks to predict the results. On a slightly different note, there is the Stockton Ports (a minor league baseball team) offers a cushion that will allow attendees to sit on the face of the candidate that they oppose; with this unusual softener for one's tush, two twitter feeds have been released to further discussion: #SitonMitt and #BunsonObama.
The final strange idea is a study of past elections measuring the whiteness of each of the candidate's teeth to predict election results. The teeth whitening company who released this study, Premium White, believes that Obama has got this election in the bag because of his pearly whites.
Has consumerism gone too far that Americans turn everything into a chance to buy knick-knacks? Or are these businesses wise to use the election hype? Which idea was your favorite?
One of the most prominent is the 7-11's 7-Election where coffee drinkers choose either a red cup for Republican, a blue cup for Democrat, or a purple Slurpee for Independent; based on the color of the cups, 7-11 can "see who is winning" by state or in the nation (obviously this is not a poll that will accurately predict the results of the election due to small, self-selective sampling). Other companies emulating the food duel, the Boston Market is doing a Left Wing Bowl vs. Right Wing Bowl competition, and California Tortilla is having a face-off between "Obama's Chicken Teriyaki Luau Bowl" and "Romney's Mexican Mitt-Loaf Bowl."The Spirit (costume vendors) stores are tracking the sales of the two candidate's masks to predict the results. On a slightly different note, there is the Stockton Ports (a minor league baseball team) offers a cushion that will allow attendees to sit on the face of the candidate that they oppose; with this unusual softener for one's tush, two twitter feeds have been released to further discussion: #SitonMitt and #BunsonObama. The final strange idea is a study of past elections measuring the whiteness of each of the candidate's teeth to predict election results. The teeth whitening company who released this study, Premium White, believes that Obama has got this election in the bag because of his pearly whites.
Has consumerism gone too far that Americans turn everything into a chance to buy knick-knacks? Or are these businesses wise to use the election hype? Which idea was your favorite?
6 comments:
I think these examples of election paraphernalia take away from the true meaning of the election and highlight America's growing importance on consumerism. Though sitting on a seat cushion resembling Mitt Romney may sound enticing, it takes away from the serious nature of the election. These companies may be getting more business by selling election related items, but I don't think they should be making so much profit on what is supposed to be a serious competition to determine the next president. Obviously humor and jokes are going to be unavoidable, but these examples go a little over the top, especially voting for the president based on teeth whiteness. Hopefully, despite these election-related items America will vote for who they think will be the best president based on the campaigns by the people themselves, not by who has the better tasting food bowl or the whiter teeth.
I agree with Savanna wholeheartedly. In my opinion, all this can accomplish is detract from the election as it was meant to be held. That sounds incredibly conservative, but it just does not seem right to attempt to make the future of our country out to be a marketable...game, almost.
I agree wholeheartedly with Savanna that these paraphernalia (learned a new word today) are a creative way for businesses to earn more profit from selling the items. However, this fanatic consumerism may also have at least one positive outcome in attracting the attention of people who usually do not pay much attention to politics. For instance, if such election paraphernalia pervades common public venues such as 7-11 and a vast variety of restaurants that people normally dine at, people not so politically active might become curious about the election and be encouraged to learn more about it. I mean, who wouldn't be curious about butt pillows with presidential candidates' faces on them?
I agree with Savanna in believing that consumerism has gone too far in their use of these presidential knick-knacks. Though a creative way to integrate politics in every day activities, it takes away from the real politics of the presidential election. Also, I wonder if all those big businesses chose to make these presidential paraphernalia based on polling the public about politics, but did so to create a competition where the public will buy more. Plus, I don't think consumers really pay attention to the meaning behind what they purchase. They are just as likely to choose the purple cup because they like the color purple, not because they are Independent.
Unsurprisingly, consumerism has crept its way into yet another aspect of American life. What really irks me about these specific companies, however, is their claim that selling these products will allow them to predict "who is winning." The only thing this type of sampling can accurately predict is the number of kids who prefer blue to red and vice versa.
I wouldn't say American businesses are making consumerism "[go] too far" and I wouldn't say its necessarily wise either. I think businesses are just doing it out of curiosity; I don't think there'd be a definite correlation between showcasing election opinion on purchased items and consumerism. I don't think people will want to go out of their way to become a new customer just to get a coffee cup or food item that espouses who they're voting for. There also may be the circumstance that people won't want to reveal who they're supporting. Also, I think it'd be funny if someone who prefers Chicken Teriyaki did not support Obama, or vice versa for the Mitt-Loaf. That may discourage people from purchasing their products, and for that, California Tortilla is unwise, although that prediction might not be substantial.
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