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I am only doing what many have done before by pointing out that there is an ongoing erosion of the once clear line between art and advertising, and that the consequence of such is a new breed of that old saw, cavear emptor.
I associate modern usage of the term "lifestyle" (actually, it's probably more accurate to say "Lifestyle") with those who would manipulate the innate human need for art toward narrow commercial ends. There is not and should not be a Saab "Lifestyle", at least not one that is inspiring in any way.
It is not at all that I am against advertising in and of itself. And I certainly don't mean to sound as though I am assailing anyone for liking quality stuff. That would be massively disingenuous and hypocritical. I just find it off-putting when merely innovative or high quality consumer goods are presented as "art," the display of which is an additional "art form"; and the exclusiveness yielded by the high price of which is trumpeted as evidence of both the good's beauty and its owner's good taste.
Art is simply art.
When it comes to goods purchasing decisions, my taste or desire for goods may be genuine, but I would rather generate that desire through my own critical appraisal of the commendation of trusted friends and well edited impartial critics. Paid cross marketers are of no more use than commission based salespeople in this regard.
As a populace, we are well past the belief that your genuine internal reactions are somehow pure or immune to manipulation by mundane marketing gimmickry. In a nutshell, my actual feelings of longing for the expansive vistas, historical settings and clever items of clothing and furniture as predictably juxtaposed in car ads (or mags) has nothing to do with with the essence of any of those things. Such things do nothing to improve my life or anyone else's.
Well, maybe the manufacturer's.
posted by 24.173.1...
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