The point that the illustrator of the cartoon was trying to make is how commercialized Christmas is. The illustrator is pointing out the holiday movies, how they've corrupted our view of Christmas. The sales everywhere show the idea of "buy, buy buy," which isn't what Christmas is supposed to be about.
A second point of this drawing is showing how a few people find joy on Christmas, such as folks like the Grinch, and the man with a severe overbite notices this, and apparently, admirers the Grinch's Christmas joy.
I agree with the point of this article - for once - because I wish that St. Nicholas (Santa) would stay where he is - six feet under - and stop taking away the true meaning of Christmas, which is Jesus. (My full story for this will be published in the North Star next week, so be sure to check it out. Or you could check out my Sheezyart, where I have another brief story of how I feel about Christmas.)
The author's point is well represented in the picture, where the clerk at the counter shows no expression of joy or excitement for the Grinch's joy. The man appears to want to leave all of the Holiday Madness, he's probably thinking, "would this oaf just give me the cash and leave?" This man's heart is three sizes to small. Perhaps, because he lives in the world of Santa, he does not even know the real meaning of Christmas, and has found no joy in the holiday. His look of disgust probably also comes from the fact that the movie has been playing all day and the buck toothed oaf is just getting excited over a movie that is thirty years old. The man's look may also come from what the narrator in The Grinch is saying, "doesn't come from a store," but if the meaning of Christmas doesn't come from a store, then this man will probably be out of a job.
Another visual element found in this cartoon is the buck toothed oaf himself. The man comes off as such, a buck toothed oaf, but it seems that the man is starting to get it. It? The meaning of Christmas. He obviously likes the idea of Christmas not coming from a store, because that means that he wouldn't have to purchase the gifts in his hand. He could just show off the T-shirt he wants to his kids.
Either way, the man is giving in to the pressures of the world, simply by wanting the shirt. He already appears to be a pretty well off when it comes to having the Christmas spirit, decked in a festive sweater. If the man wanted to make a statement about the meaning of Christmas, there are plenty other ways to go about it rather than giving the market his money for the shirt (that nobody will read because people are tired of sarcastic, witty shirts,), rather he could invite his friends and family to Church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Wouldn't that be a better way of showing the real meaning of Christmas?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Katie, Good post, interesting read. Change your title. I like your insights on the post not your comedic spin on other students.
Thanks
Mr. Brandt
Post a Comment