Last night I watched Denzel Washington's "Book of Eli." It was faced out at the library so it caught my attention easily. Not a particularly good movie, as post-apocalyptic films go, but it was Denzel. Today, it strikes me that watching this film was additional homework in preparation for this new blog.
The subject matter of my blog is to preview products, services, and, inevitably, ideas associated with "End-of-the-World" or "Decline-of-the-West" scenarios. Although the web is filled with such material, readers can enjoy such proclamations easily during their commute time. Such ideas are regularly propagated by fundamental preachers and talk-show, shock jocks on the radio (Note: with Glenn Beck, you get both in one package!).
Although I do not listen to talk radio daily, over the past year I have become more intrigued by the companies sponsoring such programs. Why would they associate their products with the controversial content promoted by most of these shows? (Some readers might know that consumer boycotts against sponsors of the Glenn Beck and Michael Savage syndicated radio programs have been organized for months.)
Acknowledging that talk shows reach millions of consumers every week, what product(s) benefit by their association with contentious, divisive dialogue pronounced daily by the programs' hosts and call-in guests?
The question changed over time as I began to categorize the type of product or service many sponsors were marketing. In particular, I noticed, in one fashion or other, that some advertisers were marketing with an alarmist message. Many, too, were explicit in emphasizing an uncertain - if not, calamitous - future. Not surprisingly, such views typically complemented those promoted by the program's host.
Fear-based marketing is nothing new, of course. It often underscores the sale's approach associated with life insurance, home security, fire alarm systems, personal safety and protection products, hygiene, germ-free counter tops and much more. What strikes me as most unique in the talk-show ads is the extreme level of calamity to which these ads draw upon. Least of the misfortunes alluded to would have to be identity theft. As often, however, the listener/consumer is asked to consider preventative measures to deal with grand, natural catastrophes, the disintegration of society and world order.
What solutions could possibly offered to respond to such crisis? Well, believe it or not, there is an entire gamut of products designed for the hail, hearty, financially-capable, dystopic believer. To get an idea of the ground I hope to cover in this blog, check out the book reviews for James W. Rawles', How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It.
In my next post, I'll introduce the solution to "where will I go? Where will I live?" when the end comes.
Until then.
Waiting for the End of the World,
Arelle.
