Black Friday vs. Propriety: Nothing Left to Sell

Episode notes

It’s a Black Friday special! Phillip and Brian explore how capitalism commercializes everything it touches, as exemplified beautifully by community-driven Buy Nothing groups facing trademark enforcement and Walmart's WhoKnewVille campaign, which misses the point of Dr. Seuss entirely. They examine Mariah Carey's evolution from background music to Sephora partner, the disturbing rise of skincare for toddlers, and why new media's infinitesimally short news cycles are reshaping how we consume culture itself. PLUS: Get Plus! Use code BLACKFRIDAY for a year of Future Commerce Plus at our lowest rate ever. Black Friday Isn’t Dying, and Neither Is Kris Jenner! Key takeaways: Buy Nothing chooses to wage its trademark battle during the SNAP benefits pause. As long as digital channels and Kris Jenner continue to thrive, Black Friday will never die. Mariah Carey’s “It’s Time” video is sponsored by Sephora. Finally! The new media ecosystem demands we live in the immediacy of the moment. Media cycle half-lives grow shorter by the day.

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