Ask A Genius 1209: Ads
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/11/29
Rick Rosner: The question is: why are holiday car ads so clichéd and disconnected? The question is about how some come across as out of touch or uninspired, and it seems inexplicable. The most ridiculed feature is the big red bow on the cars.
Is it because people who buy luxury cars as gifts without consulting their significant others on such a major purchase are foolish? Or, perhaps there is another explanation: maybe that’s part of it, but the primary point might be that the shallowness is deliberate. It’s showcasing people so wealthy that their actions and decisions don’t need to make sense—they’re insulated by their wealth.
This idea ties into Thorstein Veblen’s theory of the leisure class, which argues that true wealth is demonstrated through conspicuous consumption—spending on extravagant, unnecessary things purely for the sake of showing one’s status. This theory, over 120 years old, remains relevant.
What these ads are really selling, through the portrayal of uninspired characters, is the idea of such extreme privilege that even mediocrity or foolishness is still rewarded and protected by one’s social position, represented by the luxury car.
Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices. In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: scott.jacobsen2025@gmail.com. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.
In-Sight Publishing 