CHRISTMAS COMMERCIALS
SUHANA GORDHAN: Messages of love and joy help lift the gloom in ugly year
As we get older as a world, we’re not getting wiser or kinder. This has been an ugly year, filled with ugly happenings both locally and abroad, including an ugly Brexit and an ugly new US president. It’s been a time of anger, distrust, decreased optimism and religious bigotry. We’re all desperate for humanity to reveal a little humaneness. In SA, we’re not big on the big Christmas TV ads the UK loves. In fact, we’re not even big on using the word "Christmas" in our commercials for the absurd reason that we might offend those who don’t sing along to Boney M and eat mince pies. As a Hindu, I don’t celebrate Christmas but I love Christmas time. I might even have a bit of Christmas envy. And being from ad land, there’s nothing I enjoy more at this time of year than viewing the big Christmas commercials produced by the likes of John Lewis, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer in the UK. It’s a much-anticipated time in ad land as the big retailers go head to head with big budgets and fantastic...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.