Capitalism commodifies everything, including culture, which in turn produces and reinforces a sense of alienation from what our culture actually means and our relation to it. It's refreshing to see your optimism!
Humans need a god , if not the one in the church then the one in the bank , Everything is faith for humanity even when we learn everything we will still have faith
I think that's more neo-liberalism, a part of capitalism which does this when corporations aren't kept in check. The same psychological techniques for example are being used by activists to sell environmentalism, a specific LGBTQ+ culture where worshiping the flag is more important than actually being same sex attracted (hence a number of heterosexuals declaring they are queer while not in any way having same sex attraction or lifestyle beyond rainbow flags) and hence why politics is getting divisive, because attaching these causes to lifestyle types means people feel excluded from them and why even the most rational arguments fall on deaf ears. I'd also say it's largely due to the overwhelming cultural influence from America.
Macron's slogan of "responsibility" carries the same neoliberal stank as Tony Blair's slogan of "liberating the individual" back in the 90s. One would think that people are better able to catch on to similarities like that these days, but we're just too distracted and caught up in corporate propaganda.
Honestly, all one needs to do to realise the sheer amount of lies, hypocrisy, distraction and confusion we're constantly facing is to look at the P*lestine Isr*el situation. It's frightening to me because it's as if people actually stop seeing reality or refuse to see reality and actually use critical thinking. Many people don't want to see reality and so politicians and media propaganda take a big advantage of that. It's very sad but it seems to me that a lot of people do want to be manipulated as long as it makes them safe in their comfort zone.
I feel they just don't do political slogans like they use to. Sure Trump brought back Make America Great Again but that's no I like Ike or Time for greatness (JFK) or They can't lick Dick from our Nixon.
@@ERICTENHAG56There are something like 200 countries. France isn’t much different than any of its neighbors in Europe, or Canada or Australia. It’s very different from a Muslim country in the Middle East or Africa, or rural America.
We're dealing with a lot of this in the US. Everything's a slogan and nobody says anything. And it's a corporate thing. This is what I tell people when they ask me about Trump's word vomit. It's a businessman's tactic--just keep talking and keep insisting everything is great, everything is good, it's all about your confidence. When you break it down, it usually means nothing. Great video, Alice--I just joined your Patreon and am already enjoying the good conversations. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Brands are also a safe way of expressing identity in a competitive capitalist regime that pits workers against one another; if you do something weird and different, it's a potential liability but if you're all about that Marvel and Ted Lasso? Why, those are the most corporate-friendly things of all! In other words... Life, uh, finds a way.
Brands are also a way to make sure a product is good. If you are given two similar products, one from an unknown company, and one with a reputation of being good, you can take.the brand as a safe bet that it'll be quality and not a total unknown.
@@sirllamaiii9708Brand names often mean nothing for quality because the product comes from the same factories or are the same materials/chemicals, like Tylenol vs generic acetaminophen, same sh!t. For cheap vs. expensive fashion brands, the clothes are made by the same wage slaves and will fall apart in the same time after a few wears. I'm talking fast fashion of course. Even luxury houses produce fast fashion products. Edit: it's a marketing trick.
@@sirllamaiii9708 Oh for sure, like when Mattel refused to pull its baby sleeper devices even after the reported deaths of several infants, or when big tobacco companies recruited doctors to espouse the health benefits of smoking.
@@TheJofurr See? You're proving my point exactly. If a brand has a reputation, that forms people's opinions on a product. You wouldn't buy from Mattel because of infant deaths and their response. I wouldn't buy nestle because of their stances on water and such. Brands have reputations that influence buying decisions. A product or a brand can be known for having good or bad products. If someone sees a brand that they trust as good, and a completely unknown one, they'll take the brand they trust because they don't want to take the risk the other is bad. That's why brands can grow fast. If they build a good reputation it ensures future business
@@sirllamaiii9708 I think their point was more that you can trust brands until you can't - reputation can and is exploited to cut corners (or worse) and still keep truckin'. Plenty of brands out there coasting on their old reputation too - hell, a lot of those brands end up sold to completely different companies! The value in those names is for the owner (who can profit from the association), not the consumer (who's manipulated into being less objective about the product itself). Ultimately brands are part of marketing, which obviously is something you can't (and shouldn't) just trust
The "branding" started years ago, embodied in the show Madmen. But starts with Edward Bernays "father of Public Relations". His first work was in 1929 effort to promote female smoking by branding cigarettes as feminist "Torches of Freedom".
He was crazy. Listen to stuff you should know's podcast about him. He started a war over bananas. He was Sigmund Freud's nephew. Used his psychology knowledge for some evil.
If anyone is interested in learning more I recommend you watch the documentary series called The Century of the Self, by Adam Curtis. It honestly completely changed how I perceived and interacted with the world. Made me more cynical, but the insight I gained was a worthwhile trade regardless.
Read Crystallizing Public Opinion, Propaganda and Engineering of Consent which sound like they were written by Lex Luther but were in fact all written by Bernays. His torches of freedom thing was big but he also is responsible for the US entry into not only World War I but the second as well with help from Walter Lippmann. He did create our modern western concept of breakfast so I guess he’s got that going for him
There’s a text from Byong-Chul Han entitled Saving Beauty that works with the concept of “Sleek Aesthetic”, arguing that we’re in a era where the sleek is prevailing in every aspect of our world, from the lost of depth in the meaning of words as you were talking about, to the images wee see in advertising, architecture, art, etc. It relates with a sense of positivity that denies any king of negativity. The sleek has no imperfections, no resistance, it’s easy to accept and understand (since it’s depth has been taken out) and it keeps us in the surface of things. It’s mind-blowing how simple the idea can appear and how complex the consequence of it’s applications. So he criticizes this aspect of our socieday, and it’s actually mind-blowing how he presents us to this idea, but also debates on possible solutions, or it wasn’t supposed to be called “saving beauty” haha I haven’t red the whole text yet, I just joined a research group on the topic, but I thought that maybe it would be interesting for you :)
I believe following brands and heavily endorsed celebrities is pointless and this is because I seek humanity and authenticity from who I follow and I know I will not find this from these outlets.
A good example of a brand promoting a vision of society (which is also I think the most frustrating ad I've ever seen) is the yogurt Chobani ad called "Dear Alice". It's a beautiful animation that portrays a Solarpunk society. It's just very sad that's it's being used to sell us more stuff.
Urgh I hate that i love that video! I even watch it semi-regularly to show my friends how i imagine the future in a best case scenario or just as a way to deal with my climate anxiety and not to lose hope. I'm a staunch socialist who has to turn to a yoghurt ad for a hopeful (in my head anti-capitalist) vision of the future, please help me lol.
Personally I feel like this kind of thing isn't so bad - yeah corporations exploit this stuff to make us associate them with good things, but it shows that there's something there for them to appeal to. They have to do this kind of thing, because they're chasing after positive public attitudes, which feels like a good sign! And if they're promoting and spreading those attitudes, even better The fact they can actively be part of the problem, and sell feel-good stories and easy answers that limit people's desire to take action, that's a different story!
So glad you used Greta's "Bla, bla, bla!" in this vid Alice!!! Today is Greta's 21st b-day, and we have much to look fwd to in terms of her honest genius.
@@danielebowmanwhat are you talking about greta is a degrowth/anti capitalist advocate. You clearly have not read her book. The climate book by greta thunberg. She is a comrade.
@@nsjhdhdhdbhsudgvdydb7751 she offers no true solutions and is just about making stunts in nations she can get publicity from, while tip toeing around the worlds worst offenders who she says very little about.
I am from Brazil and recently i see one search realize here where they ask from the youngest generations the main reason from choice buy from one brand instead other's, The answer was commitment to social and environmental causes, more and more, especially among youngest, people see themselves as consumers instead citizens, as if the only thing they can do is choosing who to buy from.
It is pretty much the only thing they can do with safety. If they march on the streets protesting anything they will find rubber bullets in their eyes, pepper spray in their faces, false charges of felony, etc...
In Argentina has just assumed Javier Milei, a right wing president (libertarian) who, in the first two weeks, made a big presidential decree to abolish any kind protesting with police force, took several worker rights out of the law, and made desregulations in the explotation of minery, markets. "Free'd" the market (of any law) overall. Here in Argentina several protest already had been held and it's nice to see positivism against these kinds of people and big corporations overall, thx so much for your work
"Fighting the socialist", make me laugh. Milei is going to destroy any social equilibrium that we had in Argentina. We know that the country and its people were not doing well, but the solution isn't Milei.
también le está dando mucho poder a las F.F.A.A argentinas... cuidado con eso. Aquí en México todo lo que se le ha dado a los milicos difícilmente se les podrá retirar. La militarización ha engullido nuestro país; ojalá Argentina no corra el mismo destino u.u.
The point about companies wanting to create an image of their ideal is so true I think. Every Ad is a chance to create a picture of what society should look like to companies. In america especially it's the nuclear family, with 2 cars, single family home, and a kempt grass lawn.
I print alot of corporate self congratulation and other form of inner propaganda and its all so vague and empty which is the same as art description in museums or the 3000words blog you get if you search for a recipe. Its all filler words to make you feel as part of something, that ultimately doesn't want to be anything, being clear is a risk no one wants to take consciously.
Here in Sweden the government (right wing parties) has launched a project to establish a cultural canon, something both Denmark and Latvia seem to have. At first this seemed like a list of books directed towards children and young adults to educate them about the nations literary history, after a press conference about 3 weeks ago it was reveled that this project is supposed to encompass many more aspects (economic culture, music culture etc). A committee leader has been chosen and the project is going to last indefinitely, things will be added as time passes, which begs the question if it´s even possible to establish a cultural canon. Like you showed and discussed in the intro it´s easy to put together a "stereotype" of a nation and its culture however there´s no surefire way to make sure this relates to the people who actually make the nation. I wonder if it will lead to some strange sort of state made commodification of swedishness and if more countries are going to try similar things since the right seems to be on the rise.
I';m English ,and after the first two minutes of your video I'm reminded of both how foreigners react when they come here and actually experience our country for *real* for the first time, and also how ridiculous I thought the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony was. At various points I think there has been some debate as to what British or English culture is too, but at the moment it feels like we're trying not to think about it and hoping it will sort itself out. Which is extremely British, now that I think about it.
"we're trying not to think about it and hoping it will sort itself out. Which is extremely British, now that I think about it." -- Zizek would certainly agree with his comparison of European toilet ideology.
Genuinely how on earth can you be struggling with an issue/having a debate over defining your culture. The amount of soft power tied to your islands from the premier league to comedy style to making everyone outside of Asia think tea is predominantly a British stereotype is extremely high, to the stereotypical groups like posh twats to roadmen to oi bruvs. Somehow even within the realm of cuisine beans and toast is a thing people have become aware of, and traditional British food being bad/bland has its own cultural value/identity More immigrant descendant peeps are citizens of your country = difficult to define?
@@lucievelyn4866I'd be disappointed if I didn't meet kangaroos and wombats right outside the airport, I admit 😅 (Wildlife is part of culture, right ?)
@@Amaling It's not that. I'm a (northern) brit that's lived in multiple countries, but through sheer dumb luck. There are people here without passports, who have never in their 80 years left the county forget the country. Telling people about the places I've lived, they're often shocked at what is Not Normal outside of england or even outside of yorkshire. Those people likely have no doubt in their mind what it means to be british. They ONLY know british. To them you could say that being british is simply their small humble village community life. Being reserved where needed and laughing at the world so you don't cry. The Posh Twats, Roadmen and Oi Bruvs are the rare extremes and, like you say, stereotypical... and usually down south. Most of us aren't eating fucking beans on toast and fish and chips every day. Most of us are eating stuff you'd find in most of europe like soups, stews, casseroles, porridge with berries, baked salmon with veg, roast chicken with vegetables, aged cheddars, steak (with peppercorn sauce and a side salad). Fish and chips is basically old people take-out. Old people tend to have it on friday evenings traditionally, but most poeple only eat it if they go to the seaside...with old people. I'll admit, as someone who is passionate about healthy living and good food, it's sad that the only Known British recipes are the processed foods. What do you think our grandparents were eating.... you know before heinz were established and fish was able to be transported far inland without rotting? My grandma has a handwritten recipe book that's been in my family for over 100 years. There is not a single fish nor chip, nor baked bean in that entire book. So to the point, if the inaccurate stereotyped "Popular" foods are not what you identify with nor do you even like, and you don't fancy never leaving your home village in the middle of nowhere, you drink coffee more than tea (as a recent study shows is actually becoming more common among the young brits), you're generationally working class but not from east london so you can't identify with posh twats nor roadmen, you don't really like alcohol, you dislike the negativity of the british people so actively try not to be.... what is british asides from your accent... and even then if you've lived in multiple countries you lose that. When I lived America I used to joke that my ancestors were too far inland to get the memo about the boat.
Despite the grim topic, this video didn't leave me feeling lost and powerless, but carefully optimistic and wanting to do something meaningful. I have known that feeling you described and I want to feel it again.
Just been to Paris and saw plenty of the Banlieus. And the traffic. And the weird flea markets with drug sales and boom boxes blaring. 10/10 would do again. Oh and the massive variety of the metro cars and stations with weird topology, maddening complexity and cleanliness variety, not to mention the flakiness of tickets: one in three instance they’ll just stop working and the magnetic strip won’t work.
So, I try to avoid anything owned or made by the brand Nestlé, it's EXTREMELY difficult here in France, you'd be surprised how many things they own or are under their umbrella. I only buy something from a Nestlé company if there really is absolutely no other option. As a US citizen now immigrant to France and you learn all the goings on of that conglomerate, it kinda makes a person sick to their stomach. Anyways, I just spent 3 days with some French friends for New Years. One of the friends bought a box of cereal as a treat fir breakfast for the kids that were gonna be there, it was the bio chocopics, lol. I was surprised how well the cereal was made and still be at an A nutriscore, and as a perimenopausal Califorian woman that loves cereal, lol, and learned I need to have 25 grams of soluble fiber in my diet, I was really impressed by this cereal. But I told my friends I'd probably never buy it, because........... it was Nestlé. One of the French friends understood long before I finished my statement of boycott, and another friend, was in complete shock and didn't understand why. Long story to say, French people are NOT perfect, 😂😂
I live in a banlieue of Paris. It might not be as pretty (my quarter is actually mostly new buildings like a mini LA Defense), but I prefer it it because the population is more diverse, people are nicer, I have yet out in the banlieue to experience the "mean and rude" Parisien, lol
Hahahaha I’m still stuck on cereal as a treat lol. A fresh croissant 🥐 is one of the best breakfast foods ever! Why on earth would they ruin the best meal of the day “breakfast” with cereal.
@@aeolia80 probably havent experienced anything bad because they perceive you as just another monarchist. most well off people in europe understand that mnost well off eurocentrics from elsewhere are supportive of consolidating wealth and power into wealthy european families at the expense of everyone elses well being.
@@latristessdurera8763 you get to eat multiple times a day? i only ever was able to do that for a couple years in my childhood lol. most people only get to eat one meal a day, a couple times a week anymore. and they certainly arent getting to choose to eat anything tasty
0:41 - _Malheureusement,_ there's my American lycée-level French from 22 years ago, I've been around the block too many times to think French Culture is the same as French Ideals and Fench Idylls. I've had to work with the Legion Étrangé more times than I care to, for example, and because of that and my work preserving minority and indigenous languages, I sort of feel that the French cultural experience at least as far back as the Revolution(s?) has largely been derived from the consequences of colonialism, abandoning colonialism, and more recently, France's uniquely hands-on approach to neocolonialism. I'm American, and i know my history, so I say that without a shred of moral superiority.
Thank you for another great video Alice. I have just unfollowed all the brands I had in my lists, and I'm gonna match you by volunteering to help refugees in my country too. We have treated them awfully here and I have benefitted too much from the privilege of being born into the country to not give back to those who didn't have the same opportunity. You're a continuous inspiration for me, I wish you a fantastic 2024!!
Have you seen Bo Burnhams take on this with connecting a political opinion to every damn product there is? In his special Inside on netflix. "Who are you, what do you stand for, little bits?" Some snacks or bullshit. He nailed it
I have fallen in love with French culture, not from TV thankfully. Aspects of French culture I love: strong reading culture, the beautiful of the language, philosophy, possibly the best theatre scene in the world in Paris, a love for the "débat", a relatively high level of political discourse, museums, painters and artists, a general importance placed on beauty in life, and curiosity in the French for other cultures.
When I want a good polo, all I need is to spend money on Lacoste or Ralph Lauren and know that I get the good polo instead of searching around. That's the power of brands
The Sqaurespace promo at the end made me laugh so hard after the final message of the video, literally starting with "a platform to help you build your brand" omg
I always figured Macron’s victory was also due in part to Le Pen being too far right and he seemed sane by comparison. I am an American so might be looking at it in too much of an American-centric frame. On the topic of campitalism as identity I do find myself, as many people, defining myself based on the brands I purchase. I just think about how I am always following Apple, Marvel, etc. It’s a bit wild to think about. Also, I love Naomi Klein.
@@tvsonicserbia5140 ok, now I understand what you mean. Not a native speaker, so I was wondering. You are right I guess for more autocratic forms of government. I dont see it in a socialist context though.
I also volunteered in Australia for 2 years helping refugees until my Visa ended. The work is really fulfilling and I truly enjoyed it. Would recommend 100%
It's not going to happen because it has to, it's going to be difficult and dangerous. We can do it though, and we must do it ourselves. Nobody's gonna give it to us, we have to take it. Solidarity forever ✊
Interesting insight in the mental gymnastics marketeers perform. Brand is just a logo on a product, in fact, brand names can even be bought/sold/licensed between companies, so it doesn't even represent an actual manufacturer/company.
amazing video. it is getting more and more difficult to stay optimistic and rightly so for many people who feel totally left out and helpless. it is difficult to see things radically change in our lifetime but you're 💯 on the importance of community. being part of something that can translate into action (however feeble) our hope for a better world will go a long way in maintaining optimism and joy for life. love what you do ❤ and wish you all the best for an excellent 2024!!
It's always has been like that. Politicians always used empty words, mottos and tried to find "empathy votes". A great historical example could be the "Ciompi revolution" in 1378. So, nothing new and NOT caused by neo-liberism (that is a shit thing anyway)
People need to believe in something, and in their marketing campaigns major brands usually emphasize their "mission", and people seem to easily fall into this
If I have one main premise when I get dressed, is to never wear anything that shows a brand. I always found weird people who are fans of a brand. Not only that, they are happy to pay extra to make these brands all the publicity🤡
I'm late to the conversation, but when I think of France, I think of Parkour and my cousins who practiced it. They were scouted by Cirque du Soleil because of their parkour skills.
because brand are defended by the people that are proud of that brand: the employees, the customers, the citizens, the people defending the culture of the country, by everybody , everything who connect their value to that brand.
Anxiety is the enemy inside you. It is the default or standard approach to the fear of having a mortal life. Like everything else, the conclusions you come to... all depend on the current 'anxiety state' of your own mind. Some rejoice 'with the pent-up release of anxiety' at any and all change. Whilst others despise the outpouring of angst they feel, when any change is imminent. It is the universal 'progressive' versus the risk-averse 'conservative' mindsets,. That are always scuffling over how to run their society. For humans, everything about you is encased in fear. It's how you disguise your fear that defines who you are.
I am so disillusioned by the values of Western democracy. I am Indian, I never paid a lot of mind to colonialism as I knew the Brits wouldn't be held accountable by the ICJ to repay Indians or anything of that sort, but most importantly I genuinely believed that the current westerners would be vehemently anti-colonialist, atl east if the same thing would unfold in real-time. But with the conflict unfolding in Gaza, I feel so hopeless because I've come to know what the true purpose of "western democratic values" always was. Liberal values were only created by the wealthy businessmen in Europe to avoid persecution by the clergy and the nobility and to make their fortunes. It was never meant to be fair or humane. Democracies were only allowed by the wealthy to take shape when permeation of capitalist ideology in all layers of society ensured their profits weren't threatened by the facade of democratic rule. These apparently democratic and liberal values were only further used to justify the moral superiority of Europeans over the colonized people, and thus exploit them I mean, how can I not be disillusioned when Israel has the audacity to speak on behalf of "liberal western democracies" with complete support from the US and the UK just because of the profitable trade relations with Israel and powerful wealthy Zionists influencing British and American politicians? It's been mentally quite difficult for me as I am queer and have always (until now) looked up to the West for their advanced state of women and LGBTQ+ rights. I just don't know, I always dreamt of migrating to the West to find a place where I could express myself freely but rn, it feels as if I have to sacrifice my whole dignity as a native of a former colony which was the jackpot of all British colonies for being treated as a human being regardless of my sexual orientation or vice versa. I don't know what to do with my future anymore.
"a visions of the world that we cannot passively consume, a vision of the world that we must create, collectively" reminding me of he 11th thesis on Feuerbah
When I think of France...When I am eating with friends I will often wax nostalgic about a different meal from weeks or even years gone-by. A musette tuned accordion (even though they came from Italy) with a piano & cello & French Music: Paris Combo & Zaz, which then led me to Juliette Greco & Charles Trenet. Writers such as Huysmans, Robbe-Grillet, Celine, Aragon (especially his Paris Peasants). I have told people that the older I get the farther back in time I go, & perhaps this is a subconscious move away from branding on so many fronts. I will note a caveat here: while I do admire & lean towards the past's art, aesthetic & style, I do not agree with their old & in-the-way mindsets that still persist so widely across the world today. I don't use or visit social media & I don't buy into branding as such (with the few exceptions of Zebra F-403 pens, Honda cars & Harris Tweed) as far as activism is concerned that is why I am here, however I am not really a joiner & I absolutely hate crowds, but I do what I can. I only buy clothes that are cotton, silk wool, or linen (except for foul weather gear, I am a sailor) . It seems to be more & more difficult to find 100% natural materials that don't have some plastic type of stretchy material in them (I don''t want stretch trousers or shirts!) .I will save up & buy only items that will last me a good long time (I have sport coats that are almost 30 years old & are still quite fashionable). The bonus of natural materials (cotton & linen) is that once they do wear out, I can shred them, grind them & turn them into paper. Life has made of me a cynic & a skeptic, frankly I don't see anything to be optimistic about, but, paradoxically, most days I am still in a good mood. I am not sure what my point here is. I enjoyed the video & keep up the good work. I wish you well.
love the video! we own a small fine jewelry company and i want us to be conscious with every process - i believe that companies can be good too, instead of trying to capitalise on social values - it's easy to be labelled a 'woke capitalism' company now - but there are companies run by people who genuinely want to be ethical, responsible, and good
The thing with the rugby cup and the Jean Dujardin stuff that bothers me so much as a French person is that it’s not what France looks like at all??? It’s the old France, the France of our grandparents and their parents not the France of today. And we have such a beautiful country and culture but if the organisers wanted to show the real French culture they would have to show that France is multicultural and I don’t think that they like that very much 🫠🫠
Your point about macron really reminds me here in germany ablut our finance minister Christian Lindner from the neo-liberal party. We also call him "mini-macron" sometimes. Because in the elections of 2017 and 2021 he really tried so hard to potray himself as "cool" with all of his campaign ads being in black and white and with a montage from an finance bro influencer. And it worked a lot of young people voted for him and since 2021 his party is in government. But right now everybody is desillusioned from gis party and the neoliberal party is a in polls below 5%, which sounds like a good thing, but if you look where the voters are going its mainly the conservative or right wing party. Thats also a problem of these macron type politicians, they pave the way for right wing parties, bcs of their disconnected politics.
Brand image or brand character would be better ways to talk about what you call "brand identity". This usage follows a lot of recent internet near-English (in primary schooling we no longer teach - since the early eighties - the mechanics of the language anymore in the wealthiest Anglophone nations, for political and budgetary reasons, with grave consequences) in its abuse of the term "identity" - and this usage has all sorts of connotations that have nothing to do with brands or, on the other side, identity. As you said in another context, this term doesn't mean anything anymore. People use "identity" outside its very limited logical and legal definition, claiming they use them in a new way. But what happens is the logicometaphysical air of the term "identity" gets carried along without justification, and that's precisely why "identity" gets dragged into all sorts of debates in which people want pleonastically acquired weight - profundity on the cheap - but what we wind up getting is, at best, error, and, at worst, mutual and self-deception on a whole range of political and social subjects about which we could be saying important and sometimes vital things. Instead, we gesture and gesticulate to little purpose, trying to win arguments by either making or belittling grandiose claims regarding this weighty "identity" term that carries no more actual weight than the scarcely avoidable relationship of you to you, on one side, or than we find when a legal name applies to one organism or when a drivers-license number to that same being. We get no grander use from "identity" - yet a generation of people has created all sorts of confusion about many things by way of simple misuses of a suddenly overburdened term. Which is all the more disappointing because we have no lack of relevant, helpful terms for discussing the things "identity" serves only to confuse. All of which folds fairly neatly into the general flow of your presentation on brands and bullshit. So, on the whole, well done. I haven't seen your work before this video, but I'll happily check back for more.
What is French culture? Circa 20% of my music playlist (sometimes more if I am in my yé-yé period). Also that "traditional French culture" reminds me how british sitcom Hallo Hallo (set in WWII-era France) used to make fun of national stereotypes.
I've never liked the narrow view of capitalism. It(capitalism) is a broad category for many economic and political systems. Two persons who are both capitalists could disagree on this video. The private individualist agreeing with the video that corporations and brands distract us. But, a corporatist disagreeing, arguing for the collective power to change and freedom to organize. Both capitalists, different ideologies.
Idk if the model is still relevant. The monopolization of markets under money managers means any company is likely to have an array of product lines but also a reduction of real diversity or meaningful choice.
02:18 Many of us Brits felt the same about the opening of the Olympics in London back in 2012….don’t get me wrong it was a great opening ceremony (I actually worked on it and helped build some of the props used in it) but it was all built around these very stereotypical archetypes of what Britain is or what it’s perceived to be. Much the same as a tourist visiting Paris typifies it as chocolate, baguettes, impressionist painting and romance you have these kind of stereotypes for London- King’s guard, “Bobby” policemen, cockney accents etc etc. in both cities cases they’re extremely outdated stereotypes that don’t accurately reflect what the cities are like today, but are pushed by the media, corporations and the governments as the fiction is more appealing than the reality.
in reality everyone else just sees euro cultures as parasitic and cancerous to the well being of life on earth. also, there's a stereotype about europeans never doing their own labor and thinking of themselves as "too good/important to do labor" and also having the tendency to believe labor doesnt deserve any compensation.
Dear Ms. Capelle, At present I haven't watched your video. In your supermarket's ice cream section a major change occured. You probably haven't noticed, as you have to look for the detail: A small symbol on the front of the Ben&Jerry's Ice cream tub changed from Black to Green. The symbol whas a ligature of the Assyrian (Hebrew) letters Qoph and Kaph. Last year Israel had the B&J contrivercy: the brand began boycotting the country. The importer got interviewed, and sayed he may have to lay off some of his employees, ~Unemployement being a pressing issue there, especially since many where Arab~ he also had a massive stock of ice cream he cannot sell anymore. As B&J makes good ice cream, we decided to buy it a couple of months later. Low and Behold: the ice cream is now HALAL! Unilever decided to throw an entire local production-chain, under the bus, just to market their delicious ice cream to the Saudi's! But don't you worry, the Qoph Kaph symbol is still on the packageing, It whas moved to the bottom. Edit: not the bottom but the lower back side. I feel for the poor Kosher Supervisor, sacrificing his dignity to feed his family. Jack Tramiel whas right business is war indeed.
Might strike some viewers of this channel to paraphrase this but just like Lenin said a good slogan is good cause it's true. It's not necessarily about it rhyming or being short and quotable, it's about being honest and clear so that people know exactly what the conversation is about and when a large enough group with a clear direction makes their voice heard issues are forced into the foreground. When a campaign isn't being run on clear policy suggestions what it usually means is that the person is trying to avoid setting parameters by which you can measure their performance. If you promise clear policies we can see later whether you did it or not and evaluate you based on it. If you only sloganeer around feelings and vague concepts then it's much harder to call someone out for lying.
The other day as I was dropping my son at the daycare center they were playing the Mickey Mouse Club version of this song. I heard the famous chorus but the lyrics were so different it did not registered as English 😂(it was not loud enough for me to distinguish words, but the sounds did not mach Tony’s lyrics that were playing in my head) This song is so iconic that the end of the video just made me sad. Tony deserved royalties at least as a performer.
Decentralization is the answer to capitalism - I scream into the wind but no one hears. Imagine a world where we can make, grow and do so many things at the home, street and enclave level, there is no need for marketing and, dare I say, money! If humanity abandoned wanton consumerism and ego-feeding and embraced the idea of 'abundance through technology' we would no longer be forced to endure capitalism and ALL its ill effects on humanity and the world.
Maybe offtopic but these days find it hard to think of anything other than what's happening/happened in Ghuzza. Saving lives feels more important than environment or consumerism. Still the topic seems relevant, as many 'words' get spoken yet they remain meaningless. Destruction continues unabated.
As pirate, french culture = mayonnaise and guillotine. Oh, also La Ch'tite famille. But, i know french loves your own language so much, that you guys dub every movie in the theater. Just like in russia basically tho.
Indeed. I'd love to see more examining the failure of Occupy Wallstreet. It had the opposite effect of real world action against corporatism. It showed two things; 1) While angry, the protestors still couldn't pull themselves away from corporate producing during the protest. e.g. Starbucks, fashion items etc. It showed corporations the movement was weak. 2) It caused corporations to move into Woke capitalism, corporatizing Social Justice movements and the activists to make them a layer of protection around corporate brands against their critics by weaponizing Social Justice language and ideas to defend corporate behaviour. Why else can Disney, Apple, Facebook, Amazon etc treat workers like shite from Europe to China, get rid of thousands of workers while paying the CEOs a bonus, but only Elon Musk gets negative headlines trending because he did the same thing, to a lesser volume even, without 'woke' cover. That's where we are.
@@danielebowman people are more aware of how terrible those corporations are (and how this is how capitalism works in general) than ever, nobody who actually cares about social justice is being fooled by them co-opting that language, let alone ~defending~ them. That doesn't mean everyone is going to boycott them though, especially when there's a lack of alternatives (which is power they've deliberately amassed) Musk's a dumbass who's openly right-wing at this point, not a good thing for someone who's desperate for attention and wants to be seen as "the cool billionaire". It's the reason he bought and ruined a major social space for everyone (nobody likes Facebook either but it's mostly old people on there). He couldn't do "woke cover" anyway at this point (he kinda does it pretending to be an environmentalist), but the fact he's constantly shrieking about it underscores all the right-wing politics he keeps boosting. That's why he's getting negative headlines, because he's getting the attention he craves, and a lot of people are finding out that hey! this guy sucks!
@@yotobist Sure, if people can't leave the past behind and are unable to move on... applies to anything that has happened. It's just that it's much more of an active topic than like 10 years ago - for no good reason.
I recently read a Swedish translation of Anti-Oedipus, which it says on the cover was "published in collaboration with the french ministry of culture." Made me wonder if most of France really wants to be associated with iconoclastic, revolutionary, weird-ass theory like this? But I actually think they do. The almost comical arrogance of Deleuze, Baudrillard, Derrida etc that came with them making careers out of saying "here's why I'm right and why everyone else and all of society is wrong" is clearly cherished, no matter the details of the content. Simply the fact that the phrase "french theory" is considered a misnomer in English but happily embraced in France says it all.
Oof, I forget people actually "follow" brands. I get it I guess, I purged all my social media years ago of any non friend non human accounts. I have began to follow more organizations (and it course meme pages, the highest form of human art and achievement) but they're all artistically or politically aligned with direct action. I guess that's kind of a flex but I am sharing because of you're someone who feels like media is leading to too much brand influence on your life, it IS escapable and it IS worth it. ❤
Amazing question. I have never followed any brands. It blows my mind that people do. That said, the culture I follow are also brands. But for me, if you follow a coffee chain, you have problems.
The reason people follow brands is due to the fact that we spend very little time teaching young children about critical thinking, and almost no time teaching basic economics to older students. The last one is psychology. It’s an elective. It helps young people understand why they are susceptible to advertising. But hey, ALGEBRA is really,really important.
Watching La Haine many years ago basically broke that Pepe Le Peu perception I had of the idyllic France. As someone from Latin America, I always saw France as the US of Europe. Downright to the insane nationalism, racial issues, police brutality and abuse by the state, geopolitical bullies in both military and economical ways, and patronizing of peoples they saw as "below" them.
Same sh*t happen to my country with our latest president. He's campaign was basically just saying all this 'grand' (but generic) plans but nothing really to grab on to.
You really should look at the hardware tech space, particularly the rivalries like Sony/Microsoft (consoles), and AMD/INTEL/NVIDIA (laptops, desktop market) So much fan defending of these mega corporations that don't really share their best interest (putting out hardware vs improving stock value). It gets eerily similar to political parties, even though the stakes aren't as high
I like the typically French perspective of worldly nonchalance... It reflects how I feel as I had hit 40. French mindset is much older and more mature than American mindset stereotypically.
Personally, I follow certain brands entirely because I like their products and want to know if/when they go on sale. Or, if I don't plan to buy their stuff, I just simply like their aesthetic and follow for artistic inspiration. Additionally, I don't follow big brands or celebrities - instead, I follow indie brands that offer interesting, unique products and meet my ethical standards. A brand has never inspired me politically, any more than a politician has. I don't trust a single thing that most brands or politicians say. You can't bullshit a bullshitter. Like you said, it's almost all meaningless word salad that sounds good. The only real substance is their actions (or lack thereof).
I refuse to accept that some people voted FOR Macron. Voting Macron to counter Le Pen? Of course. But actively voting FOR him? Nah. J'adore le confusionnisme.
Capitalism commodifies everything, including culture, which in turn produces and reinforces a sense of alienation from what our culture actually means and our relation to it. It's refreshing to see your optimism!
What does our culture actually mean?
Humans need a god , if not the one in the church then the one in the bank
,
Everything is faith for humanity even when we learn everything we will still have faith
I think that's more neo-liberalism, a part of capitalism which does this when corporations aren't kept in check.
The same psychological techniques for example are being used by activists to sell environmentalism, a specific LGBTQ+ culture where worshiping the flag is more important than actually being same sex attracted (hence a number of heterosexuals declaring they are queer while not in any way having same sex attraction or lifestyle beyond rainbow flags) and hence why politics is getting divisive, because attaching these causes to lifestyle types means people feel excluded from them and why even the most rational arguments fall on deaf ears. I'd also say it's largely due to the overwhelming cultural influence from America.
That's free market economy; the unlimited freedom to destroy things in order to earn money.
@@QoraxAudio what’s the other?
Macron's slogan of "responsibility" carries the same neoliberal stank as Tony Blair's slogan of "liberating the individual" back in the 90s. One would think that people are better able to catch on to similarities like that these days, but we're just too distracted and caught up in corporate propaganda.
Honestly, all one needs to do to realise the sheer amount of lies, hypocrisy, distraction and confusion we're constantly facing is to look at the P*lestine Isr*el situation. It's frightening to me because it's as if people actually stop seeing reality or refuse to see reality and actually use critical thinking. Many people don't want to see reality and so politicians and media propaganda take a big advantage of that. It's very sad but it seems to me that a lot of people do want to be manipulated as long as it makes them safe in their comfort zone.
He think's he's Tony Blair but he's more of a David Cameron ;)
Genuine question are French really more open minded towards sex as compared to other countries ?
I feel they just don't do political slogans like they use to. Sure Trump brought back Make America Great Again but that's no I like Ike or Time for greatness (JFK) or They can't lick Dick from our Nixon.
@@ERICTENHAG56There are something like 200 countries. France isn’t much different than any of its neighbors in Europe, or Canada or Australia. It’s very different from a Muslim country in the Middle East or Africa, or rural America.
We're dealing with a lot of this in the US. Everything's a slogan and nobody says anything. And it's a corporate thing. This is what I tell people when they ask me about Trump's word vomit. It's a businessman's tactic--just keep talking and keep insisting everything is great, everything is good, it's all about your confidence. When you break it down, it usually means nothing. Great video, Alice--I just joined your Patreon and am already enjoying the good conversations. Keep up the good work! 🙂
“ I’m a mascot of an evil corporation “ - Bart Simpson
Brands are also a safe way of expressing identity in a competitive capitalist regime that pits workers against one another; if you do something weird and different, it's a potential liability but if you're all about that Marvel and Ted Lasso? Why, those are the most corporate-friendly things of all!
In other words... Life, uh, finds a way.
Brands are also a way to make sure a product is good. If you are given two similar products, one from an unknown company, and one with a reputation of being good, you can take.the brand as a safe bet that it'll be quality and not a total unknown.
@@sirllamaiii9708Brand names often mean nothing for quality because the product comes from the same factories or are the same materials/chemicals, like Tylenol vs generic acetaminophen, same sh!t.
For cheap vs. expensive fashion brands, the clothes are made by the same wage slaves and will fall apart in the same time after a few wears. I'm talking fast fashion of course. Even luxury houses produce fast fashion products.
Edit: it's a marketing trick.
@@sirllamaiii9708 Oh for sure, like when Mattel refused to pull its baby sleeper devices even after the reported deaths of several infants, or when big tobacco companies recruited doctors to espouse the health benefits of smoking.
@@TheJofurr See? You're proving my point exactly. If a brand has a reputation, that forms people's opinions on a product. You wouldn't buy from Mattel because of infant deaths and their response. I wouldn't buy nestle because of their stances on water and such. Brands have reputations that influence buying decisions.
A product or a brand can be known for having good or bad products. If someone sees a brand that they trust as good, and a completely unknown one, they'll take the brand they trust because they don't want to take the risk the other is bad. That's why brands can grow fast. If they build a good reputation it ensures future business
@@sirllamaiii9708 I think their point was more that you can trust brands until you can't - reputation can and is exploited to cut corners (or worse) and still keep truckin'. Plenty of brands out there coasting on their old reputation too - hell, a lot of those brands end up sold to completely different companies!
The value in those names is for the owner (who can profit from the association), not the consumer (who's manipulated into being less objective about the product itself). Ultimately brands are part of marketing, which obviously is something you can't (and shouldn't) just trust
The "branding" started years ago, embodied in the show Madmen. But starts with Edward Bernays "father of Public Relations". His first work was in 1929 effort to promote female smoking by branding cigarettes as feminist "Torches of Freedom".
Interesting point, you just got me to read-up on Edward Bernays and his 'Torches of freedom' campaign. Thanks for bringing it up.
Bernays was a brilliant *Askenazi* jew.
He was crazy. Listen to stuff you should know's podcast about him. He started a war over bananas. He was Sigmund Freud's nephew. Used his psychology knowledge for some evil.
If anyone is interested in learning more I recommend you watch the documentary series called The Century of the Self, by Adam Curtis. It honestly completely changed how I perceived and interacted with the world. Made me more cynical, but the insight I gained was a worthwhile trade regardless.
Read Crystallizing Public Opinion, Propaganda and Engineering of Consent which sound like they were written by Lex Luther but were in fact all written by Bernays.
His torches of freedom thing was big but he also is responsible for the US entry into not only World War I but the second as well with help from Walter Lippmann.
He did create our modern western concept of breakfast so I guess he’s got that going for him
There’s a text from Byong-Chul Han entitled Saving Beauty that works with the concept of “Sleek Aesthetic”, arguing that we’re in a era where the sleek is prevailing in every aspect of our world, from the lost of depth in the meaning of words as you were talking about, to the images wee see in advertising, architecture, art, etc.
It relates with a sense of positivity that denies any king of negativity. The sleek has no imperfections, no resistance, it’s easy to accept and understand (since it’s depth has been taken out) and it keeps us in the surface of things. It’s mind-blowing how simple the idea can appear and how complex the consequence of it’s applications.
So he criticizes this aspect of our socieday, and it’s actually mind-blowing how he presents us to this idea, but also debates on possible solutions, or it wasn’t supposed to be called “saving beauty” haha
I haven’t red the whole text yet, I just joined a research group on the topic, but I thought that maybe it would be interesting for you :)
Thank you for telling us about it!
Apple…
Definitely going to give that a read, thank you for sharing!
que legal, vou pesquisar sobre!!
I believe following brands and heavily endorsed celebrities is pointless and this is because I seek humanity and authenticity from who I follow and I know I will not find this from these outlets.
A good example of a brand promoting a vision of society (which is also I think the most frustrating ad I've ever seen) is the yogurt Chobani ad called "Dear Alice". It's a beautiful animation that portrays a Solarpunk society. It's just very sad that's it's being used to sell us more stuff.
Urgh I hate that i love that video! I even watch it semi-regularly to show my friends how i imagine the future in a best case scenario or just as a way to deal with my climate anxiety and not to lose hope. I'm a staunch socialist who has to turn to a yoghurt ad for a hopeful (in my head anti-capitalist) vision of the future, please help me lol.
there’s a version available on TH-cam with the brand names/logos edited out I’m pretty sure
Personally I feel like this kind of thing isn't so bad - yeah corporations exploit this stuff to make us associate them with good things, but it shows that there's something there for them to appeal to. They have to do this kind of thing, because they're chasing after positive public attitudes, which feels like a good sign! And if they're promoting and spreading those attitudes, even better
The fact they can actively be part of the problem, and sell feel-good stories and easy answers that limit people's desire to take action, that's a different story!
I love that video too!
I always try to focus on the animators work behind it to give a better meaning to it
So glad you used Greta's "Bla, bla, bla!" in this vid Alice!!!
Today is Greta's 21st b-day, and we have much to look fwd to in terms of her honest genius.
No way that's cool
I found it ironic given Greta's stances is as vacuous as Macron.
@@danielebowmanwhat are you talking about greta is a degrowth/anti capitalist advocate. You clearly have not read her book. The climate book by greta thunberg. She is a comrade.
@@nsjhdhdhdbhsudgvdydb7751 Yes that's called vacuous.
@@nsjhdhdhdbhsudgvdydb7751 she offers no true solutions and is just about making stunts in nations she can get publicity from, while tip toeing around the worlds worst offenders who she says very little about.
I am from Brazil and recently i see one search realize here where they ask from the youngest generations the main reason from choice buy from one brand instead other's, The answer was commitment to social and environmental causes, more and more, especially among youngest, people see themselves as consumers instead citizens, as if the only thing they can do is choosing who to buy from.
Neoliberalism is a disease that my generation was born into
It is pretty much the only thing they can do with safety. If they march on the streets protesting anything they will find rubber bullets in their eyes, pepper spray in their faces, false charges of felony, etc...
In Argentina has just assumed Javier Milei, a right wing president (libertarian) who, in the first two weeks, made a big presidential decree to abolish any kind protesting with police force, took several worker rights out of the law, and made desregulations in the explotation of minery, markets. "Free'd" the market (of any law) overall.
Here in Argentina several protest already had been held and it's nice to see positivism against these kinds of people and big corporations overall, thx so much for your work
Thank God for milie fighting the socialist
"Fighting the socialist", make me laugh. Milei is going to destroy any social equilibrium that we had in Argentina. We know that the country and its people were not doing well, but the solution isn't Milei.
Tiresias141, rezando por nuestros hermanos argentinos. 🇵🇪
también le está dando mucho poder a las F.F.A.A argentinas... cuidado con eso. Aquí en México todo lo que se le ha dado a los milicos difícilmente se les podrá retirar. La militarización ha engullido nuestro país; ojalá Argentina no corra el mismo destino u.u.
The point about companies wanting to create an image of their ideal is so true I think. Every Ad is a chance to create a picture of what society should look like to companies. In america especially it's the nuclear family, with 2 cars, single family home, and a kempt grass lawn.
I print alot of corporate self congratulation and other form of inner propaganda and its all so vague and empty which is the same as art description in museums or the 3000words blog you get if you search for a recipe. Its all filler words to make you feel as part of something, that ultimately doesn't want to be anything, being clear is a risk no one wants to take consciously.
Here in Sweden the government (right wing parties) has launched a project to establish a cultural canon, something both Denmark and Latvia seem to have. At first this seemed like a list of books directed towards children and young adults to educate them about the nations literary history, after a press conference about 3 weeks ago it was reveled that this project is supposed to encompass many more aspects (economic culture, music culture etc). A committee leader has been chosen and the project is going to last indefinitely, things will be added as time passes, which begs the question if it´s even possible to establish a cultural canon. Like you showed and discussed in the intro it´s easy to put together a "stereotype" of a nation and its culture however there´s no surefire way to make sure this relates to the people who actually make the nation. I wonder if it will lead to some strange sort of state made commodification of swedishness and if more countries are going to try similar things since the right seems to be on the rise.
I';m English ,and after the first two minutes of your video I'm reminded of both how foreigners react when they come here and actually experience our country for *real* for the first time, and also how ridiculous I thought the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony was.
At various points I think there has been some debate as to what British or English culture is too, but at the moment it feels like we're trying not to think about it and hoping it will sort itself out. Which is extremely British, now that I think about it.
"we're trying not to think about it and hoping it will sort itself out. Which is extremely British, now that I think about it." -- Zizek would certainly agree with his comparison of European toilet ideology.
Genuinely how on earth can you be struggling with an issue/having a debate over defining your culture. The amount of soft power tied to your islands from the premier league to comedy style to making everyone outside of Asia think tea is predominantly a British stereotype is extremely high, to the stereotypical groups like posh twats to roadmen to oi bruvs. Somehow even within the realm of cuisine beans and toast is a thing people have become aware of, and traditional British food being bad/bland has its own cultural value/identity
More immigrant descendant peeps are citizens of your country = difficult to define?
@@lucievelyn4866I'd be disappointed if I didn't meet kangaroos and wombats right outside the airport, I admit 😅
(Wildlife is part of culture, right ?)
It's very annoying when I hear politicians or my work place talk about British values. The only value in a capitalist society is making more money.
@@Amaling
It's not that. I'm a (northern) brit that's lived in multiple countries, but through sheer dumb luck. There are people here without passports, who have never in their 80 years left the county forget the country. Telling people about the places I've lived, they're often shocked at what is Not Normal outside of england or even outside of yorkshire.
Those people likely have no doubt in their mind what it means to be british. They ONLY know british. To them you could say that being british is simply their small humble village community life. Being reserved where needed and laughing at the world so you don't cry.
The Posh Twats, Roadmen and Oi Bruvs are the rare extremes and, like you say, stereotypical... and usually down south. Most of us aren't eating fucking beans on toast and fish and chips every day. Most of us are eating stuff you'd find in most of europe like soups, stews, casseroles, porridge with berries, baked salmon with veg, roast chicken with vegetables, aged cheddars, steak (with peppercorn sauce and a side salad).
Fish and chips is basically old people take-out. Old people tend to have it on friday evenings traditionally, but most poeple only eat it if they go to the seaside...with old people.
I'll admit, as someone who is passionate about healthy living and good food, it's sad that the only Known British recipes are the processed foods. What do you think our grandparents were eating.... you know before heinz were established and fish was able to be transported far inland without rotting? My grandma has a handwritten recipe book that's been in my family for over 100 years. There is not a single fish nor chip, nor baked bean in that entire book.
So to the point, if the inaccurate stereotyped "Popular" foods are not what you identify with nor do you even like, and you don't fancy never leaving your home village in the middle of nowhere, you drink coffee more than tea (as a recent study shows is actually becoming more common among the young brits), you're generationally working class but not from east london so you can't identify with posh twats nor roadmen, you don't really like alcohol, you dislike the negativity of the british people so actively try not to be.... what is british asides from your accent... and even then if you've lived in multiple countries you lose that.
When I lived America I used to joke that my ancestors were too far inland to get the memo about the boat.
Despite the grim topic, this video didn't leave me feeling lost and powerless, but carefully optimistic and wanting to do something meaningful. I have known that feeling you described and I want to feel it again.
Just been to Paris and saw plenty of the Banlieus. And the traffic. And the weird flea markets with drug sales and boom boxes blaring. 10/10 would do again. Oh and the massive variety of the metro cars and stations with weird topology, maddening complexity and cleanliness variety, not to mention the flakiness of tickets: one in three instance they’ll just stop working and the magnetic strip won’t work.
So, I try to avoid anything owned or made by the brand Nestlé, it's EXTREMELY difficult here in France, you'd be surprised how many things they own or are under their umbrella. I only buy something from a Nestlé company if there really is absolutely no other option. As a US citizen now immigrant to France and you learn all the goings on of that conglomerate, it kinda makes a person sick to their stomach. Anyways, I just spent 3 days with some French friends for New Years. One of the friends bought a box of cereal as a treat fir breakfast for the kids that were gonna be there, it was the bio chocopics, lol. I was surprised how well the cereal was made and still be at an A nutriscore, and as a perimenopausal Califorian woman that loves cereal, lol, and learned I need to have 25 grams of soluble fiber in my diet, I was really impressed by this cereal. But I told my friends I'd probably never buy it, because........... it was Nestlé. One of the French friends understood long before I finished my statement of boycott, and another friend, was in complete shock and didn't understand why.
Long story to say, French people are NOT perfect, 😂😂
I live in a banlieue of Paris. It might not be as pretty (my quarter is actually mostly new buildings like a mini LA Defense), but I prefer it it because the population is more diverse, people are nicer, I have yet out in the banlieue to experience the "mean and rude" Parisien, lol
Hahahaha I’m still stuck on cereal as a treat lol. A fresh croissant 🥐 is one of the best breakfast foods ever! Why on earth would they ruin the best meal of the day “breakfast” with cereal.
@@aeolia80 probably havent experienced anything bad because they perceive you as just another monarchist. most well off people in europe understand that mnost well off eurocentrics from elsewhere are supportive of consolidating wealth and power into wealthy european families at the expense of everyone elses well being.
@@latristessdurera8763 you get to eat multiple times a day? i only ever was able to do that for a couple years in my childhood lol. most people only get to eat one meal a day, a couple times a week anymore. and they certainly arent getting to choose to eat anything tasty
0:41 - _Malheureusement,_ there's my American lycée-level French from 22 years ago, I've been around the block too many times to think French Culture is the same as French Ideals and Fench Idylls. I've had to work with the Legion Étrangé more times than I care to, for example, and because of that and my work preserving minority and indigenous languages, I sort of feel that the French cultural experience at least as far back as the Revolution(s?) has largely been derived from the consequences of colonialism, abandoning colonialism, and more recently, France's uniquely hands-on approach to neocolonialism.
I'm American, and i know my history, so I say that without a shred of moral superiority.
I am extremely happy youtube's algorithm has suggested me your video at the very home page. Great video!
Hi Alice! As a sociology graduate and geek I find your channel to be such a breath of fresh air! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ❤
Thank you for another great video Alice. I have just unfollowed all the brands I had in my lists, and I'm gonna match you by volunteering to help refugees in my country too. We have treated them awfully here and I have benefitted too much from the privilege of being born into the country to not give back to those who didn't have the same opportunity.
You're a continuous inspiration for me, I wish you a fantastic 2024!!
Your optimism is inspiring! Thank you for making great videos.
The only brand Alice follows is Squarespace (approved brand of Larping Comrades worldwide).
Best part of this video is at the end. Where she explains how a Brand sponsored this video.
😭😭😭
Have you seen Bo Burnhams take on this with connecting a political opinion to every damn product there is? In his special Inside on netflix. "Who are you, what do you stand for, little bits?" Some snacks or bullshit. He nailed it
I have fallen in love with French culture, not from TV thankfully. Aspects of French culture I love: strong reading culture, the beautiful of the language, philosophy, possibly the best theatre scene in the world in Paris, a love for the "débat", a relatively high level of political discourse, museums, painters and artists, a general importance placed on beauty in life, and curiosity in the French for other cultures.
When I want a good polo, all I need is to spend money on Lacoste or Ralph Lauren and know that I get the good polo instead of searching around. That's the power of brands
If we know the differences between brands and/or the businesses behind them, we can better vote with our money.
The Sqaurespace promo at the end made me laugh so hard after the final message of the video, literally starting with "a platform to help you build your brand" omg
I always figured Macron’s victory was also due in part to Le Pen being too far right and he seemed sane by comparison. I am an American so might be looking at it in too much of an American-centric frame.
On the topic of campitalism as identity I do find myself, as many people, defining myself based on the brands I purchase. I just think about how I am always following Apple, Marvel, etc. It’s a bit wild to think about.
Also, I love Naomi Klein.
ritualised patriotism is a tool of capitalism
Not necessarily, just most ruling ideologies.
@@tvsonicserbia5140 care to elaborate?
It's the same in many pre capitalist and socialist countries@@ElDaumo
i wonder if the ancient athenians felt that way
@@tvsonicserbia5140 ok, now I understand what you mean. Not a native speaker, so I was wondering. You are right I guess for more autocratic forms of government. I dont see it in a socialist context though.
I also volunteered in Australia for 2 years helping refugees until my Visa ended. The work is really fulfilling and I truly enjoyed it. Would recommend 100%
@TE.LGRAM..AliceCappelle1 take yourself off this platform
It's not going to happen because it has to, it's going to be difficult and dangerous. We can do it though, and we must do it ourselves. Nobody's gonna give it to us, we have to take it. Solidarity forever ✊
Not the Luis clip trying croissants mid protest 😂 dude is hilarious
Interesting insight in the mental gymnastics marketeers perform.
Brand is just a logo on a product, in fact, brand names can even be bought/sold/licensed between companies, so it doesn't even represent an actual manufacturer/company.
amazing video. it is getting more and more difficult to stay optimistic and rightly so for many people who feel totally left out and helpless.
it is difficult to see things radically change in our lifetime but you're 💯 on the importance of community. being part of something that can translate into action (however feeble) our hope for a better world will go a long way in maintaining optimism and joy for life.
love what you do ❤ and wish you all the best for an excellent 2024!!
It's always has been like that. Politicians always used empty words, mottos and tried to find "empathy votes". A great historical example could be the "Ciompi revolution" in 1378. So, nothing new and NOT caused by neo-liberism (that is a shit thing anyway)
I'm so happy that we have people like you to keep is motivated. Keep up the great work!
People need to believe in something, and in their marketing campaigns major brands usually emphasize their "mission", and people seem to easily fall into this
If I have one main premise when I get dressed, is to never wear anything that shows a brand.
I always found weird people who are fans of a brand. Not only that, they are happy to pay extra to make these brands all the publicity🤡
Lord, I remember the in the 90’s you couldn’t move for branded garments. Horrible.
I'm late to the conversation, but when I think of France, I think of Parkour and my cousins who practiced it. They were scouted by Cirque du Soleil because of their parkour skills.
because brand are defended by the people that are proud of that brand: the employees, the customers, the citizens, the people defending the culture of the country, by everybody , everything who connect their value to that brand.
Anxiety is the enemy inside you. It is the default or standard approach to the fear of having a mortal life.
Like everything else, the conclusions you come to... all depend on the current 'anxiety state' of your own mind.
Some rejoice 'with the pent-up release of anxiety' at any and all change.
Whilst others despise the outpouring of angst they feel, when any change is imminent.
It is the universal 'progressive' versus the risk-averse 'conservative' mindsets,. That are always scuffling over how to run their society.
For humans, everything about you is encased in fear. It's how you disguise your fear that defines who you are.
I am so disillusioned by the values of Western democracy. I am Indian, I never paid a lot of mind to colonialism as I knew the Brits wouldn't be held accountable by the ICJ to repay Indians or anything of that sort, but most importantly I genuinely believed that the current westerners would be vehemently anti-colonialist, atl east if the same thing would unfold in real-time. But with the conflict unfolding in Gaza, I feel so hopeless because I've come to know what the true purpose of "western democratic values" always was. Liberal values were only created by the wealthy businessmen in Europe to avoid persecution by the clergy and the nobility and to make their fortunes. It was never meant to be fair or humane. Democracies were only allowed by the wealthy to take shape when permeation of capitalist ideology in all layers of society ensured their profits weren't threatened by the facade of democratic rule. These apparently democratic and liberal values were only further used to justify the moral superiority of Europeans over the colonized people, and thus exploit them
I mean, how can I not be disillusioned when Israel has the audacity to speak on behalf of "liberal western democracies" with complete support from the US and the UK just because of the profitable trade relations with Israel and powerful wealthy Zionists influencing British and American politicians? It's been mentally quite difficult for me as I am queer and have always (until now) looked up to the West for their advanced state of women and LGBTQ+ rights. I just don't know, I always dreamt of migrating to the West to find a place where I could express myself freely but rn, it feels as if I have to sacrifice my whole dignity as a native of a former colony which was the jackpot of all British colonies for being treated as a human being regardless of my sexual orientation or vice versa. I don't know what to do with my future anymore.
"a visions of the world that we cannot passively consume, a vision of the world that we must create, collectively"
reminding me of he 11th thesis on Feuerbah
great video, as always!!
When I think of France...When I am eating with friends I will often wax nostalgic about a different meal from weeks or even years gone-by. A musette tuned accordion (even though they came from Italy) with a piano & cello & French Music: Paris Combo & Zaz, which then led me to Juliette Greco & Charles Trenet. Writers such as Huysmans, Robbe-Grillet, Celine, Aragon (especially his Paris Peasants). I have told people that the older I get the farther back in time I go, & perhaps this is a subconscious move away from branding on so many fronts. I will note a caveat here: while I do admire & lean towards the past's art, aesthetic & style, I do not agree with their old & in-the-way mindsets that still persist so widely across the world today.
I don't use or visit social media & I don't buy into branding as such (with the few exceptions of Zebra F-403 pens, Honda cars & Harris Tweed) as far as activism is concerned that is why I am here, however I am not really a joiner & I absolutely hate crowds, but I do what I can. I only buy clothes that are cotton, silk wool, or linen (except for foul weather gear, I am a sailor) . It seems to be more & more difficult to find 100% natural materials that don't have some plastic type of stretchy material in them (I don''t want stretch trousers or shirts!) .I will save up & buy only items that will last me a good long time (I have sport coats that are almost 30 years old & are still quite fashionable). The bonus of natural materials (cotton & linen) is that once they do wear out, I can shred them, grind them & turn them into paper. Life has made of me a cynic & a skeptic, frankly I don't see anything to be optimistic about, but, paradoxically, most days I am still in a good mood. I am not sure what my point here is.
I enjoyed the video & keep up the good work. I wish you well.
Very compelling articulate video, made me feel invigorated and want to get back out protesting this year
Bonne manif !
Totally did not expect this deep analysis from the title, I'm really appreciating the perspective and food for thought!
When I unfollowed influencers and brands and followed art and activism a few years back my feed got infinitely better. 100/10 would recommend
I think its even better to not use media at all, maybe follow just friends
love the video! we own a small fine jewelry company and i want us to be conscious with every process - i believe that companies can be good too, instead of trying to capitalise on social values - it's easy to be labelled a 'woke capitalism' company now - but there are companies run by people who genuinely want to be ethical, responsible, and good
I never understood following brands, it's literally commercial page and we already have fuck ton of comercials
The thing with the rugby cup and the Jean Dujardin stuff that bothers me so much as a French person is that it’s not what France looks like at all??? It’s the old France, the France of our grandparents and their parents not the France of today. And we have such a beautiful country and culture but if the organisers wanted to show the real French culture they would have to show that France is multicultural and I don’t think that they like that very much 🫠🫠
YOOOO PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU IM SO GLAD U SHOWED THAT ITS ONE OF MY FAV MOVIES
This was kind of a weird video...if you're gonna mention divest boycott in the thumbnail i feel like you should have talked about the bds movement
Never became an Instagram junkie. Never followed any brands. It's silly to do so.
Your point about macron really reminds me here in germany ablut our finance minister Christian Lindner from the neo-liberal party. We also call him "mini-macron" sometimes. Because in the elections of 2017 and 2021 he really tried so hard to potray himself as "cool" with all of his campaign ads being in black and white and with a montage from an finance bro influencer. And it worked a lot of young people voted for him and since 2021 his party is in government. But right now everybody is desillusioned from gis party and the neoliberal party is a in polls below 5%, which sounds like a good thing, but if you look where the voters are going its mainly the conservative or right wing party. Thats also a problem of these macron type politicians, they pave the way for right wing parties, bcs of their disconnected politics.
Brand image or brand character would be better ways to talk about what you call "brand identity". This usage follows a lot of recent internet near-English (in primary schooling we no longer teach - since the early eighties - the mechanics of the language anymore in the wealthiest Anglophone nations, for political and budgetary reasons, with grave consequences) in its abuse of the term "identity" - and this usage has all sorts of connotations that have nothing to do with brands or, on the other side, identity. As you said in another context, this term doesn't mean anything anymore. People use "identity" outside its very limited logical and legal definition, claiming they use them in a new way. But what happens is the logicometaphysical air of the term "identity" gets carried along without justification, and that's precisely why "identity" gets dragged into all sorts of debates in which people want pleonastically acquired weight - profundity on the cheap - but what we wind up getting is, at best, error, and, at worst, mutual and self-deception on a whole range of political and social subjects about which we could be saying important and sometimes vital things. Instead, we gesture and gesticulate to little purpose, trying to win arguments by either making or belittling grandiose claims regarding this weighty "identity" term that carries no more actual weight than the scarcely avoidable relationship of you to you, on one side, or than we find when a legal name applies to one organism or when a drivers-license number to that same being. We get no grander use from "identity" - yet a generation of people has created all sorts of confusion about many things by way of simple misuses of a suddenly overburdened term. Which is all the more disappointing because we have no lack of relevant, helpful terms for discussing the things "identity" serves only to confuse.
All of which folds fairly neatly into the general flow of your presentation on brands and bullshit. So, on the whole, well done. I haven't seen your work before this video, but I'll happily check back for more.
What is French culture? Circa 20% of my music playlist (sometimes more if I am in my yé-yé period).
Also that "traditional French culture" reminds me how british sitcom Hallo Hallo (set in WWII-era France) used to make fun of national stereotypes.
9 mins into video, finally get to the question Why do we follow brands
Thank you for including an audio clip of Break My Soul😌
We need a podcast version of your videos !
You’re sponsored by Squarespace
I've never liked the narrow view of capitalism.
It(capitalism) is a broad category for many economic and political systems. Two persons who are both capitalists could disagree on this video. The private individualist agreeing with the video that corporations and brands distract us. But, a corporatist disagreeing, arguing for the collective power to change and freedom to organize. Both capitalists, different ideologies.
Idk if the model is still relevant. The monopolization of markets under money managers means any company is likely to have an array of product lines but also a reduction of real diversity or meaningful choice.
02:18 Many of us Brits felt the same about the opening of the Olympics in London back in 2012….don’t get me wrong it was a great opening ceremony (I actually worked on it and helped build some of the props used in it) but it was all built around these very stereotypical archetypes of what Britain is or what it’s perceived to be. Much the same as a tourist visiting Paris typifies it as chocolate, baguettes, impressionist painting and romance you have these kind of stereotypes for London- King’s guard, “Bobby” policemen, cockney accents etc etc. in both cities cases they’re extremely outdated stereotypes that don’t accurately reflect what the cities are like today, but are pushed by the media, corporations and the governments as the fiction is more appealing than the reality.
in reality everyone else just sees euro cultures as parasitic and cancerous to the well being of life on earth. also, there's a stereotype about europeans never doing their own labor and thinking of themselves as "too good/important to do labor" and also having the tendency to believe labor doesnt deserve any compensation.
There is a very fun housefly on Alice's mic at 1:17. That's all I wanted to say today.
You're the best social scientist out here. 👍🏾 keep going Alice.
Dear Ms. Capelle,
At present I haven't watched your video.
In your supermarket's ice cream section a major change occured.
You probably haven't noticed, as you have to look for the detail:
A small symbol on the front of the Ben&Jerry's Ice cream tub changed from Black to Green.
The symbol whas a ligature of the Assyrian (Hebrew) letters Qoph and Kaph.
Last year Israel had the B&J contrivercy: the brand began boycotting the country.
The importer got interviewed, and sayed he may have to lay off some of his employees,
~Unemployement being a pressing issue there, especially since many where Arab~
he also had a massive stock of ice cream he cannot sell anymore.
As B&J makes good ice cream, we decided to buy it a couple of months later.
Low and Behold: the ice cream is now HALAL!
Unilever decided to throw an entire local production-chain, under the bus,
just to market their delicious ice cream to the Saudi's!
But don't you worry, the Qoph Kaph symbol is still on the packageing,
It whas moved to the bottom. Edit: not the bottom but the lower back side.
I feel for the poor Kosher Supervisor, sacrificing his dignity to feed his family.
Jack Tramiel whas right business is war indeed.
Might strike some viewers of this channel to paraphrase this but just like Lenin said a good slogan is good cause it's true. It's not necessarily about it rhyming or being short and quotable, it's about being honest and clear so that people know exactly what the conversation is about and when a large enough group with a clear direction makes their voice heard issues are forced into the foreground. When a campaign isn't being run on clear policy suggestions what it usually means is that the person is trying to avoid setting parameters by which you can measure their performance. If you promise clear policies we can see later whether you did it or not and evaluate you based on it. If you only sloganeer around feelings and vague concepts then it's much harder to call someone out for lying.
It so weird, I never follow brands, rarely follow public accounts/ influencers. I thought social media is a way to keep in touch with people I know😂
the platforms them selves started that way yet are more and more disigned for big accounts, brands and ads
The other day as I was dropping my son at the daycare center they were playing the Mickey Mouse Club version of this song.
I heard the famous chorus but the lyrics were so different it did not registered as English 😂(it was not loud enough for me to distinguish words, but the sounds did not mach Tony’s lyrics that were playing in my head)
This song is so iconic that the end of the video just made me sad. Tony deserved royalties at least as a performer.
Decentralization is the answer to capitalism - I scream into the wind but no one hears. Imagine a world where we can make, grow and do so many things at the home, street and enclave level, there is no need for marketing and, dare I say, money! If humanity abandoned wanton consumerism and ego-feeding and embraced the idea of 'abundance through technology' we would no longer be forced to endure capitalism and ALL its ill effects on humanity and the world.
I'm enjoying your book Alice. Insightful info about Feminism in today's internet centric world
Thank youu for this
I was just looking for educational pages on social media the other day
For me the best of Paris is Max Petterson's "mocking and learning" videos: "Ô les garçons!"
Maybe offtopic but these days find it hard to think of anything other than what's happening/happened in Ghuzza. Saving lives feels more important than environment or consumerism. Still the topic seems relevant, as many 'words' get spoken yet they remain meaningless. Destruction continues unabated.
Thank you
Now that was a good call to action at the end of the video
As pirate, french culture = mayonnaise and guillotine.
Oh, also La Ch'tite famille.
But, i know french loves your own language so much, that you guys dub every movie in the theater. Just like in russia basically tho.
Keep expanding and discussing this topic because it's really important.
Indeed. I'd love to see more examining the failure of Occupy Wallstreet. It had the opposite effect of real world action against corporatism. It showed two things;
1) While angry, the protestors still couldn't pull themselves away from corporate producing during the protest. e.g. Starbucks, fashion items etc. It showed corporations the movement was weak.
2) It caused corporations to move into Woke capitalism, corporatizing Social Justice movements and the activists to make them a layer of protection around corporate brands against their critics by weaponizing Social Justice language and ideas to defend corporate behaviour. Why else can Disney, Apple, Facebook, Amazon etc treat workers like shite from Europe to China, get rid of thousands of workers while paying the CEOs a bonus, but only Elon Musk gets negative headlines trending because he did the same thing, to a lesser volume even, without 'woke' cover.
That's where we are.
@@danielebowman people are more aware of how terrible those corporations are (and how this is how capitalism works in general) than ever, nobody who actually cares about social justice is being fooled by them co-opting that language, let alone ~defending~ them. That doesn't mean everyone is going to boycott them though, especially when there's a lack of alternatives (which is power they've deliberately amassed)
Musk's a dumbass who's openly right-wing at this point, not a good thing for someone who's desperate for attention and wants to be seen as "the cool billionaire". It's the reason he bought and ruined a major social space for everyone (nobody likes Facebook either but it's mostly old people on there). He couldn't do "woke cover" anyway at this point (he kinda does it pretending to be an environmentalist), but the fact he's constantly shrieking about it underscores all the right-wing politics he keeps boosting. That's why he's getting negative headlines, because he's getting the attention he craves, and a lot of people are finding out that hey! this guy sucks!
1:38
wow, i haven't seen him or that movie in ages!
it just makes me think of watching and listening to you speak
Asked myself this the other day when i was going through my followers.
When they said "french culture" my first thought was honestly colonialism not like impressionism lol My mind went to Thomas Sankara
I guess "french culture" is something many people across the globe feel has been shoved down their throats by force, and that's a valid take.
saaaaaaaaame
What's with the people's obsession with colonialism these days...?
@@QoraxAudio it has shaped and continues to shape the world we live in
@@yotobist Sure, if people can't leave the past behind and are unable to move on... applies to anything that has happened.
It's just that it's much more of an active topic than like 10 years ago - for no good reason.
🇨🇦 I have followed many activists & blocked brands by the before your video post.
Such a great resource for a global perspective, keep it up!!
I recently read a Swedish translation of Anti-Oedipus, which it says on the cover was "published in collaboration with the french ministry of culture." Made me wonder if most of France really wants to be associated with iconoclastic, revolutionary, weird-ass theory like this?
But I actually think they do. The almost comical arrogance of Deleuze, Baudrillard, Derrida etc that came with them making careers out of saying "here's why I'm right and why everyone else and all of society is wrong" is clearly cherished, no matter the details of the content. Simply the fact that the phrase "french theory" is considered a misnomer in English but happily embraced in France says it all.
Oof, I forget people actually "follow" brands. I get it I guess, I purged all my social media years ago of any non friend non human accounts. I have began to follow more organizations (and it course meme pages, the highest form of human art and achievement) but they're all artistically or politically aligned with direct action. I guess that's kind of a flex but I am sharing because of you're someone who feels like media is leading to too much brand influence on your life, it IS escapable and it IS worth it. ❤
Very happy to see you well and thriving Alice! Keep going and sharing your truth. I appreciate your content.
Amazing question. I have never followed any brands. It blows my mind that people do. That said, the culture I follow are also brands. But for me, if you follow a coffee chain, you have problems.
The reason people follow brands is due to the fact that we spend very little time teaching young children about critical thinking, and almost no time teaching basic economics to older students. The last one is psychology. It’s an elective. It helps young people understand why they are susceptible to advertising.
But hey, ALGEBRA is really,really important.
Alice is one of the smartest people on TH-cam ❤❤
Not even close 😊
Not even close, but she's definitely very cute! 😊
Watching La Haine many years ago basically broke that Pepe Le Peu perception I had of the idyllic France.
As someone from Latin America, I always saw France as the US of Europe. Downright to the insane nationalism, racial issues, police brutality and abuse by the state, geopolitical bullies in both military and economical ways, and patronizing of peoples they saw as "below" them.
Same sh*t happen to my country with our latest president. He's campaign was basically just saying all this 'grand' (but generic) plans but nothing really to grab on to.
such a good topic loved this one alice!!
🥰🥰
You really should look at the hardware tech space, particularly the rivalries like Sony/Microsoft (consoles), and AMD/INTEL/NVIDIA (laptops, desktop market) So much fan defending of these mega corporations that don't really share their best interest (putting out hardware vs improving stock value). It gets eerily similar to political parties, even though the stakes aren't as high
I like the typically French perspective of worldly nonchalance... It reflects how I feel as I had hit 40. French mindset is much older and more mature than American mindset stereotypically.
Personally, I follow certain brands entirely because I like their products and want to know if/when they go on sale. Or, if I don't plan to buy their stuff, I just simply like their aesthetic and follow for artistic inspiration.
Additionally, I don't follow big brands or celebrities - instead, I follow indie brands that offer interesting, unique products and meet my ethical standards. A brand has never inspired me politically, any more than a politician has.
I don't trust a single thing that most brands or politicians say. You can't bullshit a bullshitter. Like you said, it's almost all meaningless word salad that sounds good. The only real substance is their actions (or lack thereof).
I refuse to accept that some people voted FOR Macron. Voting Macron to counter Le Pen? Of course. But actively voting FOR him? Nah.
J'adore le confusionnisme.