Recently, senior year has been commodified into a movie, "High School Musical: Senior Year."
There are also senior pictures. Seniors pay anywhere from $50 to over $1000 for pictures of themselves. Actually, the parents of the seniors pay for the pictures that are a glamorized version (in most cases) of their "kids." The only other time these seniors actually look like the person in the picture is before prom (not after or during because at that point they're too sweaty and their makeup/hair is no longer fresh) or other important gathering. Most seniors don't look like their glamorized version on a daily basis.
Other areas that companies can make money off of a senior year includes graduation parties (decorations, food, rental of a hall), caps and gowns, announcements, and that new pair of shoes that HAVE to be worn with the cap and gown.
It is a part of American ideology to have senior pictures and a graduation party, even if the party is just close friends and relatives. Graduation and Graduation parties have arguably become a suture, even. When you think "graduation", most people think "kegger." So next time you go to a graduation party or talk with someone who is in their senior year of high school, just remember all of the commodities and the reason they have been incorporated into our American traditions: it's another way to make money.
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1 comment:
Great post and terrific observation. "Graduation: The T-Shirt." It'd be interesting to compare graduation rituals (including all of the $$$ aspects) in the U.S. with those in other cultures, maybe... although American culture has leaked into every corner of the world, as Rammstein's song points out.
Can you say a little more about what graduation would be sutured to? You mention a "suture" at the end but it isn't explained. Intriguing point....
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