November 2009 Archives

The Illinois Lottery has received a fair amount of attention in recent years, from its connections to disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich to the state's controversial plan to sell the lottery to private investors. Now, for the holiday season the Illinois Lottery has launched a new ad campaign using the Christian hymn "Joy to the World" to flog its scratch-off games, a move that has led at least one Christian to complain to the Chicago Sun Times:

In Monday’s paper, columnist Lewis Lazare notes that Energy BBDO has created a series of holiday television commercials using the song “Joy to the World” to sell—of all things—lottery tickets! The new lyrics and retro music may be captivating and clever, but are the people at BBDO familiar with the original words to this Christmas hymn? Or do they care?

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

Or is Linus the only one who still understands what Christmas is all about?

Dan McGuire, Bensenville

It's a paradigmatic case of cultural appropriation, with one community's traditions used to promote ostensibly contradictory values. And as MultiCultClassics observes, the campaign doesn't stop there--"It’s gone from blasphemy to Black clichés."

The UK's Hijab Style continues to offer a fascinating glimpse at the dynamism of Islamic fashion, whose cultural significance is not lost on this emerging designer:

Muslim women can dress in line with both their faith and western styles according to an Essex fashion student.

Nadia Batool, from Leigh-on-Sea, has explored the subject as part of her MA degree project, 'Faith or Fashion'.

She believes the requirement to dress modestly should not deny them from being 'positive' about what they wear.

"I think the younger generation are seeking to find a middle ground so they can incorporate their Islamic values with the western values," she said.   

Hijab Style will be hosting a live chat on Wednesday, December 2 to answer reader questions & to provide "an opportunity to talk to sisters around the world."

The "Jesus is my nightlight" trope has seen its fair share of oddball expressions over the years, from the stocking stuffer pictured above to the following Christian viral video, which concludes on a rather cheeky riff on the metaphor of a heavenly throne.

In this photo from the original uploader's "Inspirations" series, a cross over a bed provides more than spiritual uplift.

(Title quote by Charles Wesley, who no doubt would be appalled.)

In sacred writ, the streets of heaven are said to be paved with gold. What this Facebook post illuminates: this golden hue comes from an infinite supply of free large fries from Rally's.

And so the heavenly choir will sing: "In heaven, everything is fried . . . "

Via the Dieline, a collage of luck symbols adorns the label of "a famous accidental lucky blend" of Compass Box scotch malt whisky. From the same company: Hedonism & Hedonism Maximus.

Coming soon from Michiel Cornelissen, "a bit cross":

With its combination of symbolical and practical strength, it’s hard to think of a situation where this pendant would not have you covered.

For the Significant Objects project, writers purchase objects, create stories about them & sell the objects on eBay--thereby demonstrating how objects "acquire not merely subjective but objective value." Above: Bar Mitzvah bookends, with a story by Stacey Levine.

A mural inside the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center.

Advertising "for a less painful world."

The always enlightening ModBlog offers this divine tattoo from Art-n-Soul Studios, located in Allentown PA (just a few miles from where I grew up).

The inflatable God's Hand bra purportedly works miracles. Not quite creation ex nihilo, but . . .

Via Violet Blue.