Josh Karthikeyan Week 1- A Comfortably Jolly Lie
A Comfortably Jolly Lie
Once upon a time, Santa Claus was not a jolly, white-bearded man in a red suit. Once upon a time, Santa Claus was a man known as Saint Nicholas, a Greek bishop who used his inherited wealth to help the poor, where the spirit of giving was focused on assisting those in genuine need. Yet, most people do not remember Santa Claus for who he represented and where his personality came from. Now, most people remember him as a symbol of commerce, joyfully illustrated by department stores that need a face to promote holiday shopping. Dr. Cornel West coined the term “Santa Clausification” for when an important historical figure loses all of their radicalism and becomes a harmless figure that every single person can admire, losing the historical figure’s personality, and eventually their identity.
If Santa Claus was reshaped into a Christmas salesman, Martin Luther King Jr. has been reshaped into a harmless dreamer. Today, King is primarily remembered for his “I Have a Dream” speech, watched in classrooms and printed in posters as a symbol of unity. However, this selected memory erases the parts of his message that challenged America most deeply. It erases the other parts of his identity where King was not only a dreamer of racial harmony, but a critic of capitalism, a fierce opponent of the Vietnam War, and an advocate for economic justice through the Poor People’s Campaign. All of these ideas were controversial and threatening to the people in power, but are rarely discussed when people celebrate his legacy. By flattening his entire identity into a figure of harmony, society has made him universally praised while stripping away his radical work that changed America. Dr. King has truly been “Santa Clausified”; his identity inspires everyone but does not provoke the discomfort and urgency required for meaningful shifts in society.
As a society, why do we keep transforming radical figures into soft, but globally accepted icons? It's because radical figures upset the status quo. Governments, schools, and corporations do not want to support leaders who might cause debate and inspire real change. By selectively removing the figure’s controversial parts of their identity, institutions can share a hero that allows everyone to clap without promoting ideas about redesigning society as a whole. We admire them from afar but we forget the radical lessons that shaped these leaders' identities. Humanity does not celebrate the real person. Society reshapes their identity. We settle for a comfortable and jolly lie.
This blog post is powerful in such a way that it makes the reader rethink the way that they look at certain people. The use of "Santa Clausification" is eye-opening and unsettling. It's quite horrifying how the public, media and governments included, strip everything controversial away from someone just to have them end up as everyone else. The topic of this post is compelling and it makes me consider and reflect on how comfort and universal appeal is often prioritized rather than the truth.
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting to read! I never knew the background information behind Santa Claus; I thought it was just a story people made up for Christmas, but it was really insightful to learn more about. I really like the comparisons you chose to make, such as when you transitioned from Santa Claus to Martin Luther King Jr., as I never thought the two could be intertwined. I also really like the title you chose, as well as the way you refer to it in the last line. What specifically made you choose this topic?
ReplyDeleteHello Josh. Your critique of the societal problem that is reshaping important historical figures into iconic slop was fascinating to read through. I believe this problem also occurs to certain events and actions like slavery and genocide. Often, I have met people who just think that these events are just "bad" but they do not truly understand the depths of how "bad" it was. I believe that is very similar to what you explained of how Martin Luther King is now just a dreamer who had influential ideas but not a fierce advocate against war and economic justice.
ReplyDeleteHello, Josh! I love Christmas; thank you for teaching me the history of Santa. I have been learning about Martin Luther King since elementary school, but I still learned something new about him today; I never knew he was an opponent of the Vietnam War. I appreciate that he stood for issues even though they were controversial, something that still holds true today. Even now, I have tremendous respect for people who advocate for what they truly believe in, regardless of all the scrutiny it holds today. I completely agree with you with you about transforming radical figures into globally accepted icons. I think historical heroes were rarely heroes at their time. I do wonder how MLK was so mentally strong; I can’t begin to imagine how much perseverance he needed during his life. The picture you included is particularly gritty and authentic; the way he almost poses for his mugshot, showing no fear on his face.
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