Jingle Bells, Kmart Sells

Greetings everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

By now Christmas ads have been aired on television. Some are old classics like the Chex Mix commercial set to Carol of the Bells and Hershey Kisses chiming We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Other businesses have created new ads to draw people into their stores. Kmart has released its Christmas commercial and it’s causing heads to turn and opinions to be launched from mouths everywhere.

To be frank with you fellow readers, I don’t understand why people are so upset with this ad. As a Communications major, I know that media uses sex appeal in various commercials, magazines, and other formats. Sex draws the eyes of many readers along with murder, scandal, and any other sort of shocking event. In this new Kmart commercial, they were doing what any other company does, and using sex appeal to sell their product of Joe Boxer boxers. We have Victoria’s Secret models that expose half, if not most of their bodies, on their commercials yet no one has said anything about that. 

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Honestly, the new Kmart Christmas commercial reminds me of Monty Python’s skit “Sit on my Face.” In that skit, the cast of Monty Python proceeded to sing about how life would be great with different methods of sex. But as opposed to wearing boxers, they were nothing but waiter’s uniforms without underwear and pants. The audience saw the cast’s bums and possibly, some other things. But no one was offended by this skit because it was done for the sake of comedy because that’s what Monty Python does. They live to relish British humor with a bit of dirtiness, slight nudity, and other crazy yet humorous antics. 

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Nobody expects The Ministry of Silly Walks!

Kmart on the other hand is just a store filled with clothes, home accessories, food, and other items.  They’re like any other establishment who wants to attract people so purchases can be made. While Monty Python’s skit was done for comedy, I can imagine Kmart’s commercial attempted to mix sex appeal and humor, to create men shaking their bums to Jingle Bells. Comedy often tends to reside with people on a positive note, especially sexual humor. Adults and teens love a funny, perverted joke. As for kids, it flies over their heads, and the only thing they receive from the ad is guys rocking their butts to a Christmas song. It would probably make them laugh as well because its butts and everything at that age that deals with behinds is funny. Even the word ‘butt’ to them is funny; why else do you think children’s movies are loaded up with butt jokes?  Take a look at the latest Despicable Me movie, the minions practically laugh at the word ‘bottom’ – clearly designed for kids.

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Minions. Making everything funny with their strange looks, language, and voices. 

Kmart’s commercial was crafted to be funny for families and to promote their product to get people in their stores. Honestly, I find the ad to be a success if that was their intentions. While I don’t normally shop at that business, I may acknowledge the commercial in the future as being something comedic in a time where people trample over each other just to buy a Tickle Me Elmo.

What are your thoughts about the Kmart Christmas commercial? Feel free to leave your comments below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed.