Happy holidays! As Christmas approaches, the average American prepares to spend nearly $1,000 on presents, decorations, and family feasting. How did an originally religious festival become so caught up in capitalist consumption? What really defines Christmas in an increasingly secular America? This holiday season, David and Ellie try not to be scrooges as they explore the Christmas Industrial Complex. From Hallmark movies to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the stories we tell around Christmas can be incredibly varied. In looking at these narratives and more, Ellie and David discuss whether Christmas can be separated from the often heavily capitalist rituals around it. Episode 40.Works DiscussedNewSong, “The Christmas Shoes” Megan Garber, “The Cheesy Endurance of the Made-for-TV Holiday Movie”A New York Christmas WeddingDaniel J. Boorstin, The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in AmericaCharles Dickens, A Christmas CarolHistory.com, “Saturnalia”Mari Ruti, Penis Envy and Other Bad FeelingsJim Probasco, “Average Cost of American Holiday Spending”Jonathan Berr, “Hallmark’s Christmas Movies Are Predictably Popular With Viewers”Support the showSubstack | overthinkpod.substack.com Website | overthinkpodcast.comInstagram & Twitter | @overthink_podEmail | [email protected] | Overthink podcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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