Fr. Kavanaugh's video and the "Merchants of Cool" video


Fr. Kavanaugh addresses concern that advertising and media are shaping our values in a bad way. People desire certain products because they are told that its is what they need and that it will make them better. As if I were to say, "Oh i need that Hollister shirt so that my friends respect me more." I would be losing how I really interact with my friends, and that is through fun times and intellectual discussion. I would be losing sight of what people really man to me. Kavanaugh says this, that we are losing the ability to relate to people. He says that we are no longer satisfied by human relationships, that we now need to have these objects because media tells us me need them.

The "Merchants of Cool" video, I believe very much backs up Kavanaugh's point of view. You might say that while Kavanaugh says that advertising and media shape or values, that the "Merchants of Cool" only give us a reflection of our own values. I do not agree with this. I believe that while the "Merchants of Cool" feed off of us, the teenagers, they take what they learn from us then turn around and use it against us. They tell us want we want and what we need, when really we do not need their products, but they say we do.

I believe that these 2 videos are telling us that Advertisements and Media do not want to sell products. They want to sell values. We "need" their products in order to obtain certain values.