Sunday, February 20, 2011
History rhymes
Somebody on the radio recited the tired generational joke:
"What? You mean Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?"
This was funny for a few minutes in the '80s, then stopped being funny.
Now it's meaningless, probably puzzling to youngsters.
Nobody remembers Wings, but everyone still knows the Beatles.
= = = = =
Another generational circle: The Geico tap-dancing ad.
Announcer says "Does it make sense to sneak out of a boring meeting while wearing tap shoes?" ... Then the boring boss drones on and on about 2.9 percent sales increase, along with the tapping sound effect. Given the context of a business office, my ears insist that the sound is an adding machine. I can hear the boss keying in the 2.9 percent and multiplying by gross and net sales, but I can't shift my perception to tap shoes. For a younger generation the adding machine is a completely unknown audio reference, but tap-dancing has "come around again" via shows like American Idol.
= = = = =
And another circle. I like to watch things like AFV and newscast bloopers for a laugh before bedtime. This blooper set from 1970's NBC news popped up in the rotation tonight. Features Bill Monroe (RIP yesterday) on Meet the Press; Egypt and Israel fighting; Brzezinski meddling in Egypt; and Is there water on Mars? ¶ 7:00 AM
"What? You mean Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?"
This was funny for a few minutes in the '80s, then stopped being funny.
Now it's meaningless, probably puzzling to youngsters.
Nobody remembers Wings, but everyone still knows the Beatles.
= = = = =
Another generational circle: The Geico tap-dancing ad.
Announcer says "Does it make sense to sneak out of a boring meeting while wearing tap shoes?" ... Then the boring boss drones on and on about 2.9 percent sales increase, along with the tapping sound effect. Given the context of a business office, my ears insist that the sound is an adding machine. I can hear the boss keying in the 2.9 percent and multiplying by gross and net sales, but I can't shift my perception to tap shoes. For a younger generation the adding machine is a completely unknown audio reference, but tap-dancing has "come around again" via shows like American Idol.
= = = = =
And another circle. I like to watch things like AFV and newscast bloopers for a laugh before bedtime. This blooper set from 1970's NBC news popped up in the rotation tonight. Features Bill Monroe (RIP yesterday) on Meet the Press; Egypt and Israel fighting; Brzezinski meddling in Egypt; and Is there water on Mars? ¶ 7:00 AM
