Friday, October 21, 2005

Business Week – like the intent – hate the cover

Brent Green’s blog says it all. It is fantastic to see Business Week take the subject of older consumerd seriously but why, why do they have to spoil it with the cover.

As Brent says: “It's stereotypical and makes Boomers appear fatuous and aged beyond their years.”

I have noticed over the years that illustrations used with articles about the 50 plus often have a surfing association. This has happened too many times for it to be an accident. Could it be the hateful: “silver surfer” connection or is there a deeper explanation?

One explanation is because surfing is a quintessentially youthful activity that most youths are incapable of doing. The tanned surf bum (male and female) represent a totem that only a handful of the young can emulate. By representing older people in surfing pictures, but always in a cynical manner, reflects the deep-seated fear that the young have of their parents (and grandparents) excelling and having more fun than themselves. Just a thought. Dick Stroud

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