It's fine to like the way it tastes. There's no ethical consumption under capitalism for any of us. But I think it's important to be cognizant of marketing campaigns designed to induce demand for products. Pumpkin spice is a blend of common spices marketed by McCormick & Co. about ten years ago. It hit at just the right time as people in recession-era America began coping with their lack of financial prospects in two ways: Redefining acceptable luxuries and increased consumption of comfort food (pumpkin pie being one). The seasonality is false scarcity intended to drive consumer psychology (see also the McRib) combined with the comfort food effect creating a positive relationship between the consumer and the product, and prime the consumer with something sweet and endorphin-inducing for the dark days of fall before the busy shopping season. This technique was originally employed by Starbucks, but latched on to by other companies who want to flog shit with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves in it that you might otherwise not buy as much of.
I think a good project for a better society would be to mark the seasons in ways that aren't so consumerist. People used to have religious and social rituals to mark the changing time of the year, but these days buying stuff is pretty central to the whole thing. Even Dollar Tree has a seasonal section! And sure, it's not just that--people still gather for meals and such, but buying shit fuels so much of it. I think it's a normal human desire to mark the seasons and have some ritual and repetition to life, but I'd like to see us work towards throwing out the stuff that isn't useful.
It's fine to like the way it tastes. There's no ethical consumption under capitalism for any of us. But I think it's important to be cognizant of marketing campaigns designed to induce demand for products. Pumpkin spice is a blend of common spices marketed by McCormick & Co. about ten years ago. It hit at just the right time as people in recession-era America began coping with their lack of financial prospects in two ways: Redefining acceptable luxuries and increased consumption of comfort food (pumpkin pie being one). The seasonality is false scarcity intended to drive consumer psychology (see also the McRib) combined with the comfort food effect creating a positive relationship between the consumer and the product, and prime the consumer with something sweet and endorphin-inducing for the dark days of fall before the busy shopping season. This technique was originally employed by Starbucks, but latched on to by other companies who want to flog shit with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves in it that you might otherwise not buy as much of.
I think a good project for a better society would be to mark the seasons in ways that aren't so consumerist. People used to have religious and social rituals to mark the changing time of the year, but these days buying stuff is pretty central to the whole thing. Even Dollar Tree has a seasonal section! And sure, it's not just that--people still gather for meals and such, but buying shit fuels so much of it. I think it's a normal human desire to mark the seasons and have some ritual and repetition to life, but I'd like to see us work towards throwing out the stuff that isn't useful.
oh my god now do I have to have a struggle session about how I managed to get manipulated by a fucken micrib what is this life