Due: Monday by 11:59PM
Please read the following piece:
Thanksgiving
In a well-written, thoughtful response, please answer the following question:
In her essay, Jennifer New describes both her child-like wonder at her early Thanksgivings spent at her grandparent's home in the country and her disappointment that these holidays never fulfilled her ideals of the holiday. Why do you think major holidays are, by their very nature disappointing? What is the author's attitude(tone) about Thanksgiving and what she describes as, 'blockbuster holidays?' Do you agree or disagree with her assertion that there is too much focus on holidays being perfect/picturesque? Explain.
Life never seems to be more depressing nor does the average family get a stronger sense of reality at their true family ties, than at holidays. It doesn’t matter what the holiday is, people still cling to the secret hope that this year things will be different, this year the very picture of a contented family will manifest itself before them. We just can’t seem to grasp that our families and lives will be exactly the same on these special days as they will on any other day. People won’t like one another anymore than they did the day before or the way they will the day after. Holidays are meant to focus on a particular event and to reflect on what these moments in history did for us now, so when Santa doesn’t give as many presents as hoped for, don’t be surprised. We are to blame for our own disappointment, we create the stories and traditions that excite the new generation ultimately to make the day when they realized they are in fact related to Santa even more upsetting. In simple terms we are setting the next person up for disappointment. Additionally, these festivities take away from the true meaning of the holiday so when these traditions are spoiled the meaning of the holiday isn’t there to make it seem like there is a point to celebrating at all.
ReplyDeleteThis makes it no surprise that Jennifer New has a hopeless attitude toward Thanksgiving. Once she was older and the metaphorical window that made Thanksgiving seem exciting was shattered her parents made no effort to restore the spirit in her and in fact broke the tradition all together. Now she can only look at the holidays as a time when she will reminisce on the days when she actually celebrated holidays since the purpose of the holiday was long gone. Too much effort is put into making the holidays special, we forget the meaning of the holiday and instead focus on the hassle making the Thanksgiving dinner.
Everyone has their own perfect mental scene of the holidays. We have been forcefed the ideals of Thanksgiving: a long glossy table decorated with hundreds of dishes of home-cooked harvest foods with a plump, brown turkey in the center. The seats of this glowing table are full of happy, smiling faces, accompanied with the sound of laugher. Every one loves eachother and there are no differences between anyon because IT'S THE HOLIDAYS. But in reality, the table isn't all that long and its got marker stains on it from a younger relative, the food was bought at the supermarket and the only homecooked thing, the turkey, is burnt. Distant great-aunts are prodding you to the point where you just want to explode, an unclue is yelling at the little rascal sticking his hand in the mashed potatoes and there's always those people who you look at and ask yourself "Do I even know them?". The holiday's we imagine come from those adorable commercials on television and subconsciously adopt them as the "norm". Our once fanciful young minds tansform one good holiday into every holiday experienced when we were children and, therefore, it becomes our expectation. Jennifer New is downhearted about her holidays because her memory can't help but nag her about what her holidays used to be like. The magic of the holidays are gone after a certain age in childhod, and sometimes it is replace as a teenager with the excitement of entering the "real world", but when that becomes old all that is left are lack luster memories. Then when we realize whatever warm feelings we once had are evaporating right in front of our eyes, we scramble to mimic a holiday special to try to force it to return. But in all that hassle for perfecton, we lose it faster and just have to try harder. For whatever reason, we can't let go of the desire for the perfect holiday and it just crushes our spirits so much more when we fail.
ReplyDeleteEvery day people wish for a fresh day, a new start, a first step to their new lives; holidays seem to be the major days that people want to believe this. Holidays seem to be the chosen days for people to pray for things to change, for things to get better, or for things to be picture perfect. Sadly enough holidays are just any other ordinary day, which can cause them to be disappointing. Holidays are told to be days where families join together to either give thanks or exchange gifts. This day can be disappointing for those who don’t have family to visit or don’t have much to give thanks for. As the author describes as blockbuster holidays, holidays aren’t picture perfect movie scenes. In “blockbuster movies” holidays seem to have families’ together, smiles as high as the sky upon their faces, singing happy songs giving thanks. But how many so called “traditional” families still do that? Not many, that’s for sure. In that case, the author’s tone is depressing, wishing for the normal holiday ways of doing things, and can’t get them. Holidays, in closing are too focused on being impeccable, they are just another day. Sure in some cases holidays can be joyful and memorable, but are they 100% “blockbuster holidays?” I look at it this way, if you want things to change, or even be picture perfect, it’s up to you to make it that. Holidays can still be joyful but it’s up to you to make it a time to remember. I hope everyone’s dreams of blockbuster holidays come true, but remember be thankful for want you have, and enjoy the times to come.
ReplyDeleteFamily gatherings, a time to sit down to a nice meal, socialize with relatives you haven’t seen in ages and a place to be yourself. This is only the fairytale scenario that many Americans have come accustomed to during the holiday season. In addition, these cherished gatherings are always so disappointing. Even though, we have such a deep love for each other and have such great moments, nothing ever goes on “queue”. Anything that could go wrong usually goes wrong. For example, some of my family members tend to get into small disagreements with each other, which sours the holiday spirit. Our generation has come to know and believe many fables. Some examples include Santa Claus, the tooth fairy and even the perfect holiday setting. I guess not having the fairytale holiday is normal after all. Similarly, Jennifer New has an unpromising outlook on Thanksgiving. As a kid having family holidays gave her warm feelings and just being with her family was the best part. Then, when she was older the excitement she once knew from Thanksgiving were obliterated as a result of her families lack of regular tradition faded. In my opinion, we try to make each holiday special instead of celebrating the actual bliss of a single holiday. In conclusion, as we progress in age the “magic” of holidays is no longer there. However, we still keep these memories alive by reminiscing on the times we truly celebrated holidays.
ReplyDeleteA major holidays is meant to be a time were families or loved one come together on one day to show how much they loved each other. They will cook a big meal, tell stories of their family or adventures they had, and there will be nothing but love, peace, and a lifetime of memories. But in reality holidays is very disappointing like the stress of cooking a big meal for twenty with only two people and two family members arguing over their petty differences. The holiday spirit is always ruined by the negative thoughts of adults who think the holidays are just extra works. Jenifer New tone would be hurtful since her holiday is not what she wanted. Growing up children saw on television or stories of a blockbuster holidays where everyone is having fun, people are singing and laughing and creating memories that will last a lifetime. The children want the holiday to be something of it, but the children will feel hurt when their holiday is not how they wanted to be like how Jenifer New wanted her holiday to be perfect so she is feeling hurt. The blockbuster holiday show that all holiday are perfect in the end and that how people come to the idea that all holiday should be perfect. People want the holiday to be perfect but they forget that the holiday is a time were people get together and spend time together as a family which is the true meaning of the holiday.
ReplyDeleteHumans have a tendency to look at the past through rose colored glasses. We like to believe that the times we've had were better, more magical than what really happened. This is all too true with holidays, which seem to blur together into one warm, pleasant scene that probably never happened. We all have this image of a perfect Thanksgiving, or a perfect Christmas. It pervades our culture, in movies, books, and advertising. Ingrained upon our collective minds is this perfect holiday, where there's a fire in the hearth and a smile on everyone's face. Inevitably, we are disappointed when this myth fails to come true. And then when the day has passed, we embellish our memory to make it fit into this mold. However, my strongest holiday memory is hardly a good one. It was a Christmas a couple years ago where I refused to go into my aunt's house for some silly reason, and sat alone in the cold, dark car for well over three hours, despite the pleas of my parents to come inside. But I still look forward to holidays every year, perhaps still stuck with some kind of childish wonder and excitement for the season. Perhaps one day I will grow weary of these holidays, like the author in the article, but for now I have a certain fondness for the holiday season. I think there’s nothing wrong with portraying this picturesque holiday, even though it will always lead to disappointment somewhere along the line. It’s what defines holidays to me. I somehow feel that something would be lost if we didn’t have so much expectations and excitement for the holidays. Maybe, years from now, I will be singing a different tune but for now I say keep it. Because when your perfect holiday finally does come, it will be all the sweeter.
ReplyDeleteEach holiday brings about new opportunities. Many families across America are losing ties with one another because of silly and non important arguments that occur between them. During each holiday, we expect these quirks in our relationships to vanish because we’re all filled with good cheer and stuffed to the limit with turkey. We think that just because a particular day is a holiday that everything will magically fall into place and we won’t have to lift a finger to solve the conflict. However, the only difference between holidays and regular days is that the calendar has a pre posted event marked off on a holiday. In all actuality “We have to be the change that we are willing to make” and no day on the calendar can change that statement. Holidays tend to be depressing and unsatisfying because we, as a whole, are unwilling and too lazy to do anything about conflicts that we are facing with those we really do love, even if we aren’t willing to admit it. Blockbuster holidays are appealing to us because we love to watch other people suffer and then work out their differences. However, when it’s our turn to be in that scenario we aren’t so sure. The author’s tone is sad because she sees the potential in what holidays could be if we were willing to all fall together and be a family. Holidays are meant to be days when we set apart the hate and the lies and the disgust of this world and celebrate all the good that’s out there. These holidays could be picturesque and harmonic however until we learn how to treat one another and live with each other’s mistakes, we will never reach that goal and I believe the authors ideas about holidays is right on the bulls eye. The world focuses too much on what should be and too little time on what is.
ReplyDeleteBlockbuster holidays are disappointing often because we tend to have high expectations. These holidays cannot possibly live up to the standard in which we hold them to for a variety of reasons. We could not have much family to celebrate with, get into disagreements with our family, have financial troubles, and so on. Jennifer comments that we "see the world through the almost psychedelic rose-colored glasses of childhood." Instead holidays are like "Pandora’s box of emotions that opens every November and doesn’t safely close until Jan. 2." The author's tone towards these holidays is obviously negative. More specifically cynical because she definitely believes that people are motivated by self-interest, and doubtful to whether or not the holidays are worth while. However, it can also be justified as depressing because of its overall negativity. I agree that there is too much focus on the holidays being perfect. Though I understand many people live depressed lives and are very excited to see their family over the holidays, but all of this build up is outrageous. People can't even plan their work days accurately out most of the time, so how is Thanksgiving or Christmas any different? There are still many things that can and will go wrong, and we should take these into consideration. But I suppose that this is not entirely the common man's fault with the media's hyping up of the holidays. Commercials with happy families, movies about Santa Claus, and magazines with gift catalogs make us feel that if we aren't enjoying the holiday that there is something wrong with us. Though I think people focus too much on the perfection of the holidays, I don't view it as a bad thing because it is difficult to find positivity in such a stressful time.
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving;Christmas;Birthdays etc.......is NOT ALWAYS about being with family, its about taken time to realize the good and bad times you have with one another and you move on. When people bring up memories about the past , it makes them distance from the family and it makes them realizes their mistakes and than they distance themselves from the family.NOT everything goes as planned there is always a twist and turn, we might not like it but it happens. "blockbuster holidays"blockbuster holidays" are good but bad to us because we like to learn and laugh at others people suffering and mistakes, we just have to learn NOT to go into that direction. And its sad that she's always spent the holiday ( thanksgiving ) with her grandparents. she should be with her grandparents and her parents. so they can come all together as a family and learn from their past.
ReplyDeleteWhen we watch holiday movies, we get to experience pure happiness and love between family members. Everyone sits down at the table reminiscing on fun times, playing games, and relishing every minute of it. Prepping for this holiday experience seems to be stree free as these people prance around cooking the turkey with out a care in the world. When in reality, this experience isn’t as picturesque as it seems. Cooking a feast for thirty family members while making sure the house is immaculate is grueling work. By the end of the night, the adults are exhausted and aren't in the mood to make small talk or play a silly game for laughs. And when christmas time rolls around and you run around like a chicken with its head cut off buying gifts, your kids are still complaining about the one thing they didn’t get. They are disappointed and by believing you failed your duty as “Santa”, you are as well. Our society needs to realize the true meaning of these holidays which is spending time with the people who matter the most in life, family. We are the ones setting ourself up for disappointment by believing that these holidays have to go as perfect as they do in movies. Real life isn’t perfect and in the long run it won’t matter if you missed an ingredient in the pumpkin pie or left the rolls in the oven too long. As long as your with the ones you love and you cherish that time, everything will be fine.
ReplyDeleteJennifer New’s attitude towards Thanksgiving is hopeless. She had this ideal concept of thanksgiving and the way it should be but it was crushed when her family didn’t live up to her expectations by making little effort in the holiday. We get too caught up in the idea of the holiday and not what it’s really about. We need to hold on to the true concept of the holidays by valuing time with family and then they will be successful.
I suppose it is, by natural instinct, to picture/want those perfect holiday scenes. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's pictured waking up on Christmas day and seeing loads of presents under the Christmas tree. But lets be honest here, we know that's not going to happen. We set such high expectations for what is to come only to disappoint ourselves in the end. By nature we wish for what we desire, but wishes never really do come true. This is why holidays are usually disappointing to us. For little kids, not as much since ,well, their only expectations are Santa coming into their house and eating the cookies they've worked all night to bake. But since us teens and adults know that it's really dad under the big red suit, we constantly try to drop hints on what we want for Christmas. Then when you open that perfectly wrapped gift, hoping to see the latest electronics you see pajama pants. Bummer .
ReplyDeleteThis only supports the attitude Jennifer New has towards Thanksgiving. We spend too much time per-pairing for the holidays than we do enjoying it. Instead, on Thanksgiving day, we end up having to go through the emotional stress our moms are dealing with when per-pairing for that picture perfect dinner. In the end when hoping to spend time with the family, and share jokes and laughs about the good old times, we end up with cranky moms who scream at the dads for not doing enough, thus making the dads angry and leaving poor little you left alone to draw turkeys. Oh, the holidays.
Family gathered marveling in their own bliss, feeling like nothing could go wrong, and having the one day where everyone gets along. Holidays are made out to be all these things people want perfection, happiness , and all around comfort on the holidays and then they wonder why their disappointed. Holidays aren’t magic they can’t fix a broken family or a broken life. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Valentine’s Day are all “blockbuster” holidays, holidays where people have the highest expectations and then wonder why they aren’t what they expected them to be. Nothing is perfect not even the holidays we expect to be the answer to all our problems as a family. The author of the article like so many others thought this as a child she expected happiness on the holidays and instead only found disappointment. She talked about how only her and her great grandmother seemed to be genuinely enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner. Her parents after a certain amount of time stopped trying to make their holidays perfect. This just proves that people aren’t always going to conform to what you expect them to be. Holidays aren’t going to be perfect so you’re better off being happy with what they already are whether that’s dysfunctional, organized chaos, or what you expected them to be with a twist. Holidays shouldn’t be focused on making everything perfect it should be on finding the true meaning of that holiday and why we are celebrating it.
ReplyDeleteThe grass is always greener that's why we always have our expectations so high. Blockbuster Thanksgivings is perceived to be a perfect setting with a steaming turkey in the middle with the whole family laughing and having a good time. But that is not always the case in each household that's why we can't get that perfect Thanksgiving feel. Thanksgiving in movies are also not real they are merely fictional and we must realize that we live in reality and that nothing is as perfect as you believe it to be. That is why we must treasure what we already have instead of pretending of the life were not living. The best Thanksgivings are the ones you spend with your love ones and not the ones spent in front of your tv watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteEveryone associates holidays with a time when everything is picture perfect. They’re thought of as a time when everyone in the family comes together, and a time in which every problem seems to melt away. A time in which people think that the long table is filled with perfectly cooked, delicious food. It’s a day that everyone thinks is special from other days. But in reality, holidays are just like any other day, everyone treats each other the same, and everyone in the family might not be there. All these situations lead to people getting disappointed. Through the process of preparing for the “perfect” holidays we sometimes forget the real meaning behind the holidays. Most people don’t seem to remember that holidays were made for certain reasons. For example, Christmas was made to celebrate the birth of Christ, but some people forget to reflect on it and just look forward to receiving gifts. Through all of this we should take the responsibility for the letdown we feel after the holidays. We’re the ones that create the image of the “perfect” holiday and in the end feel disappointment because the picture we thought of in our head never turned out to be perfect.
ReplyDeleteAll this led to the now pessimistic attitude of Jennifer New towards blockbuster holidays. The memory of special holidays when she was a child led her to feel the way she does now. She lost the special feeling for the holidays when she reached a certain age and never seemed to have rekindled the same feeling once she had a chance to face reality. The holidays can now only be seen in her memories since the true meaning of the holiday to her was lost. The stress that comes with preparing the perfect meal for the holidays sometimes lead to ruining the fun times that are supposed to be shared during the holidays. We need to remember that the holidays should be about the family being happily together.
The contemporary image we get of Thanksgiving is of a round dining table with a turkey in the middle and plenty of traditional foods around it. At the table are a gaggle of boisterous relatives and close friends joking around and stuffing themselves plumb. Smiles occupy all of the people in a warm, genial type of get together that can only be the ideal Thanksgiving. So when our Thanksgiving doesn’t turn out to be this way we feel disappointed naturally. Most Thanksgivings, in the author’s case and my own Thanksgiving, whether it be small or large are general isolated where there is not much talking during dinner other than subtle and meaningless small talk. It therefore feels disappointing that my Thanksgiving isn’t like the idealized one. But even if we achieve something like that, or get close to it feels nothing like we thought it would. The author went to one of these “ideal” Thanksgiving and actually disliked it. Anyway you think of it, it’s hard not to be disappointed unless you put your expectations really low, like I learned to do. The author’s attitude towards to these Blockbuster holidays is one of overall disdain. She is clearly tired of holidays like this. I agree with her assertion that we focus too much on the perfect holiday. I’ve probably only had relatives at a Thanksgiving dinner maybe twice in my whole life. And I really don’t believe I missed much. I feel actually a lot more comfortable having a nice dinner with my immediate family. I’ve learned to never put too much emphasis on holidays like this. Maybe its because my mom chooses to work the night shift on pretty much every Thanksgiving. In any case my Thanksgiving isn’t traditional by any stretch of the imagination. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. We should stop worrying about the perfect holiday and just think about enjoying what you have.
ReplyDeleteJennifer New says, “This is the holiday mind game: the too-sweet memory of that one shining moment coupled with the painful certainty that the rest of the world must be sitting at a Norman Rockwell table feeling loved.” Many people, I would think, would agree with Jennifer New’s idea of the holiday mind game. I’m sure if you asked many people what came to their mind when we said the perfect thanksgiving, you’d be drawn a picture of a happy family sitting around a long table, full of the traditional foods, laughing and enjoying their time. This would be the “blockbuster” aspect to the holiday that Jennifer talks about. Society is the artist behind this picture of the perfect thanksgiving. We see it in movies, and commercials, and all over our lives. After hearing so much of what we should do, and what should make us happy, people are disappointed and disheartened when it comes time around for the holidays when they don’t meet up to the standards, as is Jennifer New in her essay. People should have their own standards to meet, not somebody else’s, and society shouldn’t put such a focus on the holidays being “picturesque”, but to be perfect in your own way.
ReplyDeleteAs Holidays approach, we get the idea from movies that we watch, word of the huge relaxing break from school and decorations all around, that it's all good times and really something to look forward to. When someone thinks of Thanksgiving the image that pops up in their head is family and friends gathered around a huge table eating or hours doing nothing but stuffing their smiling faces with turkey. From my Thanksgiving experience they are short, some of the food isn't ready yet, conversation is very dry and there really is no reason to spend the whole day preparing food that last 20 minutes. I completely agree that Thanksgiving is overrated and as for why it is pictured as perfect, I have no idea. If it weren't for the delicious pies at the end of it, I think I would be just fine with a microwave pizza and a root beer enjoyed in my room.
ReplyDeleteEvery thanksgiving morning I would wake up and smell food cooking in the kitchen, hop out of bed and picture this wonderful table full of endless food and my family smiling and watching the football game or the thanks giving parade on the television. And guess what? It never happens that way. Everyone pictures this great holiday where everyone is happy, because it’s what we have been taught. When your little you hear about the nice Indians and pilgrims coming together and eating a bunch of tasty foods. You watch the holiday specials on television and all you see is nice, happy people coming together and eating great food. Then when thanksgiving comes your disappointed, disappointed because your family doesn’t look like the Indians and pilgrims or the cute little family on the television. Last thanksgiving my grandma got in a fight with my mom and didn’t even show up to thanksgiving, my uncle just complained the whole time about every little thing, and my mom overcooked the turkey. Don’t even get me started on Christmas, because that was even worse. I feel as though Jennifer New was sad, or angry even because she didn’t get the picture perfect holiday’s she wanted each year. She was an only child and never had a big family with lots of food to celebrate the holidays with. I do feel like there is too much focus on holidays being perfect. Everyone is always scrambling around trying to find the perfect the toy for their kid for Christmas or the special pie they eat each year on thanksgiving. The holidays are so stressful when they are really just supposed to be a relaxing time with family and friends. Just get Johnny some money for Christmas so he can get whatever he wants, because you know the toy you get him is not going to be the right model, or the right color, or the right size. In my opinion, everyone just needs to take a chill pill and stop being so stressed out.
ReplyDeleteI was going to write this post response in the traditional or formal way that we all had installed in us through the elementary years out of a force of habit, but as I held down the backspace my mind drifted back to the essay that I had just finished reading. All holidays have a typical expectation of relatives scattered through out a cozy house that is full of laughter and clanging of dinner plates, but what makes most people have a revelation is when they enter the house and their relatives are all tucked away in their own little worlds keeping themselves entertained like Jennifer New’s childhood. She explains her holiday encounters as a "Pandora’s box of emotions that opens every November and doesn’t safely close until Jan. 2." Her tone is negative towards the fake-smile-holidays. To be specific, it is depressed because of the truck load of negativity that was dumped on to my computer screen. It is true that there is too much focus put on the holidays to be just right. Even though the holidays are the perfect escape from the day to day life of bills and work to just enjoy the company of your family the little amount of excitement that we deposit into the holiday jar everyday explodes in your face when they finally arrive. This violent description isn’t just the common man himself making the disappointment come true it’s the common man behind the scenes at the marketing meetings and the small children that play elves in the cheery holiday movies. The people behind the scenes come up with the commercials and advertisements of the happiness that is found in the family that is gathered around a table laughing and smiling with one another which makes the person who has just dredged up the sentimental feelings from deep, deep down feel like something just isn’t right with my holiday experience as they grab their planner to schedule some over analyzed activity to make everyone “happy” when in reality it ends up falling apart. But in the end everyone ends up taking something from that special quirky night that wasn’t there before.
ReplyDeleteThis is Jazmin Torres, because as usual my account is not letting me post this. Hate technology...
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving, the concept and idea behind this holiday is great. I value the ideals of this but what I don't understand is the big gatherings with all the food and the loud crowded living rooms. I personally never had that, I come from a huge family that's true. But my family is halfway across the world and they don't even celebrate Thanksgiving. I admit that yes on certain holidays I find myself thinking, I wish I were here eating this turkey with my cousins and aunts, and uncles and talking about this football game on TV. Then i realize that; 1. I hate turkey, 2. No hispanic on the face of the Earth enjoys watching football unless its actual futbol and 3. the only people in my family I enjoy being with are my mom, dad, sister, and brother. I don't exactly know the definition of a blockbuster holiday, because well I hate watching Christmas movies. They're in my opinion a huge waste of time, they just raise my expections to certain dates throughout the year that are never in reality like that. Holidays are just overall dissappointing, and decieving because they're the opposite of what they actually should be. I understand exactly where the author of this article is coming from, when she says she expects more, and never actually gets it. She wants to be in the city for Thanksgiving, and then when she get there, she wants to go to her grandmother's house. Her tone is cynical and depressing, with a slice of brutality and simplicity. She says it exactly how it is, and i I understand exactly what she's trying to say and what her point is. We will always want more, our society will never be content until we get more and more, not just with Holidays but with everything. We will want to go to that city, then to a bigger city with bigger lights, and the next year and even bigger city with brighter lights; until our grandparents wooden home is no longer there. When we realize that you don't know what you have until it is gone.
I'm sorry ^^^
ReplyDeleteI thought I was on kassidys account, I guess mine works now..
Holidays are associated by people as a time when everything is flawless, and picture perfect. It’s a time where you think everything will be laid back, when you’re surrounded by family, and there’s a long table that fits the grand, delicious, and perfectly beautiful dinner. Well the reality of that is that everyone is the same; everything isn’t so laid back because maybe the dinner isn’t being prepared as well as expected, and some family is missing. This leads to the disappointment people feel. We have forgotten the true meanings of our holidays and treat as just another day on the calendar that’s not important. For instance, on thanksgiving people should take this day to give thanks about everything they have, but instead are worried about making a good appearance with the biggest and best dinner. Jennifer New now has this negative attitude towards blockbuster holidays because at one point she did have a special feeling for holidays. When she got older that feeling for it was lost once she came face to face with reality. It’s a sad thing really that by just preparing the perfect lavish dinner or receiving presents and the other things in between can lead to everyone forgetting what the holidays are all about. We focus too much on holidays being picturesque when it’s about being with your family.
ReplyDeleteMajor holidays are, by their own nature, disappointing due to the fact that people build up the reputation of these holidays so much the expectations of many people are also extremely high. Personally, I have always strongly supported the idea that people use so much propaganda to earn money that they forget that people will truly listen to what ever they say. For example, parents and gaurdians tell their children that "Santa Claus" will bring them anything that they wish for, however when it comes to Christmas day the little boys do not get their dream racecar and the little girls do not get their magical pony. Therefore, more and more dreams are crushed. Moreover, as Jennifer New also stated, Thanksgiving is another "let down" holiday. Yes your family gets together, but how many times has there been a burnt turkey, or a no show relative? There are things some people take advantage of. Therefore, I agree with Jennifer New when she said that there is too much focus on holidays being absolutely perfect. Nothing is perfect, and if we keep feeding the minds of people this crap then people are going to be crushed, and defiantly disappointed. However, sometimes people need to sit back and ponder the moments in which pleasant things have happened within the holiday season because in the end everyone has a little fun on holidays. (:
ReplyDeleteSomething in the way Thanksgiving moves, repels me like no other. The day moves by lethargically; you hear from relatives that live right down the street from you, but refuse to keep in contact with the family under any circumstances other than the major holidays. When family does finally arrive, they seem to get a “food high” and start bringing up strange things from the past, people get offended, and leave with their plate of food, fine china and all. This is anything but a tranquil Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving portrait; this holiday is more like Van Gough’s “The Scream”. Prior to everyone arriving for dinner, everyone’s mind set is to have an optimistic get together. Once the eating begins, the disappointment sets in. “Blockbuster” holidays such as Thanksgiving are so disappointing because everyone expects this day to be so jovial, so different from the other 364 days in the calendar, but when it doesn’t turn out to be the highlight of the year, some are left heartbroken. People need to lower their expectations for the holidays due to the fact that nothing is perfect. This year, I expect the same foolishness to unravel at my feast, nothing seems to really change. I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with wanting a holiday to be postcard worthy, but it’s unrealistic. There is always going to be that one drunk in the family that rains on everyone’s parade, or even accidentally on the kitchen floor (too bad for the host)! The author of the essay, Jennifer New, has a rather acceptable outlook on Thanksgiving through her tone of being somewhat calloused about the whole situation. She is well aware that not many things are going to be the Cinderella story that everyone wanted. In conclusion, the fact that someone like myself disagrees with a person’s desire for wanting the holiday season to go off without a hitch does not mean that I am a pessimist. It means that I am a realist.
ReplyDeleteWould it be wrong to say that i don't find holiday's in the least bit disappointing? When it comes down to it, i love to soak up the holiday spirit of 3 day weeks, sweet pumpkin pie, and freshly wrapped presents anxiously waiting to be shredded to pieces. Maybe i'm just living in the glory of childhood, but for those who do think the holiday's are a waste of time are either the typical scrooge, or personally have a reason as to why they do. It is clear the author thinks that holidays are sappy and overrated, and she explains this by comparing them to "a blockbuster movie". By doing this Jennifer New implied that the holidays are a superficial, fake, scripted time, that are by all means unnecessary. She has quite the negative tone. I completely disagree with her assertion because the holidays are different to every person, and what every single human does, how they celebrate, whats important to them, makes it a perfect holiday for them. Therefore, i think holidays aren't more focused on making it the epitome of Christmas, or Thanksgiving, but if all goes well in its own way, they are perfect.
ReplyDeleteDisappointment always seems to be tied in with expectations. Everyone always expects something out of someone or out of something else. But with every expectation, disappointment will follow. I agree with the author's assertion that there is too much focus on holidays being perfect. Actually, our very own media has placed this belief upon ourselves. We always make movies or TV shows about flawless holidays and everyone feeling the true spirit of that holiday. But the cold, hard truth is that we butchered those holidays. The holidays were all made to celebrate a momentous occasion, with family or with friends. We took those holidays and highlighted all the things that will benefit us. For example, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ with your family and friends. We butchered that and see it as a holiday for presents. Nobody cares who the presents are from, they're just looking for, "The latest IPod," or, "the newest game." Thanksgiving was also butchered, people seeing it as just eating dinner with your family that you don't really eat with. It's all about being together, and you don't need a turkey or presents to have that. Ironically, here I am talking about this, and yet I realize I do not have the full spirit of holidays either. I just couldn't wake up Christmas morning to an empty room and my parents saying, "Being together is all that matters, right?" If I didn't get used to presents every morning on Christmas, (or if my parents ever let me buy my own things someday other than a holiday,) I would have probably grasped the true motive behind all the holidays. It seems that Thanksgiving is the only holiday that is the most pure, where people know it's the holiday to spend with your family. But the public probably isn't smart enough to see through this, they just realize the name has, "Thanks," and, "Giving," in it, so they put their tiny little puzzle pieces together to realize it's about spending time with your family.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't consider holidays in any way disappointing is that so bad to say? I love the feeling you get when the holiday is getting close and the day off when you wake up and smell the preperation of the pies. I love sitting at a table with all of my family and just celebrate, whatever it is we are celebrating. And I like waking up to my family sitting around watching the Thanksgiving parade. Whether its Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other holiday. In Jennifer's article she describes these holdays as "blockbuster holidays" while this most likely shows her thought of uselessness toward these holidays i don't think there anywhere near "blockbuster holidays". Jennifers tone in this article is i sense of uselessness. I do not agree with her assertion that we ocus too much on perfecting the holidays. Thanksgiving is my personal facvorite because it's one of the only holidays when I can truly say was "perfect" whatever perfect happens to be. See no one has to try to perfect Thanksgiving because the only thing you need to succeed is family and people you love. So no we dont focus too much on perfection, sometimes it just comes out in our favor of being perfect.
ReplyDeleteHolidays do have the possibility to be disappointing and contain different experiences for everyone. Around every holiday there are numerous amounts of moves portraying love and family and celebration. We like to believe that this is how the world works; then again there’s that percentage of those who do not have one of these things to fulfill there "blockbuster" experience of the holiday. Poverty is an epidemic and has caused many to lose their homes. How can the homeless show love when they are not loved? There is no celebration for them on holidays unless it is amongst their own people. They are the only ones who understand each other and can only cringe at the false and utterly idiotic slurs of the still working common man. Those without money may not have enough to afford a nice turkey for their family on Thanksgiving or buy presents for their children on Christmas. Jennifer New has a negative tone towards these portrayed perfect holidays. Ultimately I believe that it makes people look at what they have as they can be stricken with poverty at anytime. Maybe they may lose touch with family or sadly no family to celebrate with. The common society today often forgets about what they have and take it for granted. Think about it, while you may be having a nice Thanksgiving feast with your family, there are children and others starving or just looking for someone to give them a second of attention. You may have the loving, caring family to celebrate holidays with, but what do those with nothing left have to cherish or celebrate? I agree with her one hundred percent. Even though I have a nice annual Thanksgiving with family, I will remember those who do not have this opportunity. This world isn't perfect and will never be like the movies. We as humans need to realize this and live life for what we have, not what we long for.
ReplyDeleteDo our holiday moments really seem like block buster movies? Are we that predictable? I think not. Jennifer New comes off as rather the Debbie Downer and has such a negative tone towards holidays. Holidays are not disappointing at all. I look forward to each and every holiday, the excitement still brings shivers up my spine. Everybody celebrates holidays in their own way. Some stay inside, some go out, some have presents, some don't. No matter what way its celebrated in, I think its safe to say that holidays are fun, and exciting. Not predictable, or 'fake' as Jennifer New seems to imply. When we all come back from school after a holiday, or holiday break, we all have different stories to tell, and different memories to reminisce. Jennifer New describes holidays in a violent, upsetting way - which is the contrast of how they really are. No holiday is perfect, and every one is made special their own way. So, keep getting excited about holidays and your favorite meals on the special occasion around the fancy silverware with all of your family.
ReplyDeleteAll together I love celebrating holidays. It gives people a reason to be nice and get together. But as you grow older the mysteries behind each holiday and the continuous ritual of the holidays grow old. The “magic” each holiday brings has faded and the holidays have become all together disappointing. In this article the author’s attitude towards Thanksgiving and other major holidays is just plain disappointed. Even though I agree with her reason’s to be disappointed, I think holidays should be looked at as magical perfect days because if we only looked at holidays for what they really are, there would be no excitement. These days are meant to be as magical as our dreams. They allow us to live in a perfect day that goes as we want it to. Without these days of pure joy and kindness the world would be sad and unexciting. Holiday’s bring that little bit of hope and happiness to your year, no matter what age.
ReplyDeletewe look around and see smiles, laughter, warmth. we think back into our mind viewing the memory of the Grinch who stole Christmas. they past food to each other wishing them nothing but the best, being generous, and heart-filled. but the moment reality seeps into our dreams we notice the dark side of holidays, the anticipation, work, disappointment, awkwardness. leading up to a holiday you have to clean, prepare, the axioty and stress it brings is hard to bear. you're so worked up about having it be perfect you forget to enjoy it and even happy moments don't last for long. if i happen to be contributing to a conversation i have a interest in, my mother will, unintentionally give me a job to do or something to clean. in my holidays we are always the host, that means we focus more on our guest happiness then ours, which doesn't make it that enjoyable for me. Jennifer New write about her negative uptake on this matter, and i must agree, are they worth it, will we ever get this "blockbuster" holiday. They all seem to lead to disappointment. holidays are more then there worth we should stop trying to make them perfect ad focus just on the happiness and enjoyiablness of it, with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteEverybody has different opinions on different things, wether good or bad, they are always different. In this article "Thanksgiving" by Jennifer New, she thinks that holiday's are disappointing. When I think of holiday's, I think of family, food, and fun, and at the least bit dissapointing. For example, Thanksgiving. We all get together with our families, feast on the greatly cooked food, and have fun cracking jokes on one another. On the other hand, other people only think of the little things, such as if the food is cooked perfectly, or if the house looks immaculate. That is why people think of holidays as a disappointment, because everyone sets high expectations, then we can't fully meet them. The author in this piece has a negative tone, she shows it by saying that holiday's are like "blockbuster movies." That just shows how Jennifer thinks of Thanksgiving as unnecessary and fake. I totally disagree with the authors assertion. I feel as though people should lower their expectations to what the average person can meet. If we all focused on the little things in life, we would all be in good shape. Everyone would be thinking about the necessities in life, which in my opinion is family.
ReplyDeleteIn all actuality, the holiday season makes me detest my upbringing and everything in today’s pop culture that’s meant to tell me what a ‘good’ holiday celebration is supposed to be like. From early on, children are given these images of stereotypical holiday ‘perfection’, and that, like many other things, sets us all up for disappointment. Jennifer New seems to understand my view, frowning upon these blockbusters holidays, and looking down upon the way they were experienced even in her younger years. These fall and winter festivities have honestly lost most of their meaning, and the whole season typically just blurs together in a mass of people, food, and possibly presents. I have never understood why all holidays seem so incredibly boring, but thinking now it’s probably because that’s how we’re taught to think. As kids things are just wonderful because they exist and go on with sparkly lights and flashy colors, but when the novelty wears off we realize they’re nothing like they ‘should’ be. Every person has a different definition of the word ‘perfect’ so I don’t see why we all envision the same Hallmark special Thanksgiving, with the random leaves spread across the covered table and 10 lb turkey glistening amidst candles and cones of plenty. If everyone could push this completely unrealistic postcard greeting image from their minds we wouldn’t all be so let down all the time, we all need to lower our expectations and just be satisfied with whatever we do have – however I will be the first to admit this is easier said then done.
ReplyDeleteThere is no other way to say it but yes, Jennifer New is correct, people stress so much on prepping for holidays whether it consists of planning a get-together, travelling, baking and much more. So what if we make a mistake and overcook a turkey, we are human and that means we aren’t perfect so we learn from our mistakes. Holidays all have a well out come no matter what goes wrong because you are surrounded by your family and loved ones and your mistakes will make the memories that you will cherish with you until you die. All that matters is that you, your family and loved ones are having a good time and everyone will go home with an unforgettable moment. Holidays will have moments that go wrong but a holiday will never end up as going wrong. Holidays are the exact opposite of perfect; anything can go wrong at any given moment because there is so much happening at one little time that anything could happen. That anything could be as simple as a candle not lighting up on a cake to a house pet eating the main meal. Whatever is planned by fate will happen and there is nothing we can do about it because we, as humans, live in the present, not the future, not the past but the present and only the present. We just deal with it and move on with our lives but have that memory close in our hearts because it will most likely never happen again.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the many classical stories passed down, the many holiday movies that have come out, and the many works of art that have been view on Christmas cards, holidays are generally depicted as the happiest times of the year. Unfortunately, not everything is perfect. Because of these overloaded ideas of “happy holidays,” millions of people overwork their bodies in this attempt to create the iconic holiday celebrations. Once things start to get sticky, everything falls apart and you wind up with many disappointed people who overworked in order to create that picturesque holiday as seen on TV. Due to this common trend in many families across the nation, more current holiday themed stories, movies, etc. show families who also try to create the perfect holiday but yet fail to do so. These types of holiday movies/stories are usually on the humorous side that way it gives many people something to relate to and laugh at. Jennifer New was most likely the stereotypical holiday child who yearned so much for the perfect holiday celebrations but instead witnessed a shameful Thanksgiving dinner that seemed fairly the opposite of the ideal Thanksgiving celebration seen on the big screen or pictured on advertisements promoting “holiday spirit.” Because of her bad childhood experience with holidays/Thanksgiving, her view on these types of celebrations during this certain time of year leaves a bland taste in her mouth. The term “blockbuster holidays” seems to refer to the fact that hundreds of movies view the holidays as so perfect, it’s unreal and literally only happens in fictional situations. After Jennifer had accepted the fact that the happy holidays only exists in the movies, she also accepted the fact that there seems to be no point to even try to enjoy the holidays when it’s never going to be the way she would like it to be. Although this idea that the holidays rarely ever turn out to be the way one expects, I know it is just the way it is. My expectations for a happy holiday are usually low in fear that disappointment will come out of the way-too-high-holiday-expectation. I watched and heard many fictional holiday stories, movies, and television shows when I was a youngster. They all got me pumped up for the holidays that I had expected to involve the classical twinkly house decor, family gathered by the fireplace, finding presents by the Christmas tree on Christmas morning, eating gigantic meals, and everything else expected during the holidays. Even if my holidays were considered happy ones, I was always unpleased being the picky child I was. Now, the holiday stories and movies that I constantly hear and see have become something that I think is a little too cliche, corny, and a bit annoying. The holidays have become a very good excuse for hosting a party and celebrating. Over the years they have become less and less meaningful. Because of the overloaded iconic, jolly holidays, it has just brought many holiday spirits down to the point where the holiday seasons are just pitiful. Sometimes too much of a good thing becomes something that turns into a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I start to think of the holidays, as in Thanksgiving and Christmas, I always think about my family around each other and together. But when Jennifer New started saying how we have now we are starting to build up the holidays to fail because they are so called “block-buster” holidays is false. My definition of a “picture perfect holiday” is when I am around my family laughing and having a good time. Not seeing a 20 foot table filled with food or Christmas trees overloaded with presents under it. And many people share this picture of their perfect holidays. And it’s very sad the negative attitude and tone that Jennifer New has toward the holidays now. It might just be me but I wouldn’t waste the holidays thinking negatively about them. Because you just don’t know when the next time will be when you see your family members. I know with me I only see certain people in my family during this time and I try to get the most out of it.
ReplyDeleteAs I ponder the idea of a holiday, I think family, friends, food, and gifts. Although for others it can be totaly different. Some people vision holidays as lonsome, bitterness, and even painfulness. You can wake up to 1,000 presents on christmas, and still want more, but for some families who can't afford nice things on holidays, the part that they look forward to is just spending quality time with their beloved ones. In the passage "Thanksgiving" Jennifer New writes about how tragic her holidays were as a child. She explains them as dissapointing, and unexciting. Through the years of "magical" holidays, prople grow older and stop believing in the traditions which make a holiday itself. As Jennifer New writes her beliefs from a childs eye, I believe there is nothing better than coming together as one, and celebrating the different events, which make our country the way it is today!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason when thinking about this question the quote “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Came to mind. This is probably because as far as I know as humans we all judge things by their cover, whether it is a sweet, funny, warm and fuzzy cover or a smelly, grimy, raggedy cover. If something is presented or advertised one way we see it for what it looks like simple as that. This is why holidays are so disappointing to us because growing up we are too young to understand that the big happy families with no problems in the world sitting around a giant table with perfectly cooked food, depicted in holiday movie are fake and the most of the time the real thing is nothing like those movies. Luckily or sadly depending on the way you look at it, I learned what holidays were really like at a pretty young age. The author of this has a very almost resentful attitude towards these holidays and although I agree that there is way too much focus on making holidays perfect I don’t see why she has any reason to hold anything against these holidays. Holidays stopped being magical and just started being days with presents, tons of food, or both pretty early in my childhood. After learning Santa was a big red fraud at the age of six and that same year being old enough to understand what all the gossip about family member during Christmas meant I sort of gave up on the magic, I honestly don’t care. I am not saying people should be like me and just stop trying to make holidays anything more than what they are (days) I simply am saying that maybe people could start putting up one less light up reindeer on their lawns this year.
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving. Definition: the act of giving thanks, a prayer expressing gratitude, a public acknowledgement or celebrating of divine goodness. Image: family and friends all around one big brown glassy wooden table, with a beautifully stuffed turkey displayed in the middle of the table, being complemented by all the other lovely steamy sides around it , the sound of laughter filling the room, and everyone showing/telling how thankful they are for one another. The reality of it all, is never that. That ,right there ,is merely a "blockbuster" image. The image movies drill into our head and stitch on to our brain to give us that thought and hope every year/ time a holiday comes around something different will happen, something better. They believe that this will be the toll where things will turn for the better, where they will feel loved most, and all but love will be exchanged. In all honesty holidays are but another day or a day of disappointment for some. Not everyone has that picture perfect family or even little nibble of it. Jennifer describes her memories as a child of the holiday spirit she felt and seen around her. I believe for everyone when your a child that these times seem more special in our minds because we seem to see the world through our white rose glasses we have at the time. Your family just seems to be so great and everything just so fascinating the holidays are ment to be more spectacular to you. That's probably the only reason people get so excited for the holidays because the day has another name besides Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. When you begin to get older all that joy and happiness of the holds seems to fade away and get sucked out of you because the truth of it all , the imperfections surfaces. Her tone through out the article starts disappointing, and then lightens because she reminiscences about her thoughts as a child how joyful they were but then reality takes over her and fills her with the disappointment of wondering where all I of that went. The holidays I believe are a day to set yourself up for disappoint , but I also believe someday you can make the blockbuster image come to life in your reality.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is generally happy with their daily life until the holidays come. All of those movies we see about the holidays make holidays seem so joyful and perfect, but in reality, not everything is as perfect as it is said to be in all of these films. We get our hopes up that maybe this year will be amazing and joyful just like we imagine it to be, and we end up disappointed most of the time. You can’t completely blame it all on the movies. The perfect image we create is mostly based on what we personally want from a holiday. You don’t always get what you want, so things aren’t always be perfect.
ReplyDeleteIn her essay, Jennifer said “Every year, I think more and more of divorcing myself from these blockbuster holidays.” This statement shows that her attitude towards the subject is negative. She is cynical towards holidays because of the thought of a perfect image. She said that she was thinking about forgetting all about the holidays. I do agree with her idea that there is too much focus on having a perfect holiday because everything about the holidays is influenced by as she called them “blockbuster holidays” or the movies, and the movies influenced me to form my own idea of a perfect image of the holidays. Holidays shouldn’t be about what they show on the movies, but why the holidays were created for in the first place. If people focused on the real purpose of the holiday, they wouldn’t be so disappointed.
The artifical happiness of getting a gift may make the people around appear to be genuinely happy and you start questioning yourself that you might be weird for feeling depressed. Due to intense propaganda in the media for holidays, esp. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween, many people look foward to such events for they bring other together. However, when you put a set your heart on a certain project, you tend to raise the chances of tasting disappointment.
ReplyDeleteIt seems, that as people get older they tend not to spend as much time with their loved ones because of distance or new families.
Finally, when someone is generally a pessimist or depressed, the holidays can exacerbate this because most people are filled with so called bliss and happiness. Holidays can resurface many old and sad memories of the past. They can also be the time when one person in a family gets trapped with all the preparational duties while it seems everyone else enjoys themselves. This is quite more common then other realize. Either way, it is a very stressful time when the true spirit of Christmas can be overshadowed by a feeling of dread.
Holidays are, by their nature, supposed to be a festive time, but just end up being a competition over who's was better. If someone has a good holiday, someone will always be there to explain how theirs was ten times better. I agree with her tone on holidays, but not entirely. Holidays are easily able to be an enjoyable time, without drama and anger. Actually, I think that holidays are the only times that my family doesn't fight. But the only one problem with holidays is that people want to have the best holidays of all time, and sometimes that means that the person tries to make other peoples pale in comparison.
ReplyDelete