Black Friday Down...A condemnation of us all
It’s over. I’m finished. I can go home and wash the stink of unashamed capitalist consumption and materialism from my person.
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November 25, 2005
church
I left ebar once again in search of a hotspot. I spy a Borders across the street. “Yes!!!” I thought. As I headed over I approached a church on one side
and a mini/mega mall on the other.
The God we worship today can only be found on one side of the street I’m afraid. No matter your religious faith or lack thereof, there is no room for God in our pointless celebration of all things material.
make up
As I left Nordstom, I stopped by the make-up counter to see a friend.
“Have you been busy today?” I asked.
“Not really, everyone is just walking around”, she replied.
She showed me the lipstick artwork she’d been working on for the past few minutes; A grotesque collage of pinks, hot pinks, browns, and hooker reds.
I said my goodbyes n’ headed for the door.
Nordstrom
Nordstrom in Phipps Plaza. Surrounded by million dollar homes and cookie cutter condos that say “I’ve made it to the top by doing what I’m told”, this is the preferred mall of the privileged class. The sweat pants, flip flops, and the “I could care less if anybody sees me today” attitude of rural Wal-Mart has been replaced with Gucci, Prada, and “Look at me everyone, I still look skinny the day after Thanksgiving”.
back to work
I jumped in the car n’ headed for the upscale Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead, home of the oh so trendy, Lenox Mall & Phipps Plaza. So, I’m back at it. The afternoon mood of Black Friday is night and day (pun intended) from this morning. The stores are still packed, but the sense of urgency is gone. I asked the first woman I saw walking into Nordstrom, “what brings you out this fine Atlanta afternoon?”
“I was watching the news and wanted to see it for myself” she said.
“Are you crazy” I thought, “Cool, enjoy” I said.
Right back at 'em
It’s now 2:33 in the afternoon and I just woke from a nice little nap. A rest filled with dreams of endless isles of retail junk populated with the dregs of society fighting over stuff they don’t need. Visions of empty souls desperately trying to fill the void by consuming more than the competition. Dreams the color of florescent lighting.
I can’t wait to see what the Black Friday afternoon has in store for me.
Back home...for now
I’ve made it home. I’ve survived my first 6 hours of Black Friday madness. The experience was much different than I had imagined. People really do want their stuff and they don’t care what they have to do to get it. At Wal-Mart I saw the worst of it in the form of actual physical confrontation.
In the more affluent and snooty Macys, while not so obvious, the dynamic still existed. In a setting full of holiday décor and posters wishing good will and happiness, there was little to be found.
The other early morning spot open for business
As I packed up n’ headed home to regroup and reflect on my Black Friday experience thus far, I was struck by how calm the rest of the city streets were. Aside from the shopping malls and mega-stores, the city seemed at rest. Today is a day off for most, unless of course you work in retail.
As I drove home, I did however find one exception.
Wal-Mart isn't the only show in town making big profits through expoitation.
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Sunrise over macys...A surrealist observation
I emerged from Macys just as the sun was coming up. Can you say “surreal shopping experience”. The sky was a dull grey with pink, wispy clouds scattered about. Standing there in the parking lot I felt as I imagine Whitman may have felt if he were a modern day materialist. I stroked my chin and admired industry’s creation the way I think he would have.
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Macys...civil gluttony
After the best Buy incident, I was a bit shaken headed for my next stop, Macys. Again, the lot was full. So many full lots; How does one decide which store to go to? More on that question in later posts.
I entered the famous department store through the furniture showroom doors (seemed like a safe entry point). My nerves were almost immediately put at ease. There were plenty of shoppers, no visible security, and numerous places to hide. I grabbed my camera n’ got to work.
Best Buy...no photos please
Stop #2, Best Buy. The parking lot was full, but I lucked up n’ found a spot ten feet from the entrance. A good omen indeed, so I thought.
The doorway was filled with big, muscle bound dudes in much too tight yellow Best Buy polo shirts. “Good morning sir, welcome to Best Buy” muttered a fellow to my left who appeared puny by comparison to the gorillas at the door.
I surveyed the scene. Busy frantic shoppers, long lines, this looked good. I pulled out my camera n’ got ready for action, but before I could even get my settings adjusted, two of the previously mentioned gorillas were on either side of me.
“Is that your camera sir?”
“Yes, it is. I’m here reporting for a website…”
“You’re going have to leave the premises sir. It’s illegal to take photos on private property without permission” grunted the beast.
I was escorted to the door and closely watched as I walked the ten feet to my admirable parking space.
Wal-Mart...warning, graphic violence and adult language
So this is it, Black Friday.
Place- Ahford/Dunwoody Wal-Mart, Atlanta, GA.
Time- 5:03am.
Weather- High clouds, a late November chill in the air.
I make my way inside after waiting in line for just 3 minutes. The friendly Wal-Mart greeting crew usher us in like the consumer cattle that we are. Most of the pack seems to know already where they want to graze and they waste no time getting there. “Electronics in the back y’all, that laptop is mine bitches!!!,” yelled one enthusiastic patron. She and her party sprinted to the left, I kindly stepped to the right.
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Finally, a good connection
It’s already been quite a day. First off, it’s been a bit of a struggle finding wireless hotspots out here in the lovely Atlanta suburbs. I found one weak connection early in front of Wal-Mart, but lost it soon after my first post.
What if?
What does it take to get the average American out of their warm bed and into the cold streets before sunrise on a day off from work? What does it take to get one of these creatures of habit/addiction to break their routine, to step out of their comfort zone?
time to go
check out
to the rescue
rent-a-cops to the rescue
more fight
fight escaltes
FIGHT!!!
This is when the fight broke out
Action
here's where it gets interesting...electronics
toys
they didn't have all this when I was a kid
more shoppers
where's my stuff?
shoppers
the hunt
lead the way
lead the way
Pulling up to Wal-Mart @ 5am
wal-mart 5am
5am, why?
This morning, the alarm clock on my cell phone jarred me from my all too short sleep/nap at the ungodly hour of 4am. Being a musician by trade, I’m used to laying down for sleep at that time, not waking from it. I did, however wake in good spirits, excited about the opportunity to observe and report on this most symbolic consumer holiday, this celebration of capitalism, this day we call “Black Friday”.