How Stanley Cups Predicted Our Black Mirror Economy
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In this month's video essay, Chelsea dives into an unlikely arbiter of American hyperconsumption: the Stanley water tumbler.
Special thanks to Amanda Mull:
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00:00 Intro
04:05 Ad break
13:55 Our era of faux abundance
19:06 Cultural capital and hyper-visibility
32:47 Overconsumption & drop-shipping core
39:35 I’ve never been more hydrated
46:25 Individualism in a time of homogeneity
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At first glance I thought this was about hockey.
same haha
Me too!
Haha I think that proves the point even more.
it really works without buying new stuff! life is much better
I felt like this was handbags in the Noughties!
Although, keeping up with the Joneses via beverage container has been a big one for the last few decades … Nalgenes, metal screwtop water bottles, bottles that look like a Starbucks cup, Yetis, Stanleys, now those new metal tumblers
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A story dear to everyone’s FYP
Amanda Mull is great, she was one of the earliest writers drawing attention to instalment payment services for online storefronts like Klarna
It’s a bit difficult to listen to her with all the uptalk and the “likes.” Maybe she’s a better writer than speaker.
A major issue today is the assumption that most American Christian churches, especially groups like Mormonism, actually align with the foundational definition of what it means to be a Christian. At its core, being a Christian means following the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. But when you look closely, especially at the rise of Mormon influencers, there is a clear contradiction between the values they promote and the beliefs they claim to uphold. In America it’s incredibly common to claim the label of “Christian” while living in a way that has nothing to do with loving your neighbor or giving to the poor. I often struggle to explain to people that just because someone says “I’m a Christian,” doesn’t mean they actually are. It’s kind of like when someone calls themselves a “wellness expert” on Instagram, but they just drink green juice and post selfies. Don’t even get me started on capitalism and mega churches lol
Exactly; Their prophet is not Jesus, its John Smith
A big part missing from the conversation, I think, is how much of these things are ACTUALLY popular vs. how much is just paid influencers trying to get views. Not even necessarily stealth marketing by a company, but just from the platforms ton their own.
*takes sip from Stanley cup* I am ready to be humbled again
Listening to this as I drink out of my knockoff Walmart Stanley
Same ❤
Frankly, the whole “buy green, live green” thing has always seemed like a complete scam, especially in the way most people do it: how is buying 100s of polyester reusable bags, getting them every couple of months, supposed to offset plastic bags in anyway? They are just bigger, denser plastic bags!!!
Don’t you just stuff plastic bags both “single use” (that I reuse to death anyway) and thicker ones in the cupboard under the sink and reuse them ad nauseum?
I can’t remember the last time I purchased a plastic bag of any kind.
@@cruisingwithsam Oh yeah: my parents always bought them nonstop as a kid, so I have literally never used a plastic bag since living on my own (~6 years now) and I can count on two hands the number of times I have used a paper bag in the same time
A culture desperate for meaning, finding it where it can…. don’t think I’ve ever felt more empathy for them. I do want a house and great friendships but my economic situation (aka being broke) makes it real hard to obtain those things.
When the whole Stanley cup phenom broke, I had the wicked inspiration to start uploading influencer-esque videos about the different Stanley (not the same company) utility knives in my collection. I figured if I played my cards right I could start street-peddling utility knives to my coworkers to finance my avocado and Pokeball habits.
I’m so glad that I quit social media. I have no plans to go back. Just another form of mindless consumption in a horrid economic system.
I have two Stanleys because my wife bought me one for Christmas…after I had bought one myself because I wasn’t ever going to ask her for one, otherwise I would only own one! I keep one in my office and covered it in therapy-related stickers (I’m a therapist) and keep one at home and even that feels indulgent. My teenage clients roasted me for weeeeeks when they saw me drinking out of one lmao
Great video! The marketing uses psychology and sociology to push its sales or agenda. It’s up to the consumer to get educated. Back in the days, the adults/parents were the consumers and now the children are the consumer since they dictate what to purchase.
Thanks for keeping me current. 😂
Misleading title…I thought it was the NHL Stanley Cup
Awesome posting, thoughtful, informative, timely.❤
13:55 A lot of times when you see someone who looks like they have it all, they don’t, which explains the high credit card debt a lot of people have. Don’t fall for appearances, because looks can be deceiving, & people/the system are looking to swindle you.