New post on Ramadan paper plates and what this says about capitalism. also goats/kangaroos, Bardcore music and chasing conspiracies down the rabbit hole !

reflections

Do I really need paper plates that say “Ramadan Mubarak”? by Imaan Saarah Khan

Eid Mubarak! Fittingly, I read Imaan Saarah Khan’s insightful piece on the increasing commodification of Ramadan, with huge corporations subverting the minimalist message of the Muslim holy month of fasting and reflection to sell their products. They use the image of Ramadan to claim a genuine connection to the community, but really are exploiting and co-opting their faith for sales.

It is a stark reminder that there is nothing capitalism won’t leverage to make a quick buck. At this point, we should consider Coca-Cola and McDonald’s co-opting a culture or jumping on a trend as the two horsemen of the ©Apocalypse™.

cut the excess

Imaan explains that Ramadan is far more complex and nuanced than just choosing not to eat. It is stepping away from consumption in general, filtering what we take into our bodies to reflect on our material attachments in everyday life. It is often a journey to realising we don’t need as much as we think we do. “Stripping away excess can bring clarity, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose.”

This is the antithesis of commercial capitalism, which encourages overconsumption and creates disposable products. Branded paper plates that say “Ramadan Mubarak”, though celebratory, do not necessarily align with the values that Ramadan preaches. This is not to shame anyone who wants to buy Ramadan-themed items, but to help us collectively realise that businesses create these products cynically, without caring for what printing those words actually means to the community.

It can be argued that it’s noteworthy to see more Ramadan-themed items for sale in western cities, like London for instance – something I’ve also noticed this year. But broader societal acceptance of other faiths also attracts a predatory business mindset, which sees nothing but an opportunity to exploit.

i, for one, despise our corporate overlords

Can we call it Ramadanwashing? Like Greenwashing and Pinkwashing, repeat ad nauseam.

It is expected that this practice will only increase. There’s a reason corporations continually try to create false connections to different audiences, because it gives them cover for shady practices, and may increase their earnings too. This gives incentives for companies to further warp the genuine spirit of Ramadan.

Large multi-national corporations like Coca-Cola don’t have a material connection to the philosophy of the faith, it’s just another market of bodies to them. And this is doubly harming, as Imaan points out, since many of these corporations are on the BDS list – meaning their business dealings with the Israeli state actively hurts Muslims in occupied Palestinian territories. Yet they’re happy to pander to Muslim consumers in other countries without admitting to their complicity in other crimes.

pepsi-cola & raytheon industries presents ‘the ramadan experience’

Imaan’s analysis is a concrete example of the unjust nature of capitalism. Giving unaccountable power to corporations means they can hijack movements, communities and our very souls, to change the meaning, turn poetry into slogans, a selling point, a dollar. This disrupts original thought and assimilates creativity into the narrow confines of commercial enterprise.

Just remember when purchasing something to consider why it exists as a commodity. They’d pave paradise to sell a Ramadan Mubarak paper plate.

~ Tommy

smirk of the week 😏

one thing to watch:

White Lotus (HBO)

Yes I’m on the White Lotus hype train, I can’t get off! The theme tune and opening credits alone are more interesting to me than <Insert Generic Netflix Drama Series Here>.

This third season of Mike White’s tantalising satirical drama, which critiques the privilege and power of luxury resort guests, has seen the narcissistic and spoilt slew of characters threatening to further unravel and implode under the weight of all their deceptions. Many say this latest season, set in Thailand, has been a slow burner but that only makes the inevitable dramatic payoff all the more searing.

With only two episodes left, I’m gripped. I implore you to watch the whole series if you haven’t!

one thing to groove to:

Darude – Sandstorm (Bard Hamelot Medieval Remix)

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