Saturday, August 16, 2008 Khok: Break time By Ober Khok Sira-sira store
SORRY, folks, your reading pleasure has to be interrupted by this commercial which makes me ponder.
It’s time once again for the Uncle Ober Khok’s Commercial Analysis Moment Period (Uokcamp).
If you think the acronym looks forced, you are dead right. Sometimes, an organization like mine (the me, myself and Ober corporation) has to come up with “events” and give them names that are witty and readable as well.
Anyway, back to the commercial, or something like that.
Haven’t you noticed that commercials and fairytales are alike? Fairytales delve on the unconscious mind of humanity.
They are the true reflections of the inner sanctum of parents and children, the true face of society, the authentic psychological analysis of how the mind works.
Take Little Red Riding Hood.
Little or Riding (her name is not mentioned in the story) is a tiny girl, apparently helpless. But she’s not. She has a lot of ammunition to protect her from all her attackers and her mistakes. The story is really about rebellion that ends happily ever after.
Riding was instructed by her mom “don’t talk to strangers” but the kid talks to a stranger on her way to grandma’s house.
She attracts danger by wearing a little red, riding hood and indeed (I learned that “indeed” is equivalent to three exclamation points) she attracts a wily wolf.
The wolf embodies danger, lust, dirty old men, bad habits, drug addiction and dishonesty.
Riding later taps on her arsenal of defenses. The woodcutter who later rescues her represents a colorless person, who is gainfully employed, is very stable and true (a good husband material).
Grandma represents society’s weaknesses. The mother represents the hardworking parent who is so focused on earning a living (in England, Dubai, Singapore) he or she forgets to train the children to become good citizens.
Of course, this is all too sweeping. Just like in some commercials. Like fairytales, they tell the truth about what’s going on in society. Take that milk commercial that actor Michael V spoofed in GMA7’s Bubble Gang.
The commercial opens in the bedroom at bedtime. The little boy in the story lies between his father and mother.
It so happens that the father has a cough and barks repeatedly. The mother, afraid that he may contaminate their son, pushes the man of the house off the bed. And he falls with a thud.
The premise in the story is that the milk will make the boy strong enough to ward off cold viruses. This strength is portrayed when the boy pulls his parents out of the bed, and claims the bed all for himself.
My family finds the commercial amusing. It is witty. We understand its intention. However, it also speaks of a painful reality.
Sometimes parents give everything to their children but forget to give them food for the soul. Food that will make their “character bone” strong, upright and healthy.
Gratitude, love and respect can be taught the way Math and English are taught in schools. Daily drills and exams are needed. Without these lessons, parents will just be raising children who are automatons for all that glitters but is not gold.
