Bingeing some reality TV show, I can begin to forget why I’m stuck here — until the commercial break. “We’re all living a new normal —” “Especially now.” “Even in times as uncertain as these.” It’s jarring how quickly the realities of the coronavirus have been processed into the optimistic language of advertising. The hallmarks of coronavirus ads are so consistent they could be generated by bots. “So how does it feel when you see an ad that valorizes a grocery store worker as a hero?” “The word, hero, has always implied having some sort of agency. They make me feel like I’m doing my part by staying on my couch.

Source: New York Times May 28, 2020 09:06 UTC