Vance Packard Deplores Madison Avenue Attacks on Puritanism
Diocesan Press Service. February 7, 1964 [XVIII-8]
"We're being encouraged more and more to that philosophy of being constantly dissatisfied with last year's model. The average American turns in his car every two or two and a quarter years -- and we turn in our friends just about as rapidly now. I think that this is giving us a sense of rootlessness and a sense of restlessness that to me is quite dangerous, " said Vance Packard, author of "The Status Seekers" and "The Pyramid Climber," speaking in an interview on the nationally broadcast program, "Viewpoint, " presented weekly by the National Council of the Episcopal Church.
When asked by the interviewer, the Rev. Dana F. Kennedy, if he felt that religion had anything to do with maintaining a character that is true and right Mr. Packard replied, "I think it has. If you read the marketing journals and you hear consultants talk at their conventions, they talk incessantly about the need to encourage Americans to cast off their Puritanism. Puritanism has become the great bogey of Madison Avenue because it represents all they're trying to destroy. Some of the marketing consultants say that the main aim of all advertising should be to encourage all Americans to give vent to their whims and their desires, and to be more self-indulgent."
Also, Mr. Packard said, "I think that we should all be more preoccupied with what our role is in the world, in terms of what we can contribute, what we can do, and what we can create. And what our children are going to be and what they can do. "
"Viewpoint" is produced by the Division of Radio, Television and Audio Visuals of the National Council of the Episcopal Church and is heard over the Mutual network and 260 other stations.