Guinness T-Shirt: Not Afraid Of The Dark
by Tom
(Salem, MA)

Guinness T-Shirt: Not Afraid Of The Dark
(SwagDog)
Living in a post-industrial society where advertising has been so thoroughly absorbed into the culture that we are no longer sure where marketing ends and personality begins can have its challenges.
Navigating the murky shoals of branded apparel is a treacherous business at the best of times. Some brands can be worn sincerely, so as to let people know what kind of person you are. Some brands can be worn ironically, so as to let people know what kind of person you are not. Other brands must be worn post-ironically, which is essentially the same thing as wearing it ironically, but on "Opposite Day".
I gave up the struggle a long time ago and I now only wear T-shirts that feature "some weird thing" like a break-dancing turtle, or an oversized cat with a curious expression saying "LOL!"
This T-shirt features neither of those things. Cute animals are, in fact, conspicuous by their absence. The slogan "Don't be afraid of the dark" implies that the wearer is brave; so brave that they drink dark beer without fear of the terrible consequences.
What those consequences could be is left as an exercise for the reader, but probably involve eternal torment of some kind.
Wear this shirt to remind people that if you drink stout, you are pretty much a goddamn hero. I think I was being ironic. Or post-ironic. It's complicated.





