Ive been thinking of the societal importance of certain occupations and found my attention going towards the occupation of the “Mall Santa”. You know, the guy who gets paid.. to be Santa, but what does “being Santa” actually mean? Why would someone give money to someone else in order for them to be someone entirely different. The closest related occupation I can think of of the same idea would be an actor, and actors are paid to.. well.. act. Make us believe something real is happening to them, in them. But, that still is not quite a good enough illustration, because with these “Santas”, we want to believe something real is happening to us. Not only something real, but something extraordinary. Much like a magician. While we watch an actor, we have a sense that a bit of reality is coming from the actor, but while watching a magician, we actually really feel something beyond human is happening among us, even to us. Perhaps those that aren’t quite satisfied at this point will take it a step further and dabble into sorcery or witchcraft so that something extraordinary would happen within.
But is this the real reason why people invite these Santa’s into society? Aside from the obvious commercial aspect of Christmas, I believe there is a primal urge to want to escape reality on a sled pulled through the air by 12 reindeer. The human need for escape. Is it a valid need? .. I think not. Society needs an escape from reality as much as it needs death. No one wants to die, so there are many manmade alternatives to death. As much as the occupation serves society to this purpose, it is not a good occupation.
On the other hand, without someone who is willing to let go of their own “identity” and take on another identity as their own, I suspect there might be more suicides/murders from people who will not face reality on their own. Would it be evil to fuel society’s self-delusuonous tendencies? Even if the despair of reality among the people is so great that there is more depression and suicide/murder? I think it is about the heart of the acting Santa. If he/she decides to fuel the illusion of presents/goodwill to all mankind from a jolly big man.. I don’t necessarily think it is evil. Perhaps if they do it in order to coax people out of reality for their own ill intentions, sure.. But if they are doing it looking for the good of the people, then I don’t believe it’s evil.
