It’s been four long weeks since I last verbally exposed myself to the Showcase masses, so I want to do something extra special.  I want to talk about shit.  Shit (like blankets with arm-holes) has undergone a cultural resurgence of late, and has made the trip from sidewalks to store shelves.  “Why shit?  Why now?” you’re saying, and I’ll tell you:  Times of great economic recess have historically led to cultural associations with dirt and waste, a reflection of society’s diminished ability to rise above it.  From the early 90s advent of grunge to the rabid boot eating of the 1920s, poverty and a fascination with filth have gone hand in hand.

Also, shit is hilarious.

To prove both points, let’s look at the various ways that shit has permeated our culture:

The Turds

Looking at The Turds is like looking in the mirror, if your mirror was installed in the bottom of your toilet like mine is.  They embody our human frailty (Sick Shit), our reliance on vices (Shitfaced Again) and the grinding monotony of working life (Same Shit Different Day).  Hard truths we must all face before we’re ultimately flushed away.


Dongchimee

From Dongchimee's official profile: 

Name : Dongchimee
Sex : Male
Hobby : Making art work using Dung
Constellation : Virgin (September 9)
Features : Creative only in Dung

Evidence that shit is truly a worldwide phenomenon.  Dongchimee is a charming Korean children’s character, apparently some type of shit-bandit, who “sometimes makes dung watery or dry.”  Who doesn’t, right?  Koreans also get props for the “shit-as-soft-serve” meme, which only adds to shit’s considerable adorability factor.

Pee and Poo
But all that adorability can be divisive.  Check out these beautiful bastards:

Cute as shit, right?  Maybe, but take a look at this:

That's right.  Actual shit-pants.  Slide these guys on and crap yourself and you've got the perfect metaphor for the current economic climate: Capitalism just shit itself. 

Pee may be innocent, but Poo is a wolf in shit’s clothing.