Keeping up with the Joneses
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Keeping up with the Joneses is a popular phrase in many parts of the English-speaking world referring to the common desire to be seen to be as good as one's neighbours or contemporaries, thus maintaining a favourable image in comparison with them. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating one's socio-economic or cultural inferiority.
According to The Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson, the origin of the phrase is rooted in the popular comic strip of the same name created by cartoonist Arthur R. "Pop" Momand. The strip debuted in 1913, ran in American newspapers for 28 years, and eventually was adapted into books, films, and musical comedies. The "Joneses" of the title were neighbors of the strip's main characters, and were spoken of but never actually appeared in person. It is possible that Momand named them in reference to George Frederic and Lucretia Stevens Rhinelander Jones, parents of writer Edith Newbold Jones Wharton; it could also be due to the fact that "Jones" is a very common name, applying to a lot of "normal" people (hence the expression).
In the film Mona Lisa Smile, Julia Roberts's character attends the wedding of Kirsten Dunst's character. Her fellow attendees include, it is pointed out, the Joneses of "Keeping up with the Joneses".
A related phrase is Keeping up appearances, which is also the title of a British sitcom on this theme.
In July 2005, BBC One ran a short Daytime series called "Keeping up with the Joneses" in which two families compete against each other in an American style yard-sale to see who can sell the most from their households of clutter. The show was presented by Jeremy Milnes (4 episodes) and Nadia Sawalha (1 episode) with antiques expert Mark Franks. It was produced by Leopard Films, makers of "Cash In The Attic" and "Car Booty".
Keeping up with the Gateses is a variation of the phrase being used more recently. It refers to the desire of living lifestyles comparable to that of the very wealthiest in the society such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates. Such desires are fueled by portrayal of the spending habits of the rich on television and in magazines. It often leads people to overconsumption and spending more than they earn, thereby falling into debt.
See also
External links
- A profile of the original comic strip
- Keeping up with the Gateses
- Fifty Possible Ways to Challenge Over-Commercialism by Albert J. Fritsch, SJ, PhD