The silly season is here in full. In a Daily Show-worthy announcement, the conservative Christian group American Family Association has released of list of companies they consider “for,” “marginal,” and “against” Christmas, which Barnes & Noble included among the 14 chains they deem “naughty.” (Amazon is deemed “for” Christmas.) The evaluation is based on one important mode of expression: advertising. The list aspires to determine “if a company was ‘Christmas-friendly’ in their advertising.” Different references to secular Christmas symbols (“trees, wreaths, lights, etc.”) were “considered as an attempt to reach ‘Christmas shoppers.” And “if a company has items associated with […]