thanks andrea! it's offensive AND ridiculous at the same time haha. I can see now how it can be read as subversive despite its intentions, but it's the reactions people have that are terrible. I guess it's nothing new though...
I rememeber that commercial. I think after it was over we said, "Homophobia! High five!" but then again that could have been any number of times there were racist commercials during the game. Trust me, that wasn't even the most offensive commercial.
hah oh geez. I can only imagine what other bullshit gets aired during ridiculous sports events like that. Call me on it if this is a gross generalization, but I think the sports industry (or maybe just really american sports like football) is highly conservative/republican/hyper religious/oppressive in general. I also find it amusing that you watched it dan! I would have never thought... ;)
the ad is homophobic to a degree, but i doubt any secure gay man would be offended by it. i'm more offended as a straight male at yet another portrayal of us as chest-pounding, meat-eating morons who fuck our woman missionary style and would rather die than sit next to another man on the subway. in that regard, the ad is almost as bad as the Hungry Man bullshit that's been polluting the airwaves for the last few months.
"Does being gay mean you HAVE to be a pussy about everything?"
i like that question. my gay friends are tougher - mentally speaking, but also physically in some cases - than 99% of my straight friends.
I think you're definitely right about all the hyper masculine/neanderthal mockery and constructions. Yes, it's probably all really annoying to guys that don't abide or buy into the whole 'real man' stereotypes and expectations. You're clearly not stupid, but there are still so many males that try to live up to this bullshit. To them, gay = feminine = subordinate/unworthy/lesserthan/whatever, which is a problem. There's a gender element to this too. Yeah I know there's always going to be assholes out there being ignorant or just trying to get reactions out of people on the internet (and in REAL life too haha), but some of the things I hear are just so hateful and VIOLENT and none of it is funny. One of the alternate endings of this commercial does promote violence. The two dudes literally gaybash eachother with wrenches at the end.
you're right - there's an obvious difference between poking fun and being a hateful jerk. i don't think the makers of this ad inteded to promote hate or violence or anything other than chocolate bars. it's a stupid ad, but you have to admit that it worked. it's got lots of people talking about snickers, and that's all advertisers really care about.
i hate advertising, period. it's manipulative and boring. why can't they just flash a quick picture of a product, say its name and then wrap it up nicely with a jingle? the best way to handle ads is to do what Lisa Simpson suggests: Just Don't Look.
that's true. I didn't really see how it in any way promoted the candy directly, but it did stir up a lot of attention in general and therefore, can be seen as an 'effective' ad campaign - effective in the shitty, manipulative, mindless, stereotypical way that most ads get their point (if there even is one) across. Yeah, I wish ads were just simple! Cheesy jingles would be great :) When I do watch tv, I usually mute the ads anyway - most of them just piss me off and it's all so overplayed anyway.
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good point with the rainbow bit!
wow..
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"Does being gay mean you HAVE to be a pussy about everything?"
i like that question. my gay friends are tougher - mentally speaking, but also physically in some cases - than 99% of my straight friends.
Reply
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i hate advertising, period. it's manipulative and boring. why can't they just flash a quick picture of a product, say its name and then wrap it up nicely with a jingle? the best way to handle ads is to do what Lisa Simpson suggests: Just Don't Look.
Reply
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