Society likes to swing from one outrage to another. Outrage is like an engine that drives modern society. Was it always thus?
There may be different outrages for different parts of society on different days, but it's always something.
Right now, part of society is outraged that a beautiful young "white" woman is appearing in an advertisement. I saw someone complaining that there are millions of beautiful "black" women, so it's a racist disaster that the company chose to hire a "white" woman this time. One ad. Out of millions of ads that show people of almost every description imaginable. And this is a problem? Oh, please.
I saw one guy even claiming that it's a sign we're heading for racist lynchings and genocide of "brown" people. Such drama! Over an ad.
A couple of years ago, a different segment of society was outraged that a particular man was in a different company's ads. Again, millions of ads, with all sorts of approaches, and this one ad campaign was worth getting mad over? I think not.
The most useful ads are interesting in some way. They get attention by being interesting rather than boring. Don't be boring.
Interesting is good. Find interesting people (or things) you believe will help your brand. "Interesting" doesn't have a "race" or a type. I always loved the Clydesdale beer ads, which were beautiful and interesting. To me. And this ad segment is one of my all-time favorites for reasons I can't quite explain. It hits me in the funny bone, and it's interesting to me because it cracks me up. I laugh every time I watch it. Yeah, I'm weird.
Beauty, which is subjective, is also interesting. Looking at beauty makes me feel better than some other kinds of "interesting" do. People who rail against beauty are pathetic and have bigger problems they need to address before they worry about who appears in ads.
I'm not sure how well ads work, though. I'm sitting here not drinking any beer or wearing any mall-brand clothes (unless I coincidentally picked them up in Goodwill).
Me too; but is this one really about race? Here is a pic of a girl whose face says she is but barely in double digits, though whose ample breasts say she's an early developer. While fully dressed, her crotch is at the focal point of the photo and her hand suggests she is thinking of opening her jeans. Pornographic? - of course not. Provocative? - yes.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it's provocative only because Boobus Americanus has been conditioned to think
that an "age of consent" is something to be fixed for everyone by a set of self-righteous, desiccated legislators. In reality, adolescents develop at quite widely differing ages, and their right to make decisions for themselves is always their own absolutely.
It's only about "race" to racists.
DeleteI agree with you.
https://kentmcmanigal.blogspot.com/p/kentforliberty.html
My genotype finds her phenotype appealing.
ReplyDeleteYour genotype may find other phenotypes appealing.
End of story.
Hans ... in the NC woods
DeleteSame here.
DeleteThis particular outrage seems to be based on the silly pun in the ad – she has "good jeans." What!? Good genes?! Nazi eugenics! Racism! Argh! Humor is in the eye of the beholder, of course — I find the "turning into your parents" stick more irritating than amusing. Probably a sign that I've become my parents.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Ms. Sweeney is 27. It's OK to look at her and think adult thoughts.
It was a good pun.
DeleteI'm not jealous of her genes (maybe a little envious of her jeans due to their proximity). It seems that only people who are ashamed of (or disappointed in) their own genes are triggered by the ad.
My genes could be better, and we can only see how good *some* of her genes are; the ones that made her look pretty. She could have some unfortunate genetic flaws that won't show up for a few years. Just like any of us could. I hope not- I don't wish that for anyone.
When everything is "Nazi!", nothing is Nazi.
“Society likes to swing from one outrage to another. Outrage is like an engine that drives modern society.”
ReplyDeleteVery true. It may be inherent in this species but 21st century US society apparently has a visceral desire to maliciously disparage and condemn for one reason or another or for no ‘real’ reason at all. Is this just another facet of their sick craving to run other people’s lives??
It seems so. Like, "I can't make it on my merits, so I will tear them down." With hate, legislation, or censorship.
Delete