Shut up. Shut up. SHUT UP!
Just watch this video and you'll be saying the same thing:
Wasn't that absolutely hilarious?! I can NOT handle that little kid. Amen! Preach little dude...
It was made by YouTube user playahata646 for an 8th grade PSA project a year ago, but it's just now getting a lot of attention. Not 100% sure if they specifically had to make the PSA about using the word or if they got to choose what PSA they did, but does that really matter? It's just amazing seeing kids making things like this and educators encouraging them to talk about the subject.
If it looks familiar, it's because it's a play on GLSEN and Ad Council's first LGBT-focused campaign "Think B4 You Speak" to stop the word "gay" from being used as a negative term. Created by ArnoldNYC, the campaign beat out 50 other campaigns in 2008 to win The Advertising Council's Gold Bell Award for Creative Excellence. I've always been a fan of these commercials since they came out and I think they really put into perspective how hurtful that kind of language can be. Check out the three ads that were released, which feature Wanda Sykes and
Hilary Duff:
And here's their latest TV spot, featuring NBA players Grant Hill and Jared Dudley:
Ummm...do you wanna watch the kids again? Okay, great...
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Zero Feet Away...But Far Enough From The Children?
Well, there's a new ad in LA that has some mamma's all up in arms y'all (and by that I mean legit "I have a child" mamma's, not me referring to myself as "mamma" as I sometimes do. Just wanted to clarify...) Check it out below:
The ad is for the infamous website Manhunt, which, if you don't know, is a "dating" website dedicated to helping gay men connect in hopes of gettin' a little somethin-somethin (insert the one-sholder nudge move here). This particular ad is advertising their new uncensored mobile version of the website with the tagline "Zero Feet Away," promoting the GPS "finding a man closest to you" feature.
Okay, time for looking at both sides of the spectrum. First up, the parents...
Parents Side: This article, via StudioCity, is by Kelly Cloe, a single mom of a 9-year-old son who is not so happy about this ad. I suggest you read the whole article cause it gives a good representation as to why parents are upset. But to give a CliffsNotes, she talks about how she drives past this every day with her son on his way to school. She says doesn't know how to explain what's going on to her Army obsessed son (who noticed the ad because of the dog tags. Come on, that's a little humorous) without lying to him. She says, "I know some would tell me to use the opportunity for an illuminating conversation. But I don't need Manhunt Mobile to set my Important Talks Agenda. Our family really could have gone awhile longer without that particular conversation–and should've been able to do so." She also talks about how it's not necessarily the image she's bothered by, but the product they're advertising: "It’s not the blatant porn-iness of the over-lit image, or that it is of two men. It would be equally annoying if it were hetero. It’s the fact that I am forced to figure out a way to frame to my fourth-grader the fact that some people like to find causal sex partners fast using their mobile phones." Hmmm...okay. Not sure if every parent who's complaining about it is upset about the product versus the image, but I'm open to that thought.
Okay Manhunt, your turn...
Manhunt's Side: Manhunt's Jason Harvey came out with a statement on their blog (just FYI the website is a little NSFW) defending their ad "featuring two models in a sexy but tasteful pose together." He even address Kelly Cloe's article and her claims that the complaints she made cause the ads to come down, when actually their ads expired. He also released a statement from their ad agency Lamar Advertising emphasizing the fact that, "we used our restriction codes that we have in our system for alcohol, to make sure that we were placing Manhunt in appropriate locations."
They also brought up a very valid point about another company's ad that's out now. Even before I got to that part of them mentioning it in the article, I kept thinking about this particular ad my sister and I saw in Times Square that we both legit said "whoa" when we saw it. See below:
This ad is for Michael Kors underwear, and, if you didn't notice, it has a very naked woman hugging her man with her hands down his pants. Yeah. Whoa.
According to the Manhunt blog, they couldn't find any complaints for this ad, which in LA is placed not far from the Manhunt ads. And the one in picture that I saw is right in Times Square, which is family-tourist central in NYC. Again, no known complaints. Makes you ponder...
Here's what I have to say. I think if you come out with a "risque" ad, you'll always have someone – especially parents – who doesn't like it. Both of these ads are clearly suggestive, but I think the Michael Kors ad is just a tab...okay...insanely more obvious as to what this straight couple is about to do. Two shirtless men not even kissing vs a butt-naked girl about to have some fun with her underwear-clad man...yeah, it's pretty clear. However, even though the image in the Manhunt ad is just two shirtless men close to an embrace, what it's advertising makes it quite obvious as to what these men are about to do. I also understand the complaint of where the ads are placed, but it seems that Manhunt followed very specific guidelines and did their best to keep it away from children. (In NYC, there are Manhunt ads everywhere, but mostly in the gay neighborhoods.) I think this convo can go back and forth for days, but both sides have very valid points, therefore making very interesting conversation on the topic.
If the Manhunt ad were a straight couple, would it cause such a stir? I'm not sure, but judging by the reactions of the two ads at hand, I don't think it would. Just makes you think...
MK Billboard Source
Okay, time for looking at both sides of the spectrum. First up, the parents...
Parents Side: This article, via StudioCity, is by Kelly Cloe, a single mom of a 9-year-old son who is not so happy about this ad. I suggest you read the whole article cause it gives a good representation as to why parents are upset. But to give a CliffsNotes, she talks about how she drives past this every day with her son on his way to school. She says doesn't know how to explain what's going on to her Army obsessed son (who noticed the ad because of the dog tags. Come on, that's a little humorous) without lying to him. She says, "I know some would tell me to use the opportunity for an illuminating conversation. But I don't need Manhunt Mobile to set my Important Talks Agenda. Our family really could have gone awhile longer without that particular conversation–and should've been able to do so." She also talks about how it's not necessarily the image she's bothered by, but the product they're advertising: "It’s not the blatant porn-iness of the over-lit image, or that it is of two men. It would be equally annoying if it were hetero. It’s the fact that I am forced to figure out a way to frame to my fourth-grader the fact that some people like to find causal sex partners fast using their mobile phones." Hmmm...okay. Not sure if every parent who's complaining about it is upset about the product versus the image, but I'm open to that thought.
Okay Manhunt, your turn...
Manhunt's Side: Manhunt's Jason Harvey came out with a statement on their blog (just FYI the website is a little NSFW) defending their ad "featuring two models in a sexy but tasteful pose together." He even address Kelly Cloe's article and her claims that the complaints she made cause the ads to come down, when actually their ads expired. He also released a statement from their ad agency Lamar Advertising emphasizing the fact that, "we used our restriction codes that we have in our system for alcohol, to make sure that we were placing Manhunt in appropriate locations."
They also brought up a very valid point about another company's ad that's out now. Even before I got to that part of them mentioning it in the article, I kept thinking about this particular ad my sister and I saw in Times Square that we both legit said "whoa" when we saw it. See below:
According to the Manhunt blog, they couldn't find any complaints for this ad, which in LA is placed not far from the Manhunt ads. And the one in picture that I saw is right in Times Square, which is family-tourist central in NYC. Again, no known complaints. Makes you ponder...
Here's what I have to say. I think if you come out with a "risque" ad, you'll always have someone – especially parents – who doesn't like it. Both of these ads are clearly suggestive, but I think the Michael Kors ad is just a tab...okay...insanely more obvious as to what this straight couple is about to do. Two shirtless men not even kissing vs a butt-naked girl about to have some fun with her underwear-clad man...yeah, it's pretty clear. However, even though the image in the Manhunt ad is just two shirtless men close to an embrace, what it's advertising makes it quite obvious as to what these men are about to do. I also understand the complaint of where the ads are placed, but it seems that Manhunt followed very specific guidelines and did their best to keep it away from children. (In NYC, there are Manhunt ads everywhere, but mostly in the gay neighborhoods.) I think this convo can go back and forth for days, but both sides have very valid points, therefore making very interesting conversation on the topic.
If the Manhunt ad were a straight couple, would it cause such a stir? I'm not sure, but judging by the reactions of the two ads at hand, I don't think it would. Just makes you think...
MK Billboard Source
Sunday, November 27, 2011
I'm Thankful for Commercials Like This...
I mean, get the tissues out people.
So after spending a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with the fam, I got home a) 10 pounds heavier and b) logged on to my FB to see that EVERYONE and their mom posted this video. So I clicked it, watched it, teared up a bit, and repeated those steps about a hundred times. Check it out below:
The (as of right now) viral commercial is for marriage equality made by GetUp!, which is an amazing Australian organization that helps raise awareness and fight various issues in Australia. I really don't think anyone can deny the power this commercial has. The message is so simple, and although it's one that's not very new, the way it's done and all the elements that are put into it make this something special. I know it has one of my pet peeves with the "Surprise! They're actually gay" element, but this is a great example of that serving a purpose to the overall message. It shows the SHOCKING point that gay couples, really, are just like any other couple. They have their ups, their downs, they care about each other, they're there for one another...so why don't we have the same rights?
Overall, I think this commercial really speaks for itself and GetUp! has done a phenomenal job. Not only is it a beautiful commercial, but it's now the talk of town (it's gotten over a million views in three days). Why there aren't more commercials like this in the US baffles me, but let's hope this one starts the trend...
Side note: I studied in Sydney for five months, and that ferry they're on in the beginning is one I took at least three times a week. Why I didn't meet that hunky man and fall in love on the Manly Ferry (that's not a pun, that' really what it's called) is still a mystery to me...
So after spending a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with the fam, I got home a) 10 pounds heavier and b) logged on to my FB to see that EVERYONE and their mom posted this video. So I clicked it, watched it, teared up a bit, and repeated those steps about a hundred times. Check it out below:
The (as of right now) viral commercial is for marriage equality made by GetUp!, which is an amazing Australian organization that helps raise awareness and fight various issues in Australia. I really don't think anyone can deny the power this commercial has. The message is so simple, and although it's one that's not very new, the way it's done and all the elements that are put into it make this something special. I know it has one of my pet peeves with the "Surprise! They're actually gay" element, but this is a great example of that serving a purpose to the overall message. It shows the SHOCKING point that gay couples, really, are just like any other couple. They have their ups, their downs, they care about each other, they're there for one another...so why don't we have the same rights?
Overall, I think this commercial really speaks for itself and GetUp! has done a phenomenal job. Not only is it a beautiful commercial, but it's now the talk of town (it's gotten over a million views in three days). Why there aren't more commercials like this in the US baffles me, but let's hope this one starts the trend...
Side note: I studied in Sydney for five months, and that ferry they're on in the beginning is one I took at least three times a week. Why I didn't meet that hunky man and fall in love on the Manly Ferry (that's not a pun, that' really what it's called) is still a mystery to me...
Monday, November 21, 2011
Orbitz and Go...GAY!
Huge congrats to our peeps at Orbitz!
Orbitz Worldwide CEO Barney Harford was recognized by the Human Rights Campaign and accepted the 2011 HRC Corporate Equality Award for their DECADE of LGBT advertising! You can watch the video here on Facebook. (Mamma could not find a YouTube video, therefore I can't put it on here. Fail.) If you can't see it, below are some some written highlights from his speech:
I think this speech is fantastic and really sums up why I started this blog. If you remember, it was an Orbitz commercial that first sparked my interest in this subject, so it's great to see them get recognized for their work. Their approach of using humorous ads in order to put the subject out there without being "in-your-face" and with the goal for these ads to not be an issue in the future is, just, brilliant.
If you're unfamiliar with Orbitz LGBT advertising, check out a few TV commercials below. (Found on YouTube. Score!) First is a great summary of their previous ads in TV, print, and radio, and the rest are a few newer TV ads. Also be sure to head on over to their website and Facebook page to learn more.
Orbitz Worldwide CEO Barney Harford was recognized by the Human Rights Campaign and accepted the 2011 HRC Corporate Equality Award for their DECADE of LGBT advertising! You can watch the video here on Facebook. (Mamma could not find a YouTube video, therefore I can't put it on here. Fail.) If you can't see it, below are some some written highlights from his speech:
"For over a decade, Orbitz has recognized the importance of being LGBT inclusive. As CEO, I recognize the importance of our inclusive advertising and our policy of non-discrimination, not only in helping the Orbiz brand resinate with travelers, but also in helping change public opinion on LGBT equality...I hope that doing the right thing and respecting the rights of all employees is just the way things are done and we won't need to call individual companies like Orbitz."He also reads a letter he received from a woman that a) thanks Orbitz for their humorous and inclusive ads and b) talks about the similarities to this and racial issues in advertising in the 50s and 60s. Coincidentally, my wonderful mother also sent me an email pointing out the same thing a few days ago! (She's just so with it. Love ya Mom.) She said as she was watching a TV ad I posted, a commercial before it featured an interracial couple, which today most people don't even think twice about, but back then it would've been a huge deal. The civil rights movement and issues with race have always been compared to the current struggles the LGBT community is facing now, and I think advertising is defiantly a great example to show the similarities of the two.
I think this speech is fantastic and really sums up why I started this blog. If you remember, it was an Orbitz commercial that first sparked my interest in this subject, so it's great to see them get recognized for their work. Their approach of using humorous ads in order to put the subject out there without being "in-your-face" and with the goal for these ads to not be an issue in the future is, just, brilliant.
If you're unfamiliar with Orbitz LGBT advertising, check out a few TV commercials below. (Found on YouTube. Score!) First is a great summary of their previous ads in TV, print, and radio, and the rest are a few newer TV ads. Also be sure to head on over to their website and Facebook page to learn more.
What do you all think? Do you enjoy these advertisements? Do you think the fact that Orbitz has done this for ten years has made an impact on LGBT advertisements?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Kiss And Make Up...
WAAAAAAAH holy freakout people!! Men kissing, politicians, clothing stores, legal action, the world ending!?! (Last part's just for dramatic effect. Saw Melancholia a few days ago and it's still on my mind)
Why this massive hysteria? Let's get right to it peeps...
Wow, right? But the one below is causing the most controversy out of all of them, and after only one day up it's already been taken down. Why? I'll let you take one wild guess:
WHOA Pope!
The whole campaign was designed by 72andSunny to promote Benetton's Unhate Foundation, targeted to "contribute to the creation of a new culture of tolerance, to combat hatred, building on Benetton's underpinning values." Based on the 1979 photo of East Germany leader Erich Honecker and Soviet Union leader Leonid Brezhnev, the company doctored photos of the leaders having a loving moment without permission by any them (which is a huge no-no, but seriously, there is no way in hell any of them would get permission. Just imagine them going to the Pope and saying, "Hi, yeah, would it be okay if we...") The ads were put up around Rome, Paris, New York, Milan, and Tel Aviv.
After these outdoor ads were released and everyone pretty much crapped their pants, Benetton Group SpA deputy chairman Alessandro Benetton told WSJ, "It means not hating. In a moment of darkness, with the financial crisis, what's going on in North Africa countries, in Athens, this is an attitude we can all embrace that can have positive energy." Their blog also has a full description about what this campaign is going for.
I have no idea where to start with the controversy of these ads. Yes, five out of six of these feature two men kissing, but the question I have is, are people upset by the fact two men are kissing or the fact of who is kissing whom? Right now, the one with the Pope kissing imam Ahmed el Tayyeb is getting the most attention, and understandably so. It's the only one that has been taken down, and Benetton has even apologized for the fact that "the image had so hurt the sensibilities of the faithful." So let's say the Pope ad was not a part of the mix and was never released, would the fact that two men were locking lips cause a ruckus? I think so, but I'm not sure it would get the amount of worldwide attention it's getting now. The video they released with this campaign features same-sex couples, but it's only one of many factors to this amazing video. Check it out below:
Some people accuse Benetton of creating these ads just to cause this controversy to brand the company. Ummm...you're damn right that's what they're doing! I do think they're kinda pulling a MMS with these ads and just doing it for shock value, but at least now people are talking about it and have these thoughts and images in their heads to think about. This isn't the first time Benetton has come out with controversial ads, including the one below depicting a priest and a nun kissing:
Okay, this is one I HAVE to open the floor. What do you all think? Do you think it's an issue of same-sex kissing or who is featured in the ad? Do you think Benetton took it too far or people are overreacting?
Also, shout out to my girls Nanda and Darya for their contributions!
UPDATE: Here's a clip from our girls at The View talking about their, well, views on this ad. It's a great depiction of the many different types of reactions this campaign is getting.
Why this massive hysteria? Let's get right to it peeps...
Yesterday, Benetton Group, a popular Italian-based clothing company, released this outdoor campaign, and let me tell you, the world is going bonkers. Take a look at the ads for yourselves:
The whole campaign was designed by 72andSunny to promote Benetton's Unhate Foundation, targeted to "contribute to the creation of a new culture of tolerance, to combat hatred, building on Benetton's underpinning values." Based on the 1979 photo of East Germany leader Erich Honecker and Soviet Union leader Leonid Brezhnev, the company doctored photos of the leaders having a loving moment without permission by any them (which is a huge no-no, but seriously, there is no way in hell any of them would get permission. Just imagine them going to the Pope and saying, "Hi, yeah, would it be okay if we...") The ads were put up around Rome, Paris, New York, Milan, and Tel Aviv.
After these outdoor ads were released and everyone pretty much crapped their pants, Benetton Group SpA deputy chairman Alessandro Benetton told WSJ, "It means not hating. In a moment of darkness, with the financial crisis, what's going on in North Africa countries, in Athens, this is an attitude we can all embrace that can have positive energy." Their blog also has a full description about what this campaign is going for.
I have no idea where to start with the controversy of these ads. Yes, five out of six of these feature two men kissing, but the question I have is, are people upset by the fact two men are kissing or the fact of who is kissing whom? Right now, the one with the Pope kissing imam Ahmed el Tayyeb is getting the most attention, and understandably so. It's the only one that has been taken down, and Benetton has even apologized for the fact that "the image had so hurt the sensibilities of the faithful." So let's say the Pope ad was not a part of the mix and was never released, would the fact that two men were locking lips cause a ruckus? I think so, but I'm not sure it would get the amount of worldwide attention it's getting now. The video they released with this campaign features same-sex couples, but it's only one of many factors to this amazing video. Check it out below:
Also, shout out to my girls Nanda and Darya for their contributions!
UPDATE: Here's a clip from our girls at The View talking about their, well, views on this ad. It's a great depiction of the many different types of reactions this campaign is getting.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Interpretation Of Putting A Ring On It
Hey everyone! Mamma's back!
Apologize for the long absence. Just a busy bee in this busy world...but let's get back to gay ads, shall we?
So as I was reading the NYT article about the Absolute ad (insert shameless plug for other post here), they had a link to billboard ad in Kansas, and alas, a new post is born:
So here's a billboard for local Kansas jewelry store Tivol, that has two men looking at a ring with the headline "Tivol & Tomorrows."
Well, not so much.
When asked about the "gay" ad at hand, the director of marketing for Tivol said, "We did not go into it wanting to be political...Nothing is overt, and all the 'Tivol &T' ads are open to interpretation."
Is it just me or is there not much to interpret? Two men, trying rings on, one has his hand around the other who is admiring his hip band, and a headline "Tivol & Tomorrow?" When I see this ad, I think it's a pretty obvious observation that it's just a tab-bit...okay, extremely obvious these two men are together. Even the people who DON'T like the ad "interpret" it as gay...hence why they don't like it.
Now, Tivol really could have made this ad without the gay intent, but unless everyone that works there is blind, I don't really believe it. I understand that it's still a bit taboo for companies, large or small, to be creating ads targeted towards the LGBT community, especially about gay marriage since it's such a hot political topic right now. However, I think if you're going to come out with an ad like this, you should back up and stand by what you put out. And in this article, Commercial Closet founder Mike Wilke brings up a good point about how some companies put out advertisements that are "gay vague", meaning the ad has gay references targeting the gay community, but can be overlooked by everyone else. Understandable for some companies, but sad that it's still this way.
I don't know, what do you all think about this? Do you think it's okay for companies to produce these "gay vague" ads without acknowledging the theme or should they put it out and own up to it?
This also reminded me of a Budweiser ad that came out a while ago where people thought the two guys were just friends...and others thought it went a little further than that...I'll let you be the judge.
Apologize for the long absence. Just a busy bee in this busy world...but let's get back to gay ads, shall we?
So as I was reading the NYT article about the Absolute ad (insert shameless plug for other post here), they had a link to billboard ad in Kansas, and alas, a new post is born:
So here's a billboard for local Kansas jewelry store Tivol, that has two men looking at a ring with the headline "Tivol & Tomorrows."Okay, yay! Great. Awesome. Nice way to target LGBT couples that are getting married and are looking for wedding bands...right?
Well, not so much.
When asked about the "gay" ad at hand, the director of marketing for Tivol said, "We did not go into it wanting to be political...Nothing is overt, and all the 'Tivol &T' ads are open to interpretation."
Is it just me or is there not much to interpret? Two men, trying rings on, one has his hand around the other who is admiring his hip band, and a headline "Tivol & Tomorrow?" When I see this ad, I think it's a pretty obvious observation that it's just a tab-bit...okay, extremely obvious these two men are together. Even the people who DON'T like the ad "interpret" it as gay...hence why they don't like it.
Now, Tivol really could have made this ad without the gay intent, but unless everyone that works there is blind, I don't really believe it. I understand that it's still a bit taboo for companies, large or small, to be creating ads targeted towards the LGBT community, especially about gay marriage since it's such a hot political topic right now. However, I think if you're going to come out with an ad like this, you should back up and stand by what you put out. And in this article, Commercial Closet founder Mike Wilke brings up a good point about how some companies put out advertisements that are "gay vague", meaning the ad has gay references targeting the gay community, but can be overlooked by everyone else. Understandable for some companies, but sad that it's still this way.
I don't know, what do you all think about this? Do you think it's okay for companies to produce these "gay vague" ads without acknowledging the theme or should they put it out and own up to it?
This also reminded me of a Budweiser ad that came out a while ago where people thought the two guys were just friends...and others thought it went a little further than that...I'll let you be the judge.
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