Who wants to help me with feminism homework?

[gpw]

I have an assignment due tonight (SHADDUP!  Her assignments are usually due later in the week -- she slipped this one in.  I was going in to do my assignment earlier today and noticed that it's due tonight.  Bah.)

So, it's about women in advertising.  We had to watch Killing Us Softly IV which I did this morning.  We had to watch this www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spb0bo3IT0I&feature=related

Now, I have to write 300-400 words (no big, I can do that no problem) I'm just having a problem getting started.  

The instructions are after watching the videos is to choose an advertisement (it can be anything, TV, print, etc) and analyze it through a "gender relations lens".  

I swear I'm not asking anyone to write it, I just need a start..... I don't know what ad to use (I can't think of anything)... I'm stuck because I'm under the gun.  

[Deleted]

Are you trying to choose an ad? I would think those horrible Hardee's/Carl's Jr ads would give you plenty to write about.

More positive, I love the new Mo'ne Davis ad--I think it's for Chevy.

[gpw]

Are you talking about the Hardees ad with Padma Lakshmi? That was in the first video I watched this morning. I don't know that she's looking for something positive, but it might work.

[dawnzersong]

I just saw a Carl's Jr. ad last night that was pretty revolting. It managed to make the act of eating a burger all about fellatio. I couldn't believe it aired on prime time television.

ETA: Here it is!

[gpw]

Also, a question I would have asked if I had time -- I don't know what she means by "analyzing it through a gender relations lens". Like -- tell her why it's sexist?

Bah. I can't stand when I'm under the gun like this.

[dawnzersong]

Oct 29, 2014 20:05:42 GMT -5 gpw said:

Also, a question I would have asked if I had time -- I don't know what she means by "analyzing it through a gender relations lens". Like -- tell her why it's sexist?

Bah. I can't stand when I'm under the gun like this.

Yeah, I think that's the gist of it- try to identify some prevailing ideas about gender and talk about how the specific elements of the ad- imagery, music, language, etc. capitalize on or perpetuate those ideas.

There's a category on the Shakesville blog called "assvertising" that deconstructs crappy ads and talks about why they're problematic, if you need some examples or material to get started.

[secretlyevil]

ETA: Nevermind

[mominatrix]

How about comparing the body-positive Dove ads with this new VS one?

[gpw]

Oct 29, 2014 20:13:10 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

How about comparing the body-positive Dove ads with this new VS one?

Wasn't Dove using retouching in their photos, though?  Am I remembering wrong?  I swear there was some controversy about that.  

[gpw]

I think I'm going to go with this one.  Even though it's really pretty fucking obvious.  I might lose my dinner.  Watch at your own risk.  You've been warned.  I'm not even sure this one went to air -- or at least for long. 

[mominatrix]

Oct 29, 2014 20:15:34 GMT -5 gpw said:

Oct 29, 2014 20:13:10 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

How about comparing the body-positive Dove ads with this new VS one?

Wasn't Dove using retouching in their photos, though?  Am I remembering wrong?  I swear there was some controversy about that.  

I don't think I care.


Dove's ads were all about that great bodies came in all shapes and sizes. This VS ad... it's the same body over and over and over again.

[Deleted]

I assumed by analyzing through a gender relations lense, it could be a positive commercial and not rely on gender stereotypes OR a negative one like most.

[dawnzersong]

Oct 29, 2014 20:13:10 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

How about comparing the body-positive Dove ads with this new VS one?

Ooh, great idea! I bet you could write a lot about this, stopstaring. I also really like kcpokergal's suggestion of the ad celebrating Mo'ne Davis.

[gpw]

wait. Now I'm not sure it's real.

Fuck. I think I'll just go with the one dawnzersong posted. Even if it is similar to the commercial in the video she had us watch.

[gpw]

Ok. I am willing to do the positive one and not take the easy way out.

I might need a little prodding because it's due at like...midnight EST.

[gpw]

Oct 29, 2014 19:59:13 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Are you trying to choose an ad? I would think those horrible Hardee's/Carl's Jr ads would give you plenty to write about.

More positive, I love the new Mo'ne Davis ad--I think it's for Chevy.

Thank you for the Mo'ne idea.  I forgot about her and didn't recognize her name.  I love her so hard.  

[gpw]

And seriously..LEAVE IT TO YOU BITCHES to make me work harder and not let me take the obvious easy way.  

I do like going this way, though.  I have a feeling no one else will.  

[dawnzersong]

WTF at the Carl's Jr. ad you posted! That company really is the worst. I thought hot dogs were for eating, but apparently they're just for licking purposes. It's a truly fucked up world we live in.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

You can bet everyone in the class will do a negative one, so I bet you get brownie points for going positive. Even better if you do a comparison like momi suggested. Your ingenuity will make up for your procrastination.

[msmerymac]

The Always "Like a girl" ad is pretty empowering, too.

If you want to analyze real gender stereotypes, laundry commercials (clorox) and any kind of snack food geared towards kids (Jif, Kraft Mac and Cheese) are full of assumptions about the work of SAHMs.

[dawnzersong]

Oct 29, 2014 20:26:10 GMT -5 gpw said:

And seriously..LEAVE IT TO YOU BITCHES to make me work harder and not let me take the obvious easy way.  

I do like going this way, though.  I have a feeling no one else will.  

Ha! Hopefully writing about a more positive ad won't leave you feeling stabby after you finish the assignment. And I really don't think it will be much harder than knocking down a crappy ad- one of the things that makes the Mo'ne ad so great is that it's good on its own, but also good when compared to how women or girls are usually portrayed in the media. I think there's a lot to say in terms of subverting tired advertising tropes, catering to an audience broader than straight dudes, and showing teen-age girls that they have worth outside of their looks.

[ttt]

You've probably already picked one but i love this ad

adsoftheworld.com/media/print/ge_light_a_city?size=original

[emilyj]

Oct 29, 2014 20:16:52 GMT -5 gpw said:

I think I'm going to go with this one.  Even though it's really pretty fucking obvious.  I might lose my dinner.  Watch at your own risk.  You've been warned.  I'm not even sure this one went to air -- or at least for long. 

Oh God.  This is screaming for a write up using Goffman's Gender Displays in advertising.

ETA: Shit.  I just read that you're going to go the positive ad route.  

Does it have to be an actual advertisement?  So Mo'ne's Sports Illustrated cover would be out, but an advertisement for a product would be in? 

[elleblue]

What about ads that reduce dads to bumbling buffoons that need mom to come in and "save the day"? I can't look up specific examples as I need to finish up dinner atm but I was thinking being able to analyze the sexism towards both genders would give you more to write about. 

[emilyj]

You owe it to the Makeup thread to use this MAC ad:

[elleblue]

Oct 29, 2014 20:27:03 GMT -5 dawnzersong said:

WTF at the Carl's Jr. ad you posted! That company really is the worst. I thought hot dogs were for eating, but apparently they're just for licking purposes. It's a truly fucked up world we live in.

And since when does "eat like a man" (tagline at the end) = lick it a bunch and roll it around in your mouth? Ugh, that was awful. 

[emilyj]

Under Armour's "I Will What I Want"

[jr009j]

Oct 29, 2014 20:40:29 GMT -5 elleblue said:

What about ads that reduce dads to bumbling buffoons that need mom to come in and "save the day"? I can't look up specific examples as I need to finish up dinner atm but I was thinking being able to analyze the sexism towards both genders would give you more to write about. 

That's what I was thinking. Contrasting one of those ads with the Tide ad where it's the dad who does his little girl's laundry with no mom mentioned to save the day could be interesting.

[dawnzersong]

Lots of great suggestions here! I would rather do your homework than my homework- I'm writing a paper about bureaucracy. Let us know how it goes!

[5thofjuly]

I show parts of that video in my class! It's really good. What class are you taking?