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Topic: ICBC's new anti-theft campaign
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voice of the damned
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6943
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posted 18 February 2005 02:20 PM
quote:
If parody was the goal of the ad, then surely focusing on the drooling audience would have been more appropriate (just for example)?
Well, in parody I think the idea is that you portray the genre itself, not the consumer of the genre. For example, when late-night comedy does satirical news broadcasts, you see the fake anchormen reading the joke news items, not the people in the audience at home watching the news. quote:
Yes, but in trying to subvert the "car show genre", as it were, the ad only perpetuates the same, tired old images of sexually alluring young women whose breasts seem to be the most interesting thing about them -
But the sexually alluring young women are part and parcel of a typical car show. I guess the question then becomes if parody per se is capabale of being done in such a way that doesn't perpetuate the genre. I don't wanna draw any far-fetched comparisons here, because I highly doubt that the creators of that ad had any real deep social purpose behind them. With that caveat: do you think that feminist activists who reproduce media imagery that they consider to be sexist with the purpose of encouraging critique of said imagery are also guilty of perpetuating the genre? [ 18 February 2005: Message edited by: voice of the damned ]
From: Asia | Registered: Sep 2004
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Granola Girl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8078
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posted 18 February 2005 02:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by voice of the damned:
I don't wanna draw any far-fetched comparisons here, because I highly doubt that the creators of that ad had any real deep social purpose behind them. With that caveat: do you think that feminist activists who reproduce media imagery that they consider to be sexist with the purpose of encouraging critique of said imagery are also guilty of perpetuating the genre? [ 18 February 2005: Message edited by: voice of the damned ]
Oooh. That's a really good question!  Hmmm...I'd have to say no on the following count:
When feminists parody sexist ads, they must, by neccessity draw attention to the offending image by re-contextualizing it - say by spraypainting a counter message over a corporate billboard or reproducing a sexist ad on the back page of Ms. for example. In this case, using the genre of a car show was not necessary - ICBC and co. could have made their point about car theft devices in innumerable other ways. Therefore, recontextualizing the car show genre seems to me a way of using sexist imagery with free reign while crouching behind the defense: it's only parody, you silly uptight feminist you!
From: East Van | Registered: Jan 2005
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 19 February 2005 07:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Granola Girl:
do only straight males who find skinny women in overalls and stillettos humourous need to be reminded to use an anti-theft device on their auto??? This ad campaign has frat boy art director written all over it...
Would only straight males want to make fun of a typical auto show and the mooks who act like the guys in the audience on this clip? Heck no. I think it's a funny parody, at least the first part. Actually, I don't think it's THAT funny, but not because I find it offensive - I just find the punchlines and parody to be a little too studied, that's all. [ 19 February 2005: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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Email this thread to someone!
Now, I just make sure it's looked and keep absolutely nothing inside of the car.
