Nanak Foods AlooTikki

This commercial reinforces the realities surrounding romance and ‘keeping women in their place’ in a unique way in comparison to most other advertisements we see; through the use of young children. The dramatization is something we can all relate to at some point – boys enjoying themselves, fully engaged in their activity (video game) while the girls sit quietly, passively, most likely bored (u can catch the one girl on the love seat yawning). They are waiting for the boys – reflective of ‘waiting for Mr. Right’ to come along … and how does she get and impress Mr. Right? Not through her intelligence or poise but through the eyes of his stomach. When the opportunity comes up for the girls to engage with the boys (when the one boys speak and says ‘Im hunry’) the girls jump up in excitement to not only free them from their boredome of sitting aimlessly watching the boys playing video games but this gives them the opportunity to do something nice for the boys – for what? The girls also cut the boys a deal, essentially belittling them as not only girls but as people in general. The doubt from the boys signifies most encounters we see together with opposing sexes. I link this to innocent until proven guilty – the men are hesitant and doubt the females ability until shown otherwise. We are taught from things like this that we as women are constantly being judged and marked in order to hold any merit with our counterparts. There is clearly a racial difference in the commercial as well as it is for a traditional Indian dessert AlooTikki and some of the actors involved are of this racial descent. This proves to me that these ideals surrounding romancing setbacks of gendering differences is not just a Western ideal but crosses boarders into other cultures and religions. How discouraging to know these are all stigmas shared and practices world wide. Certainly it is unfortunate to see such young actors and actresses being the objects for this commercial as it demonstrates the teachings of this romance divide at such a young age! When we are bombarded with these teachings and ideals at such a young, vulnerable, and fragile age it is easy for it to become embedded, understood, and practices and leaves little room for change or more importantly the knowledge to know this is going on and that it is wrong.


-ace55kg

I want her/I want to be just like her.....

Many of these restaurant and/or food ads continuously use woman who are younger, white (usually blonde). I don't always see the romance in the traditional sense but I do see romance how men would like to perceive it and prefer it plus I see the ideals that women are always trying to live up to and emulate.

So men see one thing what they want a woman doing to them while women see a pretty blonde girl who can get away with eating a burger and not worrying about weight.

The famous "got milk" ads completely taking a natural process and function of women and hyper-sexualizing it. Big (probably fake) breasts that women think they need to have to be attractive.

Who would have thought Perrier could be so sexy, women drink it if you want to look just like her and men find those women with a green bottle in their hands. (looks sort of similar to a beer bottle.....) In this ad her clothes are melting right off of her, you don't even see her entire face, maybe because that is not important to a man , her brain but her body is.

While this isn't for a specific brand I feel like ads liken women to food too much, something to be devoured and consumed. You eat with your eyes first so they play to both males and females in the same ad with different messages. This one is unusual as they are showing a women who is not white but she fits all the other ideals. So the word romance conjures up images of candles and roses, that is a societal generated ideal while romance can and is very much geared towards sex. Many ads play on the female eating something that looks very phallic and there are various other connotations that can be drawn from these food ads that are very sexual. 

Boing!!

What do birthday’s mean to you? Me? I think of balloons, cake, presents, and friends. What about if its your husbands birthday? Society tells women that an ideal present for your hubby would be to dress up in sexy lingerie and do something nice for your man…and I’m not just talking about breakfast in bed!.

This commercial starts off with the man in his bed, there’s sexy music in the background, candles lit and he’s lying on his back. His voice is also trembling like he is VERY excited for something…He calls out to his wife and asks her if “she’s ready yet”. She replies “I’m only doing this for your birthday!” – as though its her duty. The viewer would expect to see her walk out in a sexy outfit, because that’s what the ad implies.

TADA!! It’s an Arby’s commercial so she walks out (sexy & slowly) with the food. My favorite part of the commercial is when the Arby’s logo Pops up, BOING!! But wait; watch it again, what does that remind you of? And if you look closely its actually shaped as a penis! “Me likey” he closes with…ew?

This commercial is a perfect example of how it puts women in their place. It shows them that they are supposed to please their man, even if it’s something that they don’t necessarily want to do.

Thanks Arby’s now I know exactly what to do to please my man on his birthday! (Since of course, that’s what its all about!!)

- Molly

One of my greatest obsessions in life is old television commercials. I am convinced that I was born in the wrong decade, and as such I have quickly become immersed in the culture of old television commercials. One of my favorites is an old margarine commercial that puts 'Mother Nature' in an interesting place indeed.

Short sweet and simple. An amusing take on how mother nature feels about the idea of a man made food spread can imitate, or even be better then the butter that her hand creates. She obviously flies into a 'hysterical' rage at this and takes it out on the unsuspecting forest.

This typical view of 'mother nature' is nothing new, she has been portrayed as a Grecian goddess with a heart full of barely concealed rage when it comes to defiance. this motif of mother earth has shrouded women from its arrival. It is expected that this mother earth loses her logic just as any other rational woman would, given that situation. It labels women as hysterical and idyllic creatures waiting for the right moment before breakdown...

Butter, anyone?

Comment for Daddy needs some more lasaaaaagna!

You are only allowed so many characters in a comment so i had i had to post my comment to 'Daddy needs some more lasaaaaagna!' in a new post.

The husband is clearly telling his wife she's doing the right thing (serving a good dinner).  Her place is in the kitchen and she is to 'perform' well in there. The husband and child sit at the table and eat while the wife caters to their needs. The advertising company uses romance as a selling technique to remind women that they need to be beautiful and sexy in the home while doing her domestic work and chores. The women 'melts' to her husband who seems to be a typical breadwinner husband waiting for his wife to prepare and serve him is daily meal. This ad is one of many that has been 'inspired by the paternalism of the ideology of mass culture' (Hollows 71).  Women are hooked on that housewife ideal thanks to mainstream media and our male powered society.  The hollows text we have been reading says 'if 'housewives' can be weaned off their addictions to romances and soaps and read feminist books, they may overcome their 'false consciousness' and join with their feminist sisters in the struggle to overthrow patriarchy' (Hollows 71-72). This to me means that if women realize that the romance novels and other romantic fiction they are continuously reading and believing in is actually just a ridiculous ideal then they maybe women will be able to reject typical advertisements directed at making their 'place' one in the home. Advertising compere use romance in their ads to make women's role just like they hear about in the romantic novels. Women readers of the genera haven't been trained to see that romance isn't actually the most important thing in her life But, women are use to reading about happy male dominate families in their novels so when they see advertisements with the same ideals they believe what they are told. This particular commercial would reinforce the stereotypical role of a women as belonging in the home. She is shown as the cook of the dinner, and the one who picked out out the cheese (must have done the grocery shopping). She's in a clean house and the husband is waiting at the table with his child for dinner to be serve. This set up of the family has become 'normal' to society. Romance novels, chick flicks and soap operas have all reinforced this typical role women play. They have used the novels, films and shows as an escape of their daily domestic lives, so when advertising companies use the 'romancing technique' it is easy for women to fall for them. When women don't get to see women dominated activities their imaginations don't allow them to think of better for themselves. The advertising companies has only allowed women's abilities to be recognized in the home(as a cook, cleaner, act). This commercial also demonstrate women must also be sexy and 'melt' for their husbands. That 'melting' look she shows may be suggesting that the husband has the power to 'mold' his wife into the person HE wants her to be. Advertising companies use romance in their ads because half of the work of overpowering a women's mind was done by the chick flicks and romance novels. The companies know that women have been trained to think men are in power and their lives revolve around finding the perfect man and doing whatever necessary to make him happy (she will do all the work in the home). They use this to their advantage and take the 'romancing the roles of women' to another level and include them in food advertisements and household product advertisements. This commercials overall message seems to be if you want to get recognition from your husband (you should want that because romance novels have told you to be happy you need to please your husband) you need to buy our cheese. You will be a happy women if you please your husband with a delicious meal. The woman then becomes sexy for her husband and feels great once the husband says she's done a good job in the kitchen (her place). This advertisement is clearly a great example of how women are tricked to believe they belong in the home. 

-Goldilocks

M&S

    This advertisement could be interpreted very differently as it emphasizes the roles of sex binaries through mainly verbal accounts as there is no actual actors within the ad.
I went through a number of these M&S ads and this was the only one I found with a female narrator – all others are spoken about by some generic British guy surrounded by  very light and fluffy, also generic music. Undeniably, this particular ad, with the female speaker, plays a very sexual, ‘mood setting’ music. It is unmistakable to notice that such adjectively used words as extra virgin olive oil”, “tender rump steak and, “wild blueberry” are emphasized while describing particular foods being depicted. Comparatively, when the male is describing his food there is no stress on such innuendos. This type of reality could be explained by the dangerous fantasies Hollows discusses in chapter 4; and her suggestion that we are mindless, passive consumers. We are being fed this in all aspects of our lives as female (and I suppose feminine) beings. The suggestions of these foods are being objectified comparing that to all females (in the context of the female as a ‘feminine’ character) in general. Firstly, in order to listen (not truly, but on a second hand basis) we must sell ourselves to the male audience/gaze through overwhelming sexuality. Secondly, the images selected reflect and resemble the differences of femininity and masculinity – and example of this is strongly proven during the dessert portion of the ad; the descriptive and suggesting portrayal of the dressing of the dessert with melting chocolate syrup acts as a seductress (the women) for the audience (male) to gaze and fantasize over. Take the reality out of the food itself and allow imagination and fantasy to take over.  As discussed in the readings, romance is an ideology that is unchanging which leaves people not only accepting this but hindering their ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. Such mindless commercials like such are rarely questioned and although we may feel as though we are essentially unaffected by them, they continuously instill and confirm age old frame works of romance and gendering binaries allowing little room for personal interpretation and resistance. 
Additionally, I feel as though i was able to better critique this commercial given the fact that i had others with a male narrator to compare it to. Thus supporting my argument around binaries surrounding reoccurring romance roles.

-ace55kg

Daddy needs some more lasaaaaagna!

In this video, it shows a sterotyipcal family (mom, dad, child) ... Of course the mother made dinner and serves it to her husband and her child (who also happens to be male).. The husband starts to speak Italian and the women starts to melt and act like a little school girl, when she sort of takes the food away from the kid to give into her sexual urges to her new sexy "italiano" husband I almost died.. I love this commercial haha.

Sex Sells...To women too??

      When I was presented with the task of researching food and restaurant advertisements and how they “keep women in their place” in terms of sexuality I immediately thought of the Kim Kardashian blow up sex doll sold at Spencer’s. This isn’t just an ordinary sex doll it has pictures on the box of her eating burgers messily (while of coarse remaining “sexy”). I researched commercials for this interesting sex doll and I came across this commercial for Carl’s Jr. cranberry apple grilled chicken salad. As mentioned in a prior post for a different commercial its borderline soft core porn, it takes place on a bed, her cleavage is out, then she continues by saying “The best things in life are messy, but its fun to get clean” and heads for a bubble bath…this all to sell a salad!! At first glimpse I assumed this commercial was strictly intended for a male audience, then I questioned in today’s society it is stereotypically the girls reaching for the salad so why wouldn’t they have Kim eating a big juicy burger? Then I thought could this commercial be intended for both? The male strictly for viewing pleasure… But why women? Could it be because many women look up to Kim and see her as what men want (big chest, small waste, big butt)…Could women (subconsciously) think that if they were to eat this salad they could too look like this?
     Before taking this class I never thought twice about these vulgar advertisement. I just always went back to the famous line “sex sells”. Doing this research makes me question…how are many of these commercials even allowed to air??

-Molly

Week 1 Feedback

Hey Pop Culture group!

There is some really great analysis of how food is gendered, women sexually objectified and meat manly so far. You will need to make sure that you connect those ideas back to the assignment question about romance: how romantic tropes are used to sell things [review the Hollows chapter on Romantic Fiction carefully, she very carefully lays them out for you] and to keep women in a subordinate social position. E.g.: love is more important than eating what one wants in the subway ad; see my comment on the retro Pepsi ad; etc. Just make sure that the very good analysis your doing already gets directed to the assignment question.

The Doctor

A declaration of French Fried Independence

As I write this blog post, I sit in my kitchen chomping down on french fries fresh from the Golden Arches. My room mate had a bad day and asked if I would like to accompany him on his tryst to the golden arches, and I figured it would be a good idea for research if nothing else. After we got back, I began browsing youtube for commercials of the food we eat so much of. One that struck my interest is the Burger King ad "I am man"  a mockery of the 1973 single 'I am woman'.

In this 'manthem' the man in the beginning proclaims with a flourish that he is done eating 'chick food' and is going to go get himself a whopper. Men follow him in droves as they too realize their desire for meat. And in a flurry of punching one another, and throwing a minivan over an overpass, their hunger is finally quenched with a flame broiled whopper. An amusing take on fast food, except for the fact that I can eat burgers like they're going out of style. And unlike the man proclaiming his freedom, I have never eaten quiche, what proclaims the lettuce and fruity foods he is eating 'girly' exactly? It categorizes men and women in two very different categories, based on the types of foods both genders supposedly eat.

It ensues that the type of women able to eat a whopper would categorized as 'butch' thus undesirable, far too close to the men that we are attempting to feminize with salad. It is a preposterous idea, I have gone through vegetarian periods in my life, but at the same time, there sometimes is nothing better then sitting down with a well cooked steak and a glass of wine. The idea that fast food is gendered is silly until ads like this one come out, and it becomes more apparent the 'gendered' nature of food. And yet, as I sit here, chomping down on my big mac, and slurping it down so ladylike with a coke, I feel oddly masculine. Will it stop me from ordering a whopper next time at Burger King? Probably not, but it makes you wonder how their messages have hit home.

As a sidenote, the song this commercial is based on, was known as the song to symbolize the year of the woman.

Because according to BK the mans struggle for meat is so similar to the womens movement, that men forced to eat salads need to stand up in the hordes, and fight for their right to hydrogenated oils and processed meat?  Most definitely.

Sushi Warrior

Keeping Women in their place

Women have have been used for year to advertise food, which gives connotations to woman at home cooking taking care of everyone else. For men this ideal gave them a sense of who they should end up marrying and spending their lives with, no one didn't want a girl who couldn't cook. Great example with this vintage cereal ad above, notice the man eyeing the buxom babe.

Things changed but maybe not for the better, the 60's saw the women coming out of the kitchens into the living rooms enticing the men with beverages.

These days anything goes suggestive, raunchy, sexy to the down right offensive. The following pics were just some of the few I found.

What is curious is many of these ads are fast food, burgers and such. So why is this? I think the percentage of men who frequent fast food joints is much higher than women and they need something to feel good about since they are ingesting so much grease!  This gives them the validation that they need. The ideas from when boys are younger and have the fixation with their mothers who generally feed and nurture them continue on into adulthood. So thanks for getting us out of the kitchen but for heaven's sake give us some clothes!!!

Just for fun....

Bakerella

Jessica Simpson - Pizza Hut Commercial

I found this video on youtube, and laughed so hard. I'm sure it came out after Dukes of Hazzard, the commercial is very funny.  Jessica comes out singing and dancing seductively and feeds some pizza to who I am SURE is an underage boy.  Obviously the commercial is geared to a younger male demographic (probably the highest rate of pizza eaters haha), just like the burger commercial with Paris Hilton, Pizza hut is using an attractive female celebrity to seductively sell their food, however, I think this time they may have gotten a little risky with the under-ager featured here, who clearly is so excited by Jessica feeding him he passes out (I wonder what his parents thought of this while sitting by him in the restaurant haha).  Again, this commercial is definitely for the male gaze.

B-Bloggin

Being fat = Low self-esteem, loss of boyfriend (for women, of course)

When trying to find commercials or ads related to romance and women, I came across an old Subway ad where they try to promote how much healthier their food is, compared to other fast-food restaurants. This on it's own is fine; however, in showing the negative side of greasy fast-food, they also push this negativity to being overweight. When asked what the fast-food meal comes with, the worker at this particular restaurant says that eating this fast-food will result in "...regret, remorse, a bigger waist, loss of self-esteem, loss of boyfriend..." (emphasis mine). In saying these things, Subway is implying that, if you eat fast-food (especially if you're a woman) you should feel guilty. You should feel horrible about yourself for giving in and eating something that might make you fat, because God forbid you offend others with your fatness. Oh, especially your boyfriend! Because eating fast-food, and becoming fat, will make him leave you. However, it's only men working at this restaurant, and therefore they are the ones passing judgement on your lunch choice. Better go eat at Subway, so you can continue to be admired under the male gaze, and so you're not left by your shallow boyfriend.

(Disclaimer: I'm in no way speaking against eating healthy - I do agree that eating healthy is clearly better for yourself and for your body. However, I also believe in health at every size, and do not feel that fat = unhealthy and skinny = healthy, and I do not think that anyone should be made to feel guilty for what they eat.)

Mr. F

Sexy Food?

When presented the topic of food advertising, I remembered  2 commercials right away.  The first, Paris Hilton's Carl's JR commercial is an uber-sexy example.  In the commercial Paris is washing a car, very sexually, and at the end she takes a bite out of a big juicy Carl's Jr burger.  After I watched the video, I felt like I had just watched the beginning of a soft-core porn scene, and the burger was the man that Paris was seducing - and then having her way with.  Then, after thinking more, I looked at is as woman being compared to a piece of meat (the video shows Paris acting "hot" and then at the end it shows the burger and says "now that's hot").  Paris Hilton is well known as a famous heiress that got famous by starring in a sex-tape with a previous boyfriend.  I feel like Carl's Jr used this, and in turn, tried to make their burger famous (haha).  I am sure after men watched the commercial they were very aroused (and suddenly very hungry).  One part I found very interesting was when Paris takes the hose and holds it by her groin area and turns it on, almost as if mimicking that of a male erection ejaculating, in this case it puts Paris in a position of "power," it takes her out of the role of the submissive/passive object. Then I wondered, is it the burger they are saying "now that's hot" to, or is it Paris EATING the burger that is hot - if that is the case then the commercial could also be targeted toward women (many of whom try to stay away from eating these types of food).  By showing a very sexualized, very popular celebrity eating their product it may make it "okay" for other women to do the same.  I would make the argument that Carl's Jr is objectifying women to sell their product, but it is kind of hard to make that argument when Paris clearly made the choice to act this way in the commercial.
All-in-all Carl's Jr took the saying "sex-sells" VERY seriously in this case, but don't you agree that Paris does make eating a burger look unusually "hot" ?

B-Bloggin'

culture jam in reverse

Through all of this great research presented in this blog I started wondering if there are any reverse effects of culture jams. This was much more difficult to inquire on than I originally thought.
I did however find a beautiful image that truly struck me.

 This image is a culture jam that reads no words but speaks volumes. I am not aware of where exactly this was taken but I can only imagine it resides in some ‘dirty’ part of time.
Rather than voicing your thoughts, beliefs, opinions on sides of buildings or train carts by using harsh chemical filled spray paint this artistic representation remains environmentally-friendly by avoiding such hard products.
This mural was created by using nothing but the natural material provided – dirty. This filth had clearly been building up over a period of time as it covers such a large surface area. Rather than getting someone in to pressure wash it all off just to have it build up again and again over time, someone (or plural) decided to make – and prove – a point in such a positive, stunning manner. By removing certain areas of dirt and leaving others it has created an image of the exquisiteness that could be – trees and life and beauty and peace and love.  This form of representation is called “reverse graffiti” – it is not adding (spray painting) onto something rather it is taking away and remoulding what is already there.
What a unique way of culture jamming!
It also puts the blame on us as social components within our communities. We can't blame McDonalds or Tommy Hilfiger for the disgust and lack of upkeep in our town or city. This liability falls onto each and every one of us - for lack of social activism or plane ignorance and attention to detail. 
This is not your typical, mainstream approach at culture jamming (as if culture jamming is the 'mainstream'). Perhaps this type of environmentally friendly depiction will reach an audience in a more positive manner.
Who knew dirty could be so beautiful?

ace55kg 

Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping

Reverend Billy; An active leader in Culture Jamming! Reverend Billy has created a "Post- Religious Church" called "The Church of Earthalujah". The "church" has one goal; to "illuminate the Devil" which is "Corporate Commercialsim" and our consumer culture. Reverend Billy and his followers take extreme measures to reveal the idiocy of our consumer culture by holding "services" anywhere and everywhere! These "services" can take many forms, and none of which are subtle.
http://www.revbilly.com/about-us

The website for Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping has an 'About Us' page, which explains their Statement of Belief, missions and history. Their statement of belief portrays exactly what we have all researched culture jamming to be, but takes it to another level.

In my opinion (and many others I'm sure), what Rev. Billy is doing is extremely risky but is exactly what our society needs; An extremist/active method of culture jamming. Most culture jams we have been discussing thus far have been undercover acts in which an advertisement or commercial is twisted to encourage ones own critical thinking, but can easily be overlooked at a glance. What Rev. Billy is doing is openly "Preaching" this consumer idiocy and slamming the corporate commercialism, in a way that is most definitely culture jamming, but in a more active "in your face" method.

This method of culture jamming does come at a cost, as I had said before, what he is doing is extremely risky which has been proven to be so by the amount of times Reverend Billy has been arrested.

There is so much to say about Reverend Billy, everyone must take a look at the website link above to find out more! Also search Reverend Billy in Youtube and you will find many entertaining videos that can further enlighten you to his version of Culture Jamming! Here is just one of many videos, enjoy!

- Meryle Girl

Work. Buy. Consume. Die

These images are comical and can produce a laugh as that is the point of most subvertising ads.  But in the end, what is not funny is the reality of our consumption.

Most of us are victim to brands and labels of clothing, footwear, fragrance and many more.  It is inevitable that in our everyday lives we come across ads, billboards, or commercials trying to sell products and we do not look past the label we have all come to recognize.  The ads of clothing brands and shoes, although not directly affecting our health, can affect others' health for the workers making the product in third world countries. But what about the products sold to us that do affect our health directly?



This image is of recognizable brands that portray a latent message of "Work, Buy, Consume, Die", which is basically what our everyday lives have come to consist of without even a second-thought.

 This a subvertising ad showing the reality of a brand of cigarettes from the US.  This particular brand often shows a cool, laid back image, which you can attain by consuming this brand of cigarette.  Actually, what it will get you, according to Health Canada's Tobacco Use Statistics, is coronary heart disease, aortic aneurysm, chronic bronchitis emphysema, peptic ulcers, sleeping problems, about five different types of cancer, and many more dieases. 

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/res/news-nouvelles/risks-risques-eng.php

Another issue marketed heavily is alcohol.  Just like tobacco, brands of alcohol market themselves as the "in" thing and tell you what to drink to be "cool". 

Most will agree, having a drink with friends is good once in a while, and a drink on the weekend won't kill you. True.  However, the excess at which alcohol companies market their product leads to the belief that you have to drink this to have these kind of friends, and have this kind of fun.  Drinking then becomes the thing to do, and to be that cool person you drink their product more and more. 

If you know how to handle alcohol and be responsible, it is not a problem.  But alcohol leads to so many problems that affect many people.  

Alcohol often leads to car accidents, assault, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in infants, overconsumption, health issues, sexual assault, can influence drug use, and so many more.

Finally, although the products we buy on a daily basis will not always kill us, there are some glorified killers that will eventually lead us to, "Work, buy, consume, die."

-  Regina Filangi

American Apparel: Is Culture Jamming Even Needed?

In class and in some of the blogs I have come across culture jams as well as untampered ads from American Apparel and ask myself one question: Why even tamper with these ads in the first place?

We are bombarded with billions of ads each day, mostly without even critically thinking about each one. Culture jamming is supposed to awaken us drones to realise how idiotic some of these advertisements are that are thrown at us, and as a blog had mention earlier to "Encourage critical perspectives on advertising and the messages we are force fed everyday". An effective culture jam will most commonly twist or change something subtly to a well recognized at or symbol which either reveals an awful truth or stupidity of the advertisement.

So this being said, let me tie this back to my question; why even tamper with American Apparel ads in the first place? Without these ads even being tampered with, they are still extremely degrading and that should be recognized without a trick of a photoshop tool, or added text:

I dont know about you, but i have never felt that way about a pair of tights. A whitty text or twist really isn't needed here to encourage me to think critically on the message american apparel is sending.

... I have also never felt this way about a pair of socks.

- Meryle Girl



These things are never ending

This picture is my favourite. 

Check out http://broadbrands.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/feminist-culture-jams-on/
"Broad Bands" their definition of culture jamming is "Culture jamming can be defined as modifying mass media to convey a conflicting message. Jams can be obvious or subvert depending on the context. The movement aims to expose cultural assumptions and political attitudes."   I love reading each groups different definitions of culture jamming. I love how they say "to convey a CONFLICTING message"

B-Bloggin

Jammin' Ladies

I have come across another great culture jamming website called http://jamming.wordpress.com. They call themselves the “jammin’ ladies” and have a slogan that reads “A fight to take back public space!”

They have several tabs on the website including; what is culture jamming, how to jam, advertisements we’ve jammed, and much more. There is also a ‘links’ section that directs you to many other relevant websites.

They seem to be a very encouraging group that wants to educate people. They try to get people to participate in culture jamming and make sure everyone’s individual voice is herd. On their “home” page they emphasize that without society fighting back, it’s a one-way flow of information. This one-way flow allows corporations to use ridiculous advertisements and influence our naïve society.

One section on their website is “advertisements we’ve jammed” and one picture caught my attention because another blogger had touched on similar area (tampon commercials). These jammin’ ladies mention they are fed up with the way feminine hygiene products are advertised with that blue liquid instead of something red that looks like blood. These commercials make women feel like they need to hide the fact that they bleed. Something more ‘real looking’ (red) isn’t an option in advertising because women should be embarrassed of their “natural bodily functions”. This is rather ridiculous and we should not be ashamed of our bodies and what they do. http://jamming.wordpress.com/advertisments-we-jammed/)

This website also includes a page dedicated to “Naomi Klein” who is an activist through articles, books, films, and more. The website directs you to read more about her from this website: http://www.commondreams.org/views/092300-103.htm.

Here it talks about how when she was young, she was a total sucker for brand names. Now that she’s older she recognizes the problem with being brand obsessed and admits those corporations got the best of her. She believes we can’t get “free” from this world of advertising.  Naomi Klein has a really good view on current advertising so I will copy it here: “…advertising today is not merely about selling products; it is about selling a brand, a dream, a message. So Nike's aim is not to sell trainers but to "enhance people's lives through sports and fitness". IBM doesn't sell computers, it sells "solutions". And as for Polaroid, well, it's not a camera - it's a "social lubricant". You sell the message of your brand, not your product, and you can expand as widely as you like. As Richard Branson says, you "build brands not around products but around reputation" - and leap from record shops to cola to banking to trains.“ She goes on to talk about poor working conditions in so many factories and how society chooses to support them through purchasing their products. The fight back includes educating people. Once educated in the area, society may make wiser decisions and support the little local companies. Klein has published a book called “NO LOGO” where she dedicates a whole chapter to culture jamming and its importance to society. A quote from her regarding her book is “"It is a return to the roots of feminism - early feminism was very involved in anti-sweatshop action, and the current anti-sweatshop movement very much sees it as a feminist issue, since it is overwhelmingly women of color who are being abused by the systems. I feel that we lost our way in the late 80s, when feminism became disengaged from its roots, which originally had critiques of capitalism and of consumerism. I am a feminist and this is a feminist book." This shows that she believes culture jamming is directly related to women’s studies. We need to use culture jamming along side the feminist activism to get the message out to society.

Lastly this website states, “Her thesis is about trying to find some space that hasn't been bought up by anyone; trying to rediscover our identities as citizens, and not just consumers. It is about globalization, and the power corporations have over our lives.” (http://www.commondreams.org/views/092300-103.htm) Overall she is a powerful activist using culture jamming as a tool to get her message out to this world.

Another interesting spot on the Jammin’ Ladies website is the axe versus dove campaigns. There is some interesting controversy about the two but after reading the comments I’m not sure what to believe. Overall, they are saying dove and axe are both owned by the same company. Doves campaign for real beauty and axe’s boot camp advertisements are very different messages. But how can one company send out such opposite messages. That proves the company doesn’t really care about ‘real beauty’, they just care about what sells their products and gets them the money.

The Jammin’ Ladies have comment boxes all around their site encouraging people to share with others how they feel about culture jamming and have a place to start their own activism. This website provides readers with lots of information on their point of view and options to get involved in the fight.

-Goldilocks

Tampons and Popular Culture

Hi All!

I am almost 100% positive that everyone has seen the popular tampon commercials by Kotex involving a woman mocking other industry's tampon commercials in popular culture media. If you youtube tampon commercials, most likely you will find that women who are restricted by their periods can all of a sudden perform their normative feminine roles in society, like cleaning the house, taking care of their children, and cleaning! Most often these commercials are selling the idea not only to women but to men that women are incapable of performing not only feminine roles, but any roles at all while they are on their menstruation cycles.

These very commercials are constructing and enforcing feminine gender roles. However, I think we can all agree that the new Kotex commercials that have recently been aired provide a refreshing new take on women's behaviour during her menstruation cycle. The new Kotex commercials features a woman who satirizes other tampon commercials and provides a humorous approach in revealing how typically tampon advertisements can be absolutely ludicrous and falsely.

I am not sure if this is a form of culture jamming. I believe in some ways we can regard it as culture jamming. For example, the commercial is taking ideas of feminine behaviours during a menstrual cycle and kind of twists these behaviours altogether. Basically, in colloquial terms, this commercial is saying "Hey, I have my period! Why does the advertising industry treat this as almost an illness? If you buy these tampons then you will not be negatively emotional and want to be more feminine!" :) Culture jamming or not, I still think that this Kotex commercial is great!

Additionally, another commercial that reinforces the feminine constructed roles is that of Vagisil. I find it quite hilarious that in one particular commercial where a woman has a yeast infection, she is hiding in a hoodie, but as soon as she uses vagisil she can "be the woman she wants to be" and goes shopping! Woohoo!

I would like to know your thoughts on this! Do you think that this Kotex commercial can be considered as a form of culture jamming?



Seraph of the Rose

Fighting back against the corporate giants

Walmart is possibly one of the most anxiety inducing places I know to be in existence today. When I am forced to go in, I don't spend time in there if at all possible. A group that emerged in the name of culture jamming, 'Breathing Planet Troupe'. One of the forms they used to protest was an assembly line of empty shopping carts, wheeling about a walmart in a 'whirl' paying homage to what they called the 'Cathedral of Consumption'. A figurative finger to the man, and an exhibition that sent chills down my spine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JajJCcUUVgk

Calling into question our ability to be not only herded, but our obvious dependence on commercial product, the idea of us wandering around 'aimless' in our search for that much desired object, and in such mass quanities it is definitely a sight to behold. It has been replicated many times since the first time it was completed on April 1st 2001 in response to a call by Adbusters to cause some good old fashioned April fools Tom Foolery.

Watching these silent shoppers whirl about walmart in a whirlwind and empty carts we call into question our dedication to the 'Cathedral of Consumption' and we must as ourselves how often do we find ourselves praying to the gods of this Cathedral. For myself even, its far more then id like to, wandering around those aisles, shopping cart in tow.

Until we meet again,

Sushi Warrior

"Body Jamming"

Pouring through endless websites. pictures and blogs of culture jamming I realize that people are trying to make a statement. Whether it be personal, political or cultural it is an opportunity and forum for others to express what the world of consumerism, pop culture and essentially the mass media has done to the human race.

What stuck with me the most is how many pictures and examples of culture jamming were geared towards women and their bodies. From the fashion world to celebrities to numerous ads featuring scantily clad, over-sexualized women used to sell their idea or product has seeped into the minds of many young and old.

There wasn't one particular "jammer" I found that does this but many depictions of how society had warped the ideal woman into something that many try to be but no one will ever attain.

By playing around with popular ads that feature women, it can shock some people into realizing how keep following what is given to us via mainstream media rather than forging our own path. Women are likened to pieces of meat, inanimate objects and hypersexualized and culture jamming (or body jamming as I like to call it) actual paints that picture for us.

Now women I feel are the main targets but men get their fair share of pressure as well of what the ideal perfect man should be. Endless arrays of six packs, overly jacked and veiny muscles grace many ads today.

Culture jamming allows people to sometimes shock the general public into seeing what is the actual message we are given without us even knowing it. Keep on jammin kids!!
Bakerella

Shopdropping part 2

Here are some videoclips and pics in regards to Shopdropping a form of culture jamming I had trouble uploading before!
Enjoy!
Bakerella

Kalle Lasn/Bill Schmalz and The Adbusters Media Foundation

BBloggin’ had mentioned the website adbusters.org in an earlier post, and when I was researching culture jamming it seemed to come up quite often. I decided to look further into what this website was really all about and found some very interesting details.

Kalle Lasn and Bill Schmalz came together in Vancouver BC to challenge consumerism. These cofounders are activists who created the The Adbusters Media Foundation. This foundation published a magazine that is trying to stand up to large corporations and their media messages. They believe these big corporations have too much power over society and making the people feel unsatisfied with themselves. They use culture jamming to show corporations how ridiculous they are being through use of their magazine, ad spoofs, videos and more.

I decided to include a more detailed quote from their website (www.adbusters.org) because it generally summarizes what this group set out to do:  “Our mission is to cut through the fog of mental pollution, changing the way information flows in our society. With incisive philosophical thrusts, activist commentaries and visual mindbombs from around the world, we want to enlighten you, enrage you and enlist you in creating a new future. We hope Adbusters is a kick in the head, a life changing epiphany and a compelling call to arms.”

This group has posted some great ad spoofs on their website in the areas where they feel culture jamming is really necessary to get a point across.

This “organized crime” spoof tries to educate the public by letting them know that these big corporations are just after your money. The logos are giving the corporations some bad public relations and letting society in on the secret that money is what they are after. People could carry on with or without these big brand names.

This ad spoof is saying ‘Hey Apple, why would we spend so much money on your new electronics when there are people who don’t have enough money to buy food?’. Adbusters is letting society know that their money could be better spent and that an iPad isn’t going to bring you true happiness.

This one’s trying to say 'your smarter than to fall for GAPS advertising techniques'. You look fine without their brand named clothing. Don't let them trick you into believing you need thier brand name to give you high social status.

Another great part about Adbusters is that they started several campaigns using the culture jamming tool. One is called “Buy Nothing Day”. They encourage everyone annually on November 25^th to purchase nothing! A short description on the site is “With catastrophic climate change looming, we the rich one billion people on the planet have to consume less! And if that's too extreme for grandma and the kids, try for a Buy Less Christmas. And maybe a buy local, buy fairer, buy indie Christmas. Whatever you decide, 'tis the season to reclaim our year-end celebrations and make them our own again.”

http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd  (campaign page)

I think this holiday is an awesome way to culture jam. It is showing mainstream media that we shouldn’t need all their ‘stuff’. The Christmas holidays have become more about marketing and advertising each year. Corporations prepare all year for this season. Pressure is put on everyone to shop shop shop and buy buy buy. It is making people feel as if they are bad parents if they can’t afford all the new toys the companies say your kid must have.

I find this type of campaign really needs publicity in order to make a substantial difference. This social media age may help thought. I saw this “buy nothing day” advertised as an event on Facebook and Twitter. Large corporations want no part in supporting this day because it goes against what they preach to society. Adbusters’s ad for “Buy Nothing Day” was rejected from mainstream media. Scroll down to “TV Spot” and listen to some of the rejections Adbusters received from MTV, CTV and ABC. These networks claim large corporations and their advertisements are their major support. All the more reason to use culture jamming and show how ridiculous media has become!

This video lets us meet with Kalle Lasn! He also talks about this Buy Nothing Day.

He wants people to understand the consequences of over consumption. Society needs this type of education. 

The last area I found really interesting was their videos. We have seen a few culture jamming videos on this blog but here is one about standing up to Starbucks, which happened to be one of my favorite places in the past! They use culture jamming to educate society and suggest we ‘shift the power’ to local coffee shops run by ‘neighbors and friends’. Society needs to be educated so they know exactly what they are supporting by purchasing the large corporations products’. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qejG3U2usp0

Well what do you think of Adbusters efforts? I feel they are developing into a very powerful activist group. They are educating society through the use of many culture jamming tools. Spreading the word is exactly what needs to be done. Good job Adbusters. 

-Goldilocks

MmMmMmm.....burgers

I found this video on uTube and found it interesting. When I was looking for culture jamming groups, i was looking for websites of actually organizations that do culture jams. But when I found this, I realized that individuals also do this sort of thing. I thought it was really cool to see people standing up for what they believe in, and seeing how the public responded to them voicing their opinions. It was also neat to see how much some people appreciated them taking the time to "enlighten" people and show them the true side of things. Although, i wasnt surprised to see that many people just walked passed and paid no mind. The world today is full of people running around in a big rush, and thats why many people go to Mcdonalds for food, because it is fast. Also, its not every day that you would see three young adults standing outside of the restaurant, voicing their opinions. I think that it would be cool to see, and to observe the reactions of the public and hear what they have to say too.

With that said, it brings up the topic of obesity and the way that it is brought into the media. We all know that it is a major problem in society and the rates of it are increasing. But why does the media make it okay, and use ads and products to deliever the message that eating food from a fast food company, will (in the end) make you happy. Its funny actually how happy people look in commercials to take that first bite out of a greasy burger. Myself how ever, im going to eat my burger and not make love to it. Which is exactly the way that the commercials and ads make it look. In my opinion, its weird!

Here is another video that i found, that sort of shows what i mean.....

let me know what you think..
tm-blogger