compare and contrast

[the_siobhan]

This is the condom commercial that was rejected by FOX and CBS.

From glumbert.com

And this is one that appeared in Europe.

[Error: unknown template video]

Comments

[lucybond.livejournal.com]

Ok, laughing, loudly, like a drain, in an empty house.

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

The first commercial was kinda cute.

The second one was....like no other commercial I've ever seen. ;) That took balls. (1)

1) Yes, pun fully intended. ;P

[tristam08.livejournal.com]

odd.....very odd!

Damn Americans

[dali-muse.livejournal.com]

The US commercial was actually kind of sweet.

Re: Damn Americans

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I can't help wondering if it was the sex or the "evolve" that was the problem.

Re: Damn Americans

[panic-girl.livejournal.com]

Here's the official word from the networks. (http://www.tmz.com/2007/06/18/condom-ads-ribbed-too-much-fox-and-cbs-pull-out/)

Re: Damn Americans

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

Oh dear god, how utterly stupid.

Re: Damn Americans

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Did you read the comments on that site? Holy fuck, Batman!

Re: Damn Americans

[panic-girl.livejournal.com]

Not when I posted the link, no.
I did read a bit, and it was pretty much what I expected from a random sampling. Which is why I tend not to read the comments on sites that, let's face it, pander to the lowest common denominator in all of us.

Re: Damn Americans

[mathochist.livejournal.com]

FOX is just plain stupid. WTF?

CBS at least might have had half a point, if they don't allow liquor references in other ads.

I watched both ads with the thought in mind that my children could be seeing them.

The American ad would not have bothered me if it had shown various pig-men striking out with women who appeared to be their girlfriends, or at least dates, and then one who scored with a condom. Yes, there are plenty of portrayals of casual sex in the media, but most of those are not claiming to portray responsible or healthy sex. And while I think there is certainly a place for giving the message that sex CAN be both casual and responsible, I would rather first see ads which acknowledge the emotional component of sex as well.

The European ad was cute, though I don't see where condoms entered into it, other than the "Trojan games" text in the background and web address. I don't think I'd want my kids to see it on television, at least not before high school age. Just a little too explicit. And hey, I'm a parent who has been accused of being *too* liberal.

Re: Damn Americans

[dali-muse.livejournal.com]

My guess, it's actually the "evolve" word that bothered them. Cause, you know, there's no such thing as evolution. What is that bullshit that they want to teach in US classrooms now? I am completely spacing on the name of it. Basically creationism under a new name. Darwin must be spinning in his grave.

In a related note, did you ever here of the Boston based indie band The Dambuilders? They had a song called "Lousiana", which was mostly a scream fest with the only discernible lyrics: "monkeys don't change to men".

I'm going to re-read Vonnegut's Galapagos, just because.

[individuation.livejournal.com]

#1 : so not a big deal. Fox continues to suck.
#2 : why do I feel icky?

[panic-girl.livejournal.com]

"Straight for the buttocks, typically French."
HA!

[unagothae.livejournal.com]

#1: men are pigs? oh! I get it! aaaawww, that's cute :)
#2: "oh my god." *giggles like a schoolgirl*

[kat1031.livejournal.com]

Sorry, we're American. We don't have sex. It's yucky and makes the Baby Jesus cry. All little American babies are delivered by stork. That's why we're better than the rest of the world. It's because Jesus said so. Srsly.

[miss_squiddy]

This one is playing in the UK at the moment:

[(Anonymous)]

Funny! I especially liked the dirty sanchez, the shaved pussy, and the tea-bagging! Lol...and by like, I mean I like the commercial...really.

[ladyclayton.livejournal.com]

Oh dear God that's AWESOME!

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

That rocks.

[mathochist.livejournal.com]

Seconded. That one was awesome. Although I suddenly feel so ignorant -- I didn't get all the references!

[ashbet]

*dies laughing*

Oh, this one WINS!!

-- A :D

[spikella.livejournal.com]

um... wow
i thought the first one was nice too

[markeris.livejournal.com]

the first one annoys me, not because of the all men are "pigs" thing but the underlying message that all men who try not to be must ALSO look like Brad Fucking Pitt. Again.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Well all the women look like wasername Jolie, so I guess that fits. (Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't find either of them even remotely attractive?)

One of my rants that is often heard in re-runs is that after decades of women protesting the promotion of unrealistic body image, we have finally reached real social equality. Men are now just as fucked-up and fucked-over about their appearance as we are.

[markeris.livejournal.com]

"after decades of women protesting the promotion of unrealistic body image, we have finally reached real social equality. Men are now just as fucked-up and fucked-over about their appearance as we are."

I think women have won really. As I say, we`re supposed to be all sensitive and new men AND look like Brad fucking Pitt. Wheras to be fair, from our side we`re generally happy if someone has breasts. ;-)

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I think you're under-estimating how much most women like men the just way they come out of the box.

[markeris.livejournal.com]

oh no, not at all. I`m just pointing out that said women are not those in the adverts. And because we`re all in this groovy post modern hyperreal world some women might mistake the advert for reality.

Which of course is no different from the sort of thing chaps do and get slapped down for.

But I fear I`m going to have a rant here about how long it took me to even realise that Misandry was a word, and I was actively needing such a word. Can we chalk this one up to you probably getting where I`m coming from and us being on the same side without me queering the deal by being drunk and rubbish with words and stuff?

I normally only pop my head over the parapet whilst drunk and then run away scared the next day.

[(Anonymous)]

also, the ignoring anything I ever say is a good thing also.

[markeris.livejournal.com]

glibness aside, I`d quite like to sit down and deconstruct this with you at some point, because I think we could have a decent chat about my body politic on gender issues (which broadly boils down to me going "down with the feminist theory. down with with the feminist theory. down with the feminist theory. Hang on, I`m the bloke in the corner rocking back and forth holding my head in my hands whilst the girls go off with the neanderthal). "

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

It is a conversation I'd like to have more of. Like you said, I figure we're on the same side.

Have you seen any of the furor that's been going on over these (http://viv.id.au/blog/?p=662) ads? It's been pretty hilarious.