Last month a Snickers ad was pulled from the airwaves because it gay rights activists thought it was anti-gay. A quick rundown: Mr. T drove around in his burly van and throw Snickers at guys that were doing un-manly things like speed walking and pilates.
I’ve been in an ongoing discussion with my good friend Eric Strahl about the difference between being gay and not acting like a manly man. In my mind, those are two completely different distinctions. I was also curious about why this ad was the only one that received such negative press when many other ads say the same thing. The only difference is that no one gets hit in the face with Snickers.
Here is another example of an ad touting the idea of being a man. It’s not preaching anti-gay propaganda. It’s merely pointing out the allure of being a man and actually acting like one.
You have to admit that it’s pretty funny. It probably reminds you of your dad. It shows how cool it is to be a man, nothing more, nothing less. But why wasn’t this series of ads pulled?
Okay, so I work in advertising, which might be skewing my views. Regardless, this is still an interesting topic. We talked about it today before I came across this ad while doing some research.
5 comments:
"It’s merely pointing out the allure of being a man and actually acting like one."
Lucas Burt 09.11.08
When did you, or a whiskey company (desperately trying to nail a demographic) become the all knowing go to about manly things large and small?
I have known many men in my life and I defy to define anyone of those men as less or more manly. I have have known men who've built their own boats to drink beer and catch fish in, just as I have know men who "work in advertising", drink wine and model on occasion. I consider them all brothers in manhood, and choose to avoid the constant chase of a definition that marketing companies want us to fit in, or out of, so that we are all easier to sell things to. Simple as that "Ad Man."
Our ongoing discussion hinges on the fact that you believe it okay to make fun of people to sell candy bars. I am not the most politically correct person in the world, but the sensitivity is not yours or mine to know. If you were a power walker and saw that ad you might have wondered why you were being picked on. Or would you just wonder why you were doing something as effeminate as power walking and drink some whiskey? You identify with one side of these ads and that is okay, you are the target demographic.
Not all people identify however, and when those who don't identify have a voice as loud as the gay community does, then you will hear what they think. Then it is only the company who produced the ad, that has the power to pull the ad and avoid the publicity, whether it be good or bad for business.
SURGEON GENERAL ERIC'S WARNING
Consuming a diet of manly foods, such as snickers and drinking whiskey may lead to a manly gut that will no doubt lead to many other manly things like heart failure and liver disease.
WOW. So... looks like Eric takes the current title for longest comments on your blog. Damn!
You're a vagina.
Now that I've actually read your comment; you're a huge vagina. You need to start acting like a man and quit your whining.
Hey, wait a minute. I build fences, drink beer, cut down trees, work in advertising, catch fish, drink wine, and model. What does that make me...? The most kick ass man of them all. Yeah! That's what I'm talking about.
You're both douche bags but I must admit... while looking through the Cabela's catalog today, I was turned on by the looks of the rugged, manly men whose pictures cover the pages. There's just something about a man who likes to get out there and get dirty while wearing Carhart. ;)
But... you're both still douche bags.
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