I Don't Even Know Where To Start!

Submitted by adammyerson on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 09:45

Please watch:

http://creativity-online.com/work/view?seed=5284d9f5

Thanks to Sczczepanski for the lead out.

Sometimes things are so dizzyingly offensive and wrapped up in sex and cuteness and fun that it's twice as evil. "Ladies! Feeling a little rough around the edges? Just shave your vagina bald and it'll all be better!"

The Asian woman only has a little bush to trim. The black woman has a giant bush she has to attack with hedge trimmers. And the white woman smells like flowers.

What would Twisty say?!

Comments

Submitted by mayhew (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 12:48.
The white woman has tulips. Two lips. C'mon, English major.
Submitted by Adam Myerson (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 13:49.
What does being able to differentiate flowers have to do with being trained to criticize literature? I almost said she smelled like roses, but I at least realized they weren't roses.
Submitted by mayhew (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 16:51.
They actually say something about tulips. I'm not a horticulturalist. I assumed you would have learned about word play somewhere along the line.
Submitted by pwarloski (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 17:10.
I don't know where to start either: Have any women you know seen this? I'm going to ask some close female friends about it. I'm not sure whether to laugh at the ad's ridiculousness or hide my eyes!
Submitted by adam s (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 18:16.
I kind of liked it, and Mayhew nailed the tulips on the mound. and now pwarloski is going to consult the vaginal authority in his life. LOL. The Church of Vagina has decreed that this is offensive! I couldn't possibly form an opinion without checking first! of course, it could just be a troll.
Submitted by gary (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 18:47.
seriously adam, if we're going to be talking about critical literature and that commercial, what would susan sontag, or gilbert and gubar have to say about it?
Submitted by velocipede (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 20:09.
Is that birdie sitting on her lap?
Submitted by adam s (not verified) on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 10:27.
there's a hairless cat near the end there.
Submitted by Lane (not verified) on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 10:21.
I was amazed that virtually every aspect of that commercial was a double-entendre. On the whole, it's remarkable for the fact that it not only combines gender and racial stereotypes, but remains so glib that you can't help but snicker. I think it's unremarkable in that it basically is another reinforcement of gender stereotypes/norms/expectations (and the associated self/body-imagery issues raised as a result) that are imposed by the patriarchy, in this case to sell products that further reinforce those stereotypes, which is nothing new. The "cute" topiaries are a "nice" touch... The racial stereotypes were a bit more surprising to me assuming that this is going on TV somewhere, but maybe it's more apropos for a European commercial? What seems *most* remarkable about the commercial is how blatantly and casually everything is "thrown out there" (intentionally I would guess). All that aside, while I consider myself "pro-feminist" and my wife is an adamant feminist, we both chuckled at the commercial, so maybe pwarloski is cleared to watch? I think if you deconstruct the messages you can "de-fang" them on some level, though don't take that as a defense of the commercial. Finally, I don't *think* that's a cat...
Submitted by mayhew (not verified) on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 18:57.
There's a church of the vagina? How do I, uh, get in?
Submitted by adam s (not verified) on Mon, 04/06/2009 - 09:29.
apparently you're born into it, or something.