withdrawn ad

[ajva]

This advert is one of a number pulled by Dolce & Gabbana after it outraged feminists in Spain, who claim it encourages violence against women.



I have mixed feelings thus:

1) I think they're probably right.

but

2) I like this picture for all the wrong reasons. :o)

Comments

[heteronormative.livejournal.com]

The nice shirt on the left?

[ajva.livejournal.com]

It's difficult to see past it, isn't it?

[heteronormative.livejournal.com]

Pushed-up sleeves are the future.

I'm not sure how that encourages violence to women.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it would make me buy their clothes.

"Wear this and enact gang-rape fantasies!" Hmmm... not a message that will appeal to a lot of people, I'd have thought.

Also, why does everyone in it appear to have been laminated?

[ajva.livejournal.com]

I don't buy high-end designer anyway; they don't make clothes for fat girls and I firmly believe the paying of £900 upwards for a handbag is strictly the province of two types of women: a) multi-millionairesses and b) credulous wankers.

No, this post isn't about advertising effectiveness, costs per thousand or Return On Investment, "investing clients' money, not spending it" und so weiter. My interest in the picture is purely, uh, "artistic".

[some-fox.livejournal.com]

It'd be interesting to see the reaction if they'd put this out along with one with the genders reversed. I'm glad they didn't get away with it - it is dreadful.

[jhg.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid all I noticed was the oily muscly men. Then, a few fractions of a second later - oh yes there's a girl there.

I assumed they were gay.

After all, they're handsome, well-preserved and well (half)dressed!

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Oh come on - paying more than 50 quid is pushing it!!!

Exactly

[ajva.livejournal.com]

Yes, the blokes all look like totally gay archetypes. Actually, that's one of the things I find really interesting about the image. It makes for a very unusual impression on the brain.

I mean, look at the girl's face, for one thing. She looks, frankly, bored rather than distressed. The chap at the back who looks a bit like the drummer from Franz - he might as well be pointing at something in the distance in time-honoured catalogue style. The fact you didn't notice the woman for a second or two underlines my point.

And yet, fundamentally, it's a perfectly-posed tableau of gang-rape, but looking like something that might be performed by the Royal Ballet.

It's utterly intriguing.

[alan1957.livejournal.com]

'ello anne.
that ad is trully awful. but wot i would like ter know is 'ow the ad agency decided on it in the first place...did someone inna meeting say*, 'hey guys, i know wot would be a peachy keen idea - let's associate our client wiv rape. that's bound ter be good for sales'?

the black dalek says; 'EXTERMINATE the lot of 'em'!

*inna spanish accent of course.

[heteronormative.livejournal.com]

If that's rape, I really don't know what the fuss is all about. It all happens so slowly you get bored. They don't even mess up your hair.

Looks more like she's bracing herself for trying to teach gay boys what it's like to have vaginal sex.