Advertising Is Good For You

Barbie looks like crap without makeup

Mexican artist Eddi Aguirre has been playing with Barbie.

He imagines what Barbie might look like after a night of heavy partying — before her makeup artist and stylist have done their magic.

Is this sexist?

Or is it so funny that everyone feels included in the joke?

Via Built Brand

Objectifying men isn't the kind of gender equality most women would prefer

This campaign is meant to be tongue-in-cheek (I hope), but I still find it cringe-worthy. 

"Once you go Italian, you'll never go back. Kraft. Let's get zesty."

"The only thing better than dressing is undressing. Kraft. Let's get zesty."

And what's with the word zesty? It's so 1950s. It's the kind of word you use when you want to appeal to people with bland palates. 

Via Ads of the World

The advertising industry has more than one kind of diversity problem

 

Women bring in more

than half the income

in 55% of US households.

 

Women control 80%

of consumer spending.

Yet, only 3% of creative

directors are female.

 

Some advertising agencies are making great strides by committing to racial diversity. Unfortunately, gender diversity in creative departments lags behind, especially at the management level. Read more in an article from Fast Company.

Don't even get me started on the ageism that's prevalent in the ad industry!

Movie Poster: Identity Thief

This movie poster pisses me off.

Melissa McCarthy is a very talented and popular actress. She stars in a hit TV show and has already been in a couple of very successful movies. The woman is a bankable star. People love her. Which is quite an achievement for a very overweight woman who makes her living in an industry obsessed with physical perfection.

So what was the point of photoshopping her face into such slender proportions that she's unrecognizable in this poster for her most recent movie? The public accepts and loves her just as she is. Why can't the people in charge of promoting her movie?

Image via IMP Awards

BlueStacks creates outrageously insulting icons for its infographic

This infographic from BlueStacks illustrates the average female Mac user.

It's cute and fun. Until you get to the part referring to average ages. Let's look at a close up.

Okay, it's kind of a blurry close up. And I can't fix it because my husband is the Photoshop wiz in our family and he's not here to sharpen the image. But you're smart. You can see what's going on here.

The icon for women aged 51 to 60 years looks like Queen Elizabeth II. It even includes the monarch's ubiquitous handbag. Trouble is, the Queen of England is not 51 to 60, she's 86.

The icon depicting women over 60 looks like England's beloved late Queen Mother. She was 101 years old when she died.

F*ck you and your ageist icons, BlueStacks.

P.S. This is what 50+ looks like. And, yes, I use a Mac.

Sexist or not?

This is so obviously tongue-in-cheek that I don't find it offensive at all. But I'm sure some people disagree.

Via Dotted & Crossed Marketing

$19.80 fares to Cartagena, Columbia, hookers not included

Spirit Airlines had to pull this ad alluding to the recent Secret Service agents and prostitutes scandal. 

People found the ad offensive.

And Spirit didn't see that coming?

Harvey Nichols sinks to a new low, just in time for Christmas

Click here to watch the sleazy Harvey Nichols Christmas 2011 spot.

Click here to see some creepy Harvey Nichols sale ads.

Questionable female empowerment with a dash of snark

TV spot for Summer's Eve 'personal cleansing' products for women.

 Click here to see the Summer's Eve TV commercial.

No matter how you dress it up, this female stereotype makes for a really stupid ad

TV commercial for women's clothing retailer, Coldwater Creek.

Click here to see the Coldwater Creek TV spot.

So is this ad sexist or not?

Most would agree that if this headline said, "Give her slow-roasted turkey because the bathroom won't clean itself," it would be outrageously sexist.

So how come we don't think this is a sexist ad?

Ad for Desperate Mom Jeans

Pretty sure I'm in the age group this double-spread ad is targeting. There's a desperation and inappropriateness here I find insulting. If I heard my daughter's boyfriend had told her he thought I was hot, I'd tell her to dump the creep.

Click images to enlarge.