Friday, August 31, 2012

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Swiffer Sexism Strikes Again

I have been silently critiquing the Swiffer ads I have seen on television lately for their tired old sexist stereotypes but when the following popped up on my Facebook (because a few of my friends 'liked' Swiffer), I had had enough. Need an activist project? Write Swiffer a letter, comment on their Facebook page, and let them know that you do not support or appreciate these offensive sexist stereotypes. 


Monday, August 27, 2012

The New Velveeta Ads. Have you seen them yet?

Here is another in the semi-recent rash of ad campaigns playing on the hypermasculine man--Velveeta Skillets. Of course a boxed dinner makes sense for such an approach to fit the 'men-can't-cook' stereotype. It's funny how media likes to play on the idea that men can't cook...but only at home. Otherwise they are quite adept at being chefs in 5-star restaurants. What do you think about the 'new' approach of these ads playing with the idea of masculinity. Are they subversive? Are they poking fun at the inflexible nature of masculinity in Western culture are are they simply reinforcing it in an underhanded kind of way? Or are they simply reverting back to the 'woman in the kitchen' ideal? I know I posted about this awhile back with the Drain-O commercials. Those were just plain shocking! At least the Velveeta commercials leave something to the imagination. The Drain-O ads should have been rated R for 'really really RACY.' ;)

Velveeta Ads Introduce the Man Your Mom Could Cook For (with video clips)

That Helicopter Guy at the Mall (with video clip)

Lupe Fiasco Taking On "Bitches"

Check this out...Lupe Fiasco taking on the hip hop tradition of calling women bitches and treating them like 'hoes.' He makes some important points... We should see/hear more hip hop like this. More importantly, kids (boys and girls) should be exposed to more positive messages regardless of genre.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

This how we learn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dswhhPtpdck&feature=player_embedded

I love Ms. Zuniga's poetry. I thought this was a perfect statement about how our collective neurosis's are formed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dswhhPtpdck&feature=player_embedded

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Guante: 10 Responses to the Phrase "Man Up" (Spoken-Word)

A powerful and passionate response to the insistence by Western culture that men fit into a tough narrow muscular box where to "man up" is the ultimate goal.