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14 August 2006

Um, No You're Not... Possibly the most ill-conceived charity ad ever.

Wow....I've spent the past minute trying to think of something smart-assy to say, but nothing I think of can compare to how stupid this is. I think it's the beads that really put it over the top as actually being condescending. Of course, the glamour shot doesn't help. Egad.
posted by Slack-a-gogo 14 August | 08:57
Agreed. Now I have to go cornrow my hair and put on a loincloth. for the good of humanity.
posted by jonmc 14 August | 08:58
I didn't mind it too much. Anything that raises awareness of the issues plaguing Africa at the moment is OK by me.
But anyway ...
≡ Click to see image ≡
Because Theron actually is African.
posted by seanyboy 14 August | 09:01
(oh, I'm sure Gwyneth's intentions were good, but the Afro-drag just makes her look ridiculous)
posted by jonmc 14 August | 09:02
Also, the charity being advertised is Keep a child alive.
posted by seanyboy 14 August | 09:03
The intentions may be good, but to me the Gwyneth ad looks as much like self-promotion as promoting a cause. Or at least it seemed more "Look, I DO care" rather than "You should care". But then again, I guess we're talking about it and it prompted seanyboy to post a link to the charity, so it DID promote awareness.
posted by Slack-a-gogo 14 August | 09:08
Like Gwynneth, I too look forward to chilling in the hereafter with my ancestors from Olduvai Gorge. We are all African.

Though I doubt that's what she means.
posted by Hugh Janus 14 August | 09:10
also, you think gwynnie's naked except for the beads in that pic? cos that would kind of redeem it a bit..
posted by jonmc 14 August | 09:11
Yes, she's naked. But she's a cyborg, and is made of metal from the waist down; you might find it jarring, I find it alluring. Also she's fitted with an electric vibro-vagina, for your (and her) pleasure. Rock!
posted by Hugh Janus 14 August | 09:15
She named her child Apple, 'nuff said (or sad as I first typed it).

Its a stretch but we're all fish too.
posted by fenriq 14 August | 09:20
It's a stretch but OH MY GOD I'M A CANNIBAL!
posted by Hugh Janus 14 August | 09:21
That would explain the missing chunk of my ass.
posted by jonmc 14 August | 09:22
well, at least it's nicely glazed, now.
posted by jonmc 14 August | 09:35
Because of that "stupid" and "ill-conceived" ad, we've all been reminded of the issue at hand. In fact, it got far more publicity than something more "tasteful" would have.

I'm going to vote that it's a success.
posted by I Love Tacos 14 August | 09:38
that pic is near pornographic, Hugh.

Gwenyth aside, where does this blog-smarm fuck get off calling the effort to help Africa trendy? It's the freakin' blight of the world.
posted by Hellbient 14 August | 09:53
Actually, I Love Tacos, I've been reminded that Gwynneth is a cyborg, that I'm descended from fish, and that jonmc's ass looks like a glazed ham in certain circles. What's the issue at hand, anyway?

On preview: yeah, hellbient, it's almost goatsey in its obscenity.
posted by Hugh Janus 14 August | 09:55
hellbient: even extremely worthy causes can become trendy. witness Tibet.
posted by jonmc 14 August | 09:56
Ich bin ein ...

Nevermind.
posted by grabbingsand 14 August | 10:04
yeah, i know jon, but somehow some guy with his blog sitting at home looking for the next thing to criticize calling a charity trendy just rubbed me the wrong way. Go fuck a mound of ham, dude.
I'll chalk it down to a case of the Monday's.
posted by Hellbient 14 August | 10:12
All charities are trendy. That's how they work.
posted by Hugh Janus 14 August | 10:16
Perhaps, but what if the problem isn't solved before the trendies move on to the next trendy cause? (as is usually the case)
posted by jonmc 14 August | 10:19
Then the charities languish. But often that stint of trendiness was long/effective enough that the charity can continue funding good work (the work charities do isn't trendy, but the solicitation of donations that they do always is, or at least attempts to be). Without celebrities and tacky publicity stunts, who would donors follow? Trends are set by trendsetters, and charities are in the thick of it.
posted by Hugh Janus 14 August | 10:26
There's a similar (though slightly less ridiculous) ad campaign in the subways here, with lots of celebrities standing around and a banner that says "We are all HIV-positive if one of us is."

Like the Africa ad, I like the concept ("This affects all of us"), but it seems weird when conceptualized into an ad. My response is always a confused, "No, I'm not," rather than thinking "Yeah! How can I help?"
posted by occhiblu 14 August | 10:29
Perhaps, but what if the problem isn't solved before the trendies move on to the next trendy cause? (as is usually the case)

Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
posted by mosch 14 August | 10:30
jon - when the trend moves on - hey, new trend! - problem solved.
It's the American way (notice that no one even talks about the Cuban Missle Crisis anymore).

on preview:
the work charities do isn't trendy, but the solicitation of donations that they do always is

thanks, that's what i was getting at, but ain't eloquaint enugh to express it.
posted by Hellbient 14 August | 10:34
Go fuck a mound of ham, dude.

That's pretty fuckin' eloquent, bro.
posted by Hugh Janus 14 August | 10:40
eloquenter than (looks up "eloquent") Maya Angelou's "Poets of the Carribean" ride at Disney World.

Ah, i got nuthin'...
posted by Hellbient 14 August | 11:12
I once fucked a mound of ham for Africa, was more fun than the time I fucked a jar of mayo for Uzbekistan, tell you that much.


We ARE all african, some of us are just more African than others.
posted by Divine_Wino 14 August | 11:14
I fucked a jar of mayo for Uzbekistan
you trendy charity fuckers make me sick...
posted by Hellbient 14 August | 11:17
OMG horny kitty! || When I woke up this morning, my apartment looked like a crime scene.

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