MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?"
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.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
photo by ethylene
