"'Oh, really? I'm in movies too! Have you ever shown, uh, 'I Married Satan'? How about the sequel, 'I Married Satan 2'?- Elvira, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark"
Feminists VS The Superbowl
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:00
So, I guess feminists from NOW will be monitering the ads on the superbowl. Any thoughts? I feel like... maybe... it's not the most important thing right now in terms of feminism. You?
January 31, 2008
"The NOW Foundation is going on the offensive this year with our 2008 Feminist Super Bowl AdWatch," said NOW Foundation President Kim Gandy. "The Super Bowl is much more than a championship football game. As the most watched television event of the year, it attracts enormous attention not just for the opposing teams but for the commercials, too."
This Sunday an estimated 158 million people will watch at least part of the Super Bowl game; more than a third of these viewers say they tune in because of the ads, according to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association.
"Almost as many women as men watch the Super Bowl, and millions of girls and boys are glued to the screen as well," said Gandy. "That's why our feminist ad-watchers will be paying close attention to the commercials and ranking them based on their portrayal of women and other groups who often see themselves stereotyped, ridiculed or just plain missing in high-profile ads."
Monitors will rate ads based on issues of representation/diversity, sexual exploitation, violence, and social responsibility. Volunteer feminist monitors will be grading the best and the worst of the ads and the NOW Foundation will release its findings late Sunday after the game.
"Fox is reportedly charging $2.7 million this year for 30 seconds of commercial time. If advertisers are willing to hand over that kind of dough, then clearly they believe their commercials will make a big impact on the viewing audience," Gandy said. "Well we agree. So, this Sunday the NOW Foundation and feminists across the country will be calling personal fouls on the worst Super Bowl commercials and awarding extra points to the ads that best demonstrate the concept of playing fair."
Read the results online.
http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/communications/superbowl08.html
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:22
#2
SURE!
I'd love to. But you know what IS on on Animal Planet??? The PUPPYBOWL!
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/puppy-bowl.html
it's just puppies playing in a football-field shaped grass area for three hours. There's also a kitten halftime, which is kittens playing with sparkly kitty toys and then they drop confetti on them. Wanna watch that?
Referees come in to scoop up any poop.
Tired of the same old Super Bowlâ„¢ pre-game show? Looking for some excitement before the opening coin-toss? Before the big men in pads take the field for their gridiron battle, watch some players that are ready to rumble and "ruff" their way to victory. We've traded in linebackers for labradors and quarterbacks for corgis and we're releasing the hounds for PUPPY BOWL IV on Sunday, February 3, from 3-6 PM (ET/PT).
From baby beagles to mini dachshunds to mixed breeds  viewers are in for a fantastic lineup that's itching to play in a winning combination of tackles, puppy penalties and fido first downs. The renowned Harry Kalas, voice of NFL Films, returns to call the play-by-plays of this year's game.
For all the feline fans, the BISSELL KITTY HALF-TIME SHOW is back! The lively kittens show off their moves on a glittery stage and chase each other around the field. Tom Petty's performance has nothing on these tiny tabbies and cuddly calicos which prove that watching curious kittens batting around a toy mouse is all the entertainment you need. It's the pick of the litter for halftime shows!
And this year, viewers are able to see all of the frolicking like never before. For the first time, PUPPY BOWL IV will be broadcast in high-definition, capturing all of the thrilling action of our cute and cuddly pups in stunning clarity.
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:27
#3
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:43
#4
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:56
#5
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 22:08
#6
seriously.
at some point later this year, monica is making a permanent move to north hollywood to be with her main squeeze. i talked to heidi about this already...i'm accompanying monica on her drive across the country and will be in town for a couple days before flying home.
i plan on making sure we can get together one day, i don't care what we do.
well ok, no hanna montana 3-D concerts.
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 22:40
#7
Fri, 02/01/2008 - 14:19
#8
SURE!
I'd love to. But you know what IS on on Animal Planet??? The PUPPYBOWL!
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/puppy-bowl.html
it's just puppies playing in a football-field shaped grass area for three hours. There's also a kitten halftime, which is kittens playing with sparkly kitty toys and then they drop confetti on them. Wanna watch that?
Referees come in to scoop up any poop.
Awwwwww! I just love puppies.
Fri, 02/01/2008 - 14:47
#9
Fri, 02/01/2008 - 15:04
#10
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 16:50
#11
Here's the follow-up to that Superbowl deal with the feminists:
Feminist Super Bowl AdWatch Finds Few Women, But Plenty of Demeaning Stereotypes
February 4, 2008
Where were the women? This was a common cry from the monitors in the National Organization for Women Foundation's 2008 Feminist Super Bowl Ad Watch.
"By the second quarter, I said to my friends that there were more animals in the ads than women," said Karen from Florida.
"Women were virtually non-existent in speaking roles and the overwhelming tone exalted violence," reported Gail from Texas. Another monitor stressed that when women were shown they were as passive objects - not active players in the storyline. Often, women's sexual availability to men was central to the theme of the sales pitch.
The use of diversity in the ads could often be boiled down to "blatant racism" and "ethnic exploitation," as many of these characters were stereotyped and cartoonish.
Advertisers paid an average of $2.7 million for a 30 second commercial this year - a sure sign that they believe their commercials will make a big impact on the viewing audience. The NOW Foundation agrees with these companies -- advertising does matter in our media-saturated culture. The portrayal of women and girls, people of color, and other disenfranchised groups can affect how they are viewed in society and how they feel about themselves.
That's why the NOW Foundation got in the game and compiled our own feminist rankings for the best and worst ads. GoDaddy.com's ad was voted the most offensive, with the Planters ad not far behind.
Read the full report online at www.now.org/superbowl.
Tue, 02/05/2008 - 02:45
#12
Okay, maybe I'm just a dumb-sheep (bah) and I want to state, for the record, that I watch football. Not as often as my counterpart, mind you but I do watch it. Sure, I watch the half-time commercials. It is what you do whilst watching the superbowl, yeah? Then you can discuss (or laugh at) them.
Yeah, there shouldn't be stereotyping...but come on now! I'm not miffed that there were more animals featured than women. Like, why must that raise some blood pressure? What raises MY blood pressure is obvious unfair treatment in the workplace i.e. paycheck wise. Or when I take my car in for repairs (i.e. I tell the mechanics what I want--that I have not the tools nor the patience right now to fix it!) and they still think 'stupid woman knows nothing lets tack on some shit to her bill on trumped up car-problems'. Oh hey, that was stereotyping right there, wasn't it? Them swindling mechanic guys.
Or hey, when a woman is turned down from a job because she doesn't fit the traditional employee profile (i.e. Rig hand work, truck driver, construction worker). Or when a woman can't have a say with what goes on to her own damn body (i.e. telling woman she is not allowed to have a hysterectomy until she is either a. 25 or older and/or b. has at least given birth to one child. But hey, she can continue to have abortion after abortion, should she choose it--and the collective-"we" will think less of her for doing so.)
Every where we turn there's something or someone telling us how we should act or be or not be. We should be fuckin' people! If the ads bashed women, I would be offended. I mean, come on...
some guys ARE going to see that "hot chick" in slow motion wearing nothing but a bikini and a smile, toting a beer. Why not appeal to that part of a man?
YES, I can see wanting more ads geared toward women, perhaps...like maybe a quarterback shows up at a woman's doorstep wearing his football gear (or just a suit) and she turns him down because he's from the wrong team. That'd be great.
But to be upset because there are more animals than women? Or not enough quality commerial time featuring women? Hey, let's address the film industry, the book industry, the frickin' modeling industry, the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry. Since those are definitely something that would take more time to uproot and replant properly, let's attack a fuckin' football ad.
I agree, not necessarily an issue.
Okay I'm off my rant. It is late and I am tired. I get cranky and weird...uh, weird-ER when I'm tired. Later.
(sorry for the semi-coherent rant)
Are you going to be watching the Superbowl this year, Heidi? If not, want to host a horror movie party? (My father invited over all his friends to watch the game.)
Jessica