Morning Update: Japanese airline apologies for ‘racist’ ad; Dove short film embraces ‘selfies’
This is our Morning Update, rounding up international media and marketing news from while you were sleeping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBbn_WOP1_E
“A Japanese airline was forced to apologise today for an advert which critics claim racially stereotyped Westerners as having big noses and blond hair.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) said Monday it was modifying the TV commercial, but insisted they had meant no offence.”
The New York Times: Debate on Photo Retouching Flares Online, With Roles Reversed
“Last week, two publications that consider themselves champions of women faced off — with an unexpected outcome.
Jezebel, a website that made its name protesting artificiality in women’s magazines, announced on Thursday what seemed like a subversive feminist stunt. It dangled a $10,000 bounty for anyone who could produce raw, unretouched versions of photos of Lena Dunham from the new issue of Vogue, aiming to “reveal how many pounds Dunham lost on the Vogue diet” of digital alteration, as The Cut put it. The next day, Jezebel posted the originals.”
Mashable: Dove Short Film Embraces ‘Selfies’ to Redefine How We Perceive Beauty
” Dove is debuting at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on Monday a short film that explores how social media is shaping the way the we perceive beauty.
The 7-minute short film called Selfie follows a series of teenagers and their mothers who are asked to take self-images that highlight their insecurities about the way they look. In an experiment reminiscent of Dove’s viral “beauty sketches” ad, the participants learn some of their disliked attributes are what others consider to be the most beautiful.”
“Pay attention, 2014 Mad Men: This little girl is holding a LEGO set. The LEGOs are not pink or “made for girls.” She isn’t even wearing pink. The copy is about “younger children” who “build for fun.” Not just “girls” who build. ALL KIDS.
In an age when little girls and boys are treated as though they are two entirely different species by toy marketers, this 1981 ad for LEGO — one of our favorite images ever — issues an important reminder.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HESJgpYYUyM
Mashable: Beats by Dre Drops New Ad and the Timing Could Not Be Better
“Life imitating art imitating life imitating Richard Sherman.
The same day that the Seahawks corner made a stunning play to end the NFC Championship game and send his team to the Super Bowl, Beats by Dre released a commercial with the controversial Sherman centered around the media coverage he receives.”
