Vhat? Unpimp your Auto?
A friend from DC saw these commercials on MTV this weekend. Funny, horrifying, both? You be the judge.Horror 1
Laugh 2
Oh brother 3
(I would like the suggest that this might be the result of showing 8-Mile on German television;-))
posted by Erin @ 11:45 AM
8 Comments:
I get annoyed when I see ads like this because I already feel like far too many Americans are completely unaware of other people or cultures. So, I get nervous when I see things like this and fear that they perpetuate stereotypes that Americans, who have never ventured outside of the US, have about those of different nationalities.
That being said, yes, I concede that I am making the same argument against the ads as Erin did against 8-Mile (which I so vehemently defended in the name of freedom of expression). I guess I just assume that Germans (and Western Europeans generally) are more worldly than Americans and are less likely to streotype.
Perhaps I am completely off mark, but those are my thoughts . . .
AB
More worldly-- yes, perhaps out of geographic necessity. But less likely to stereotype, absolutely not. I would even argue that German media is more likely to stereotype, which then means that Germans see those stereotypes about the US as well as the ones that US advertising and Hollywood perpetuate.
I don't know what the answer is. We (Americans, Germans, everyone) can't live in a completely boring and sterile society. Freedom of expression is a wonderful thing, but stereotypes without the proper context can really be damaging.
(But as someone who loves Germans, I really did get a good laugh out of the commercials:-))
That is interesting Erin. I always thought that stereotyping stemmed from ignorance, your comments lead me to believe that lack of exposure is not the problem here. So, what is it then???
AB
oh my goodness. that's all i can say after seeing those ads.
Stereotyping, I think, is something we all do all the time, about everything. Buicks are for old people. Hondas are built well. Laborador Retreivers like to fetch things. Germans are uptight and dance like the old SNL Sprockets skit. Americans are fat, loud, obnoxious, and pushy.
These are tidbits we take from our limited experiences we have with different people, cultures, and material goods. They are the characteristics that we remember from our experiences. The way to fight people acting on these stereotypes is MORE expression and MORE communication. This way people can add to their experiences to round out their impressions of each culture.
CJS
Wow, you people need to MELLOW out. Let me guess...you're all in college and can't figure out what to do with your time between getting baked, skipping class, and playing X-box so you spin your wheels on ridiculous theoretical debates? How about the mere fact that these commercials are FUNNY?? You don't think there is any truth in any stereotypes? Wow, are you naive...
i like the commercial because its funny(if you actually know any germans, then you know how fucking wierd they can be!) Stereotypes are based in TRUTH, otherwise they make no sense and aernt funny. Do you retards who are upset at this commercial understand that? Take that John Kerry sticker off of your Volvo and grow a sense of humor with that English B.A. you are so proud of!!!
If you are offended by a commercial, instead of bitching about it, simply dont buy the product. Jackasses!
i love these commercials because they're hilarious.
i dont think theres much truth to the stereotypes portrayed. i laugh because they are opposite worlds meeting.. in america we are bombarded by the urban mtv image - pimp this pimp that - i find it kind of boring. so the idea of vw slamming that is brilliant.
i find it funny like i find the dave chappelle sketch of an (adopted?) blind black man raised in a hick town as white supremicist, because the other clansmembers didnt have the heart to tell him he was a black man.
now i was raised in the south and still dont think that is making the image of southerners bad (larry the cable guy on the other hand, i detest)... it is the usage of these two different stereotypes meeting that is so funny, and less the stereotype itself. i dont think americans get that germans are like that from the advertisment... its funny because its a break from our own stereotype of the urban culture pimping commercials/tv shows.
hope that made sense,
-i
Post a Comment
<< Home