I'm a language geek - I'm going to get stuck guessing how to pronounce his name, and wondering if it's derived from a Proto-Germanic loan word meaning something like "people".
While this doesn't make me think of anything remotely like coffee, I find the visual very striking and actually quite beautiful. So I'm a racist now, is that right? I don't always get these things.
I would say that this ad fetishizes skin colour in an inappropriate way. I find this to be common in parts of Europe, where black people are very much "other". This sexualized obsession with contrasting skin tones is part of that objectification. I find it unsettling and cheap.
Editor's Note: Anonymous' comments are being deleted, when I get around to it, because I find his/her trolling really boring and unimaginative. Enjoy them while they last. They are bound to get worse before he/she gives up and goes back to Copyranter.
Trolls are always tricky. My rule of thumb on OurAirports is normally to leave their stuff online unless it crosses the line into possible hate-law vios, because the extreme language and limited intelligence of the comments tend to undercut the trolls more effectively than anything I could do.
That's been my policy, too, more or less, because as you know I don't shy from a good argument. But this particular troll doesn't even present an argument. And he/she seems to be escalating the tone without actually providing anything of substance. Since I don't know who it is, he/she can easily come back and try other tactics, which is fine. I'm just weary of being screamed at by some semi-literate coward.
It depends on what part of Europe you're dealing with, but that fetish certainly does exist. I just find this image striking, however; I don't care to overanalyse it. But it definitely wouldn't sell me coffee!
You don't have a problem with my comments, you have a problem with me disagreeing with you. Sorry to use plain English, but that's how I speak. I let pompous aging men like you make use of bombastic academic phrases like fetishizing of skin color. You must think that because you are a creative director at some unknown agency that you know better. Well, you don't. Don't expect everyone to suck up to you, sir, and learn to accept opposing views. That's life. Move to North Korea or China if censorship is your thing. Happy to read that you agree with Kel. Ad wasn't racist; case closed.
I'm happy you actually bothered to write an intelligible comment without resorting to calling me a dick. Was that really so difficult? This is one I can leave up.
Not a really well-thought-out comment, though. You rant on about accepting "opposing views" even though your comments are typically just impulsively oppositional statements and random insults. That's hardly debate. And you make reference to what you "let" people like me write, concluding with the absolute statement "Ad wasn't racist; case closed." Not indicators of an open mind.
You are welcome to state an opposing view and defend it. That's what I expect. But your cries of "censorship" show that you still need to figure out that free speech also includes my right to not to be forced to share your more asinine comments with the rest of my readers.
I'd love to know how this ad strikes a Lithuanian: maybe melanin isn't as heavily politicized as it is in Western Europe, North America or Australia.
ReplyDeleteDavid: My friend Liudas has commented on Facebook. Ask him.
ReplyDeleteI'm a language geek - I'm going to get stuck guessing how to pronounce his name, and wondering if it's derived from a Proto-Germanic loan word meaning something like "people".
ReplyDeleteWhile this doesn't make me think of anything remotely like coffee, I find the visual very striking and actually quite beautiful. So I'm a racist now, is that right? I don't always get these things.
ReplyDeleteI would say that this ad fetishizes skin colour in an inappropriate way. I find this to be common in parts of Europe, where black people are very much "other". This sexualized obsession with contrasting skin tones is part of that objectification. I find it unsettling and cheap.
ReplyDeleteEditor's Note: Anonymous' comments are being deleted, when I get around to it, because I find his/her trolling really boring and unimaginative. Enjoy them while they last. They are bound to get worse before he/she gives up and goes back to Copyranter.
ReplyDeleteTrolls are always tricky. My rule of thumb on OurAirports is normally to leave their stuff online unless it crosses the line into possible hate-law vios, because the extreme language and limited intelligence of the comments tend to undercut the trolls more effectively than anything I could do.
ReplyDeleteThat's been my policy, too, more or less, because as you know I don't shy from a good argument. But this particular troll doesn't even present an argument. And he/she seems to be escalating the tone without actually providing anything of substance. Since I don't know who it is, he/she can easily come back and try other tactics, which is fine. I'm just weary of being screamed at by some semi-literate coward.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on what part of Europe you're dealing with, but that fetish certainly does exist. I just find this image striking, however; I don't care to overanalyse it. But it definitely wouldn't sell me coffee!
ReplyDeleteFair enough, Kel. In hindsight, it feels a bit like a tempest in a coffee cup.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have a problem with my comments, you have a problem with me disagreeing with you. Sorry to use plain English, but that's how I speak. I let pompous aging men like you make use of bombastic academic phrases like fetishizing of skin color. You must think that because you are a creative director at some unknown agency that you know better. Well, you don't. Don't expect everyone to suck up to you, sir, and learn to accept opposing views. That's life. Move to North Korea or China if censorship is your thing. Happy to read that you agree with Kel. Ad wasn't racist; case closed.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you actually bothered to write an intelligible comment without resorting to calling me a dick. Was that really so difficult? This is one I can leave up.
ReplyDeleteNot a really well-thought-out comment, though. You rant on about accepting "opposing views" even though your comments are typically just impulsively oppositional statements and random insults. That's hardly debate. And you make reference to what you "let" people like me write, concluding with the absolute statement "Ad wasn't racist; case closed." Not indicators of an open mind.
You are welcome to state an opposing view and defend it. That's what I expect. But your cries of "censorship" show that you still need to figure out that free speech also includes my right to not to be forced to share your more asinine comments with the rest of my readers.