Being banned from Facebook and Instagram sends "honest" bra ad viral

Some ads are made to be "banned." This one, from the Australian division of underwear brand Berlei, pushed the bounds of breast portrayal and was subsequently taken down from the brand's Facebook and Instagram pages for being "offensive."

News.com.au's Angela Mollard writes:

Berlei’s ad is not gratuitous. It’s not sleazy or even sexual. Rather, it’s a fistpump-worthy piece of advertising that addresses women’s body concerns head or, rather, breast on. Yes there’s boobs bouncing under a sports bra and women trying to cover their nipples and prod or poke bits of flesh back into an unsatisfactory garment, but that’s life with breasts.

I'd have to agree, although the ad is certainly provocative in a very deliberate way.

As of this moment (10:30 EDT, Saturday September 9, 2017) the ad has almost 225,000 views on YouTube. Expect to see many more as the earned media does its job.

Are people interested in this ad because it's about breasts? Of course! Is that a problem? Perhaps to some prudish American social media moguls. But it seems pretty feminist to me.

If you have any thoughts on the ad, please feel free to comment. I'll be ramping up this blog again over the next few weeks, so expect to see more posts. Let's talk about ethics in advertising!

Spike Jonze sequels "Weapon of Choice" ... for a perfume ad?

Well, it sure is entertaining.

nofilmscool.com shared this video with a commentary about how ads for organic social media are getting more and more cinematic:

This one, for France's Kenzo perfumery, is directed by Spike Jonze. He's one of an increasing number of film directors being recruited to do branded entertainment for consumer companies.

Let's face it: This video is awesome. The woman, played by Margaret Qualley, is bored of stiff formality. She breaks out of reality does an awesome solo (mostly) dance — choreographed by Ryan Heffington — through a vast empty lobby.

Sound familiar?

Yeah, that was Jonze's work for Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice," back in 2001. It's one of the best music videos ever made.

And now, its child is selling perfume.

Thanks to Justin for the tip.

Angry evangelical Christian starts viral campaign for Starbucks

A former Arizona pastor named Joshua Feuerstein was angry that Starbucks' Christmas cups this year have no recognizable holiday motif with the exception of the colour red. He is also angry that (according to him) Starbucks employees are forbidden to use the phrase "Merry Christmas."

So he took to Facebook with this rant and a video (which you can watch here):

Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus ... SO I PRANKED THEM ... and they HATE IT!!!!  #share
Use #MERRYCHRISTMASSTARBUCKS
Follow --> Joshua Feuerstein
Posted by Joshua Feuerstein on Thursday, November 5, 2015

Not too bright, this fellow. But his post has been viewed more than 10 million times, and shared almost 400,000 times.

Which is really good for Starbucks.

After all, people will have to buy a Starbucks coffee to be able to pull off this "prank." Depending on the demographics of Mr. Feuerstein's followers, some might even be new customers. It's the exact opposite of a boycott, and the baristas will probably be mildly amused.

That is, as long as people don't bring their guns. That's just asinine.

Scottish anti-independence ad goes "bad" viral #PatronisingBTlady

Last one. This is too funny. @_Pandy storyboards #PatronisingBTLady ad. @robertflorence pic.twitter.com/Oq4IsIqSVs
— James Lees (@jamesvsburger) August 26, 2014

You might wonder what they were thinking.

The "no" movement in the Scottish independence referendum, Better Together, recently released this video ad featuring a woman soliloquizing at home after sending off her husband and kids:



Almost immediately, a backlash began. Under the hashtag #PatronisingBTlady, an explosion of memes started circulating to criticize the gendered clichés around a stay-at-home housewife who finds politics confusing:

Perfect summary of the new @UK_Together campaign video. Targeted at woman - but so patronising? #PatronisingBTLady pic.twitter.com/FePthazKYB
— Greg indyref (@YesIndyref) August 26, 2014

MISSING: Brow-beaten male, late 30s-early 40s, last seen in Co-op buying "Ricicles"... #indyref #PatronisingBTLady pic.twitter.com/uEUIp6nZ4s
— Oisean (@OssiansDream) September 1, 2014

Better Together's new ad sees ridicule and #PatronisingBTLady meme backlash on Twitter http://t.co/UIZHIv16M0 pic.twitter.com/1J8njhFIXw
— The Drum (@TheDrum) August 27, 2014

I had to… #PatronisingBTLady pic.twitter.com/oCOEimOgHU
— CakeQuestEdin (@CakeQuestEdin) August 26, 2014

The viral activity has since spilled over into mainstream media in the UK. However, the people behind the campaign defend it:

Despite the fact the film has created a vociferous internet response punctuated by a series of caustic retaliatory memes, campaign director Blair McDougall has defended the piece’s cinematic integrity. McDougall suggests the piece is flavored with social realism. 

The ad uses words“taken verbatim from conversations on doorstops with undecided women voters,”and from the“opinion of women in dozens of focus groups around the country,”he claimed. While the ad has heightened the campaign’s profile considerably, the precise nature of publicity it has garnered may not be warmly welcomed.

Certainly, there are individual women in Scotland who resemble the stereotype. But does that mean it's something that should be reinforced in a national advertising campaign?

Scottish social anthropologist (and "Yes" man) weighed in with a meme of his own:

#patronisingBTlady #indyref pic.twitter.com/shpcb5vt8O
— Michael Swann (@notarealswan) August 26, 2014

But the real question is whether this ad will sway any voters. And moreover, which way will it sway them?

Epic Meal Time Hardee's ads not so epic

It should be easy. Hardee's (AKA Carl's Jr.) is a brand that embraces its Millennial male target audience like Kate Upton gropes a cheeseburger. Epic Meal Time owes its viral success to those very same young men's fascination with anti-healthy stunt eating and outrageous behaviour.



Spokesmen match made in heaven, or what?

Ignore the fact that Epic Meal Time is based in Montreal, far out of Hardee's territory. This is the internet age. Their social media cred is well established in the USA.

From the press release:

“The Super Bacon Cheeseburger is a truly epic creation that celebrates all that is glorious about bacon,” said Brad Haley, chief marketing officer of CKE Restaurants. “Who better to help us advertise it than the stars of Epic Meal Time, Harley and Muscles Glasses, whose love for bacon is so extreme that it, at times, borders on inappropriate? Our target audience of young, hungry guys spends a lot of time watching videos on YouTube, and the Epic Meal Time channel is a favorite. In the new spot, fans of Epic Meal Time will even recognize Muscles Glasses’ trademark t-shirt with ‘Bacon Strips &’ repeated several times on the front. The spot does a perfect job getting across our message that the Super Bacon Cheeseburger has a lot of bacon on it or, as the ad states, ‘bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon.’”

The pieces were all in place for an awesomely viral campaign. Except somehow, they screwed it up.

Watch:



The amusingly censored profanity is there, but the ad completely lacks the manic delivery that Epic Meal Time consistently serves up. The agency, 72andSunny, couldn't help but be slaves to the conventions of fast food advertising: burger beauty shots and awkward fake eating. The result is an underwhelming campaign that diminishes both brands:



It could be the client's fault. But why would a company that has no problem using raunchy sex kittens to sell its product be so conservative when it comes to showing men? Why didn't they let Harley and Muscles Glasses create some kind of epic feast using the Super Bacon Cheeseburger as the key ingredient? The potential for something great was within reach, and yet everyone involved failed to grasp it:



Just goes to show that there is no substitute for authenticity.

LEGO builds a fan for life

10-year-old LEGO fanatic James Groccia, who has Asperger syndrome, saved up his money for two years to buy the building set of his dreams. Unfortunately, by that time it was discontinued. So in September, he wrote a letter to corporate headquarters asking if they had any left.

Two weeks later, he received a typical customer service response, explaining that they had to retire old sets to make way for new ones. But then, as if by a miracle, James received a mysterious box in the mail...



It came with this letter:

Dear James, 

We are always thrilled to hear from our LEGO fans! You truly have a passion and joy for LEGO. I am amazed at how many sets you have at only ten years old! I am a very big LEGO fan myself and enjoy some of the same sets you do. We received your letter here in Consumer Services and were very touched by your determination. 

The Emerald Night Train is a wonderful set, so we can understand why it is your dream to own it. I commend your willpower and patience to save money for over two years just to purchase this set. It is very evident that no other set could make you happier. We can understand how disappointing it must have been to find it had been discontinued. Due to your passion for LEGO and your heart-warming letter, we knew we had to go above and beyond to help make this a reality. 

We have located an Emerald Night Train for you, James, and included it in this package! I am sure you will enjoy building it and cherish your time playing with the train. We are excited to know that we could help make this dream come true for you! Now there will be no more sadness or disappointment when you think about it ...just happiness! 

We hope you will continue to love to build and create with LEGO. Fans like you are why we are so lucky as a company. Who knows, maybe you will be working for The LEGO Group one day! You certainly have the heart and passion for our bricks to do so! Happy building, James! 

Sincerely, 

MeganConsumer Services Advisor

Nicely done.

Tip via Buzzfeed

O Canada played on beer empties

It's Canada Day Weekend, hosers. And here's our national anthem performed on beer bottles, cans and kegs:



Have a good one, eh? (And thanks to Ryan for the tip - via HuffPo.)

I'm really hoping this is a viral for a frozen pizza company...

Because, quite honestly, that bready pizza doesn't look so sexy to me.



(There's a soup version, too.)

Hot Girl Problems

This video is almost certainly a joke. At least I desperately hope it is a joke. Please, tell me it's a joke.

I don't think it's a joke.

If you dare, watch two young girls calling themselves "Double Trouble" (they were obviously born after Stevie Ray Vaugh's death) mumble-rap a half-baked rant about how hard it is to be hot.

Matthew Panzarino of TNW writes, "These girls are someone’s daughters, and they’re probably not evil. This video, however, is one of the worst things ever made."

My favourite commentary on the vid, however, is on the YouTube post by "Old Bailey Productions" (which itself appears to be a teenage vanity project):

"Old Bailey Productions does not take credit for creating any of the audio produced in this video. We simply produced the video the way the girls wanted it as a demo for their music. However, as associates of the artists we control all rights to the video and it's content."

That's right, folks. They may suck, but if they turn out to be the next Rebecca Black, I want my piece of the action.

The most beautiful pregnancy video you will see today

Ivan from Ads of The World shared this beautiful video on Google+:



It's been done before, but some things never get old.

How to Handle a Sex Pest

When I saw this video (and the title "How to Handle a Sex Pest") on the Viral Videos Facebook page, I assumed it was a social marketimng message about sexual harassment. I was wrong.



No, this "choose your own adventure" interactive YouTube is actually a promotional video for Elsie, a British pop singer I had not heard of until this morning.

The video is disturbing, but not in the way you would expect. The options to get rid of the "sex pest" are pretty violent (see above) and the viewer gets an opportunity to let the guy "get revenge" at the end.


The explanation:

"Every girl out there knows this guy -- the horny, crotch-thrusting dancer who just won't leave you alone in the club. They see a bit of booty and think they can touch. Watch Elsie go on the attack and show how us girls WISH we could deal with sex pests."

It's as if it's all a game. Not a violation of personal space, not harassment, unwanted sexual touching or even assault. Just a bit of fun.

And this is, of course, just a video. But every message matters. And it can make things better or worse.

Which do you think this is? Harmless fun, or bad idea?

Good Books - Bad Ripoff?

Thompson by Steadman. Via Printed Editions.

Marc shared this hallucinogenic animation for Goodbooks International, featuring "a loving homage to the High Priest of Gonzo, and one of the most original talents to ever put ink to a page, Hunter S. Thompson" on Osocio:


Good Books "Metamorphosis" from Antfood on Vimeo.



I should love this. Dr. Thompson was one of my favourite American writers, despite (or perhaps because of) all of his personal flaws.

But it's a ripoff, plain and simple. Some writer at String Theory has stolen the dead writer's voice, and some animator has stolen Ralph Steadman's style, to promote a bookshop. (One that donates all profits to charity, but still...)

Dr. Thompson isn't with us anymore, so he can't comment on the homage. But during his lifetime, he was notoriously hateful towards those who would co-opt his image. He couldn't stand the fact that Garry Trudeau turned him into a Doonesbury character, once stating "I might set the little bastard on fire." (He reportedly gave the character a grudging acceptance by the end of his life.)

Many English writers want to emulate Hunter S. Thompson, especially if they discover his classic books and articles during their formative years. I speak from experience here. But there comes a time when you have to find your own voice, not indulge in mimicry.

By calling this video an "homage" the writer and animator have given themselves permission to indulge in faux-Gonzo. But, as often happens with Dr. Thompson portrayals, it focusses only on his extravagant recreational drug use and tries to approximate his obsession with making the written English language keep up with his resulting visions and thoughts through obscure and excessive description. That was the character he played, sure, but he was a deeper thinker than that. He was, in life, a passionate believer in American libertarian issues, and 60s-style social justice. When you try to recreate Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but skip the bleeding-heartedness of the chapter "Genius 'Round the World Stands Hand in Hand, and One Shock of Recognition Runs the Whole Circle 'Round" you are simply engaging in parody. And not very smart parody, either.

Sound designer Antfood writes on their Vimeo post, "DISCLAIMER: What you will see is an entirely fictional and completely unendorsed representation. [Though we humbly suggest Hunter S. Thompson might have liked it.] We are devoted fans paying homage. No disrespect is intended." I'll take their intention at face value. But I still don't like what the video stands for.

If you want to honour the writer, read his books for yourself and let him rest. Or watch the movie version of Fear and Loathing, which was made with his participation and is fairly loyal to the spirit of the print. (I'm not sure about Dr. Thompson's late-life BFF Johnny Depp's continued efforts to put the legacy on film, but I haven't seen The Rum Diary yet.)

And don't muck up a great American voice with shallow "homage", no matter how cool it looks.

F'd Ad Fridays: This Muppet is getting way more sex than you

"I looove trash(y women)"

Spotted on Buzzfeed: This off-the-hook promo video by Spanish filmmakers Alberto Corral, Pablo Fernandez, Marcos Gonzalez and Carolina Lorén.



Complete with drinking, drugs, dancing, swimming, stripping and lots of group sex (as well as some literal Elmo-bashing) the video plays out all the sexual fantasy stereotypes of young men — but puts them in the lap of a puppet who looks like the lovechild of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

Weird, wild stuff.

You can also follow "Party Puppet" on Facebook and Twitter.

F'd Ad Fridays: E-Trade Baby spoof is a decent PSA

Watch it while you can (although it's been up since April):

Japan presents: Running shoes for creeps

This new online video showed up today in the Viral Videos Facebook feed:



He'll really need those fast shoes, once he runs past the wrong woman.

India even does fast food cooler than the west

Not only is their McDonald's menu way more appetizing, but their Pizza Hut features a Bollywood floor show:



Make me one with everything...

Via Viral Videos (Facebook)