Herbal Essences: The Only Shampoo to Give Bikers That Stunning Look They All Want

Ever think of showering in the middle of a park because some biker chick gave you a bottle of shampoo? Herbal Essences’ biker commercial tries to break the gender barrier normally associated with shampoo commercials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIs7OJ9FfGE

From humble beginnings as roaming nomads, men and women were assigned different roles in society. These nomads knew how to live off the land by using its resources to better their society. At some point, animal domestication turned horses as an invaluable method of transportation; a method almost always reserved for men. Jumping forward a few millennia, the “iron horses” of today typically provoke the same thought today - that men are the ones riding the motorcycles. Both then and now, these expectations held by the general population set different standards, telling how each gender should live. Herbal Essences wants to remove gender stereotypes from its products, by playing off society’s expectations and going against them through gender role reversal.

The commercial starts out with a girl dressed in leather getting off a motorcycle and showering with the new shampoo from Herbal Essences. After using the product, she has beautiful hair that any other girl would envy. As she walks back, she sees a rough looking male biker and passes him the bottle of citrus flavored shampoo, only to receive an odd glare, but the biker takes her unspoken advice and uses the shampoo to reveal incredible long hair that makes his fellow road warriors stare. Certainly, an element of humor comes into play with his final pose before the narrator ends the commercial with the company slogan.

The commercial is notable because Herbal Essences, one of the leading hair care products, is usually associated with women, but this time the brand tries to appeal to both genders. First, not all women have to be the stereotype, usually associated with superior hair care products. Here, the audience sees that the girl enjoys the rough life of a biker just as much as the guys do. When she decides to clean up though, she is not deterred by the feminine stereotype associated by Herbal Essences. Additionally, the rough-looking biker, one would think, would not care about his hygiene as much. However, not only does he take advice from a girl and uses the new shampoo, but he also makes his friends do a double take at his new look.

Such issues might prompt one to ask, “Why are these stereotypes around?” One explanation comes from the all too common homophobic nature of many Americans in today’s culture. Many men see competing shampoo/body wash products advertized with men who always get the most gorgeous date after using that product. As a result, the opposite idea that that using a “woman’s” shampoo could possibly make a man seem feminine, a trait wrongly deemed unacceptable by many Americans. Herbal Essences’ message reverses this notion because no one would question a biker’s masculinity. Similarly, there is a negative stereotype associated with “biker girls” who are, seen as being uncouth outcasts from society. However, the female biker in this commercial appears quite feminine, while still able to enjoy the open road on a bike. In all, it does not matter what a person uses, society has just skewed the ideas of what is acceptable. As the biker probably thought as he was showing off to his friends, while this is humorous, what in society says a man cannot be “pretty”?

IKEA Gay Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQjz6OCa1Y

IKEA is a global ready-to-assembly, furniture store. It is headquartered in the Netherlands and it is known for its easy build and simple design. They put this commercial out on the market because they wanted to enhance their products and to make their products seem superior.     

This commercial shows negative stereotypes on straight man and positive stereotypes on the gays. Netherlands, being the first country that legalized gay marriage, appears to be more alert and concern about gays community and gays right. As such, the IKEA commercial that projects a more positive stereotypes on gays, to some extent, discloses the image of Netherlands as being a more liberal and respectful country for the gay community and it uses this stereotypes to gain the gays' attention to its product.


Another stereotype  that is portrayed is that straight men are usually dirty and unorganized. In this video, the stereotype is portrayed by the guy walking into his messy house with women he brought home. The scene of him walking into his house with a woman was repeated several times. The first two times, the girls left because his place was cluttered. This plays off the stereotype that a typical straight male does not pay attention to details or organization.


Soon, the guy realized that his messy house was the cause that annoyed the girls whom he brought home. In attempt from having the same problem again, he cleaned his place up and reorganized it using the products from IKEA. The third when he brought a girl home,  the girl was shocked at how clean and tidy his house was. She was smiling in the beginning but later on changed to a rather suspicious expression. When the man went in the other room to show the girl how neat he was, she immediately ran out the door. She was later shown talking to one of her friends about how she thinks her date was a gay.

The last part of the video plays off the stereotype that all gay men are neat, clean, and tidy. While some gay men are extremely neat and meticulous, it’s unfair to judge all gay men this way. The same can be said about straight men and being messy.

Because IKEA is based in such a liberal country many people are very accepting of the use of homosexuality in commercials. Many people would see this commercial as humorous. Likewise, many conservatives would take offense to this.

Some men find this humorous because they can relate to the man in the commercial. Personally, we have messy rooms so we fit the stereotype well. We understand why straight men are portrayed in this light. It can be offensive to some straight men who have clean rooms, but humor is used to diffuse the tension.

With all said, this commercial is up for discussion because some people take offense to this while others don’t. What is your stance on this commercial?

Beating Your Kids

The link to video is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD6oijh-6DI&feature=fvst

Russell Peters is a Canadian comedian whose parents emigrated from India. His basis for his comedic act is racial stereotypes. Though he tends to focus on his Indian heritage, he still includes a wide range of races in his stand up.

This video is based on stereotypes of minorities versus the dominant white group when it comes to beating your kids. This was obviously a very controversial topic for clear reasons, but it did play on the common perception that white people are too soft on their kids whereas minority parents are not afraid to beat their kids.

One interesting issue that Peters brings up is how the minority groups tend to stick together whereas the white people tend to work together. That implies how people tend to stay in their in groups and didn’t associate much with the out groups. Peters talks about how it was a weird occasion when a white person would come to the group of Russell and his black friends.

One of the cultural differences which was discussed is how minorities get “ass whooping” whereas as white people get sent to their room. He also talks about how the kids have more privacy and independence with western parents such as having a room.

Towards the middle of the video, Peters begins to contrast himself with his friend Ryan. When Ryan cursed his mother, she simply shook her head and didn’t do much to change the situation. Peters said, “His parents never beat him or yelled at him. He could do anything he wanted.” Beating kids in India or other non western cultures is not viewed as abuse but as an act of discipline. In America and Canada, beating your children is a crime because it is viewed as a form of abuse. Peters brings this up when he talked about phoning Children’s Services.

I don’t think all white kids are like Ryan, rude and disrespectful, but many minorities may view him as that. Ryan has much more freedom than many minority kids by not having to deal with the same kind of disciplinary consequences.

A reoccurring theme throughout the quarter is how hyperbolizing stereotypes (like in the case of Ryan) which is why I believe this video isn’t racist. Of course some aspects of the video could come off as being offensive or stereotypical but the main point of the act was for comedic purposes solely. Using humor as a form of targeting stereotypes and racial and ethnic groups is a reoccurring event in modern days society and is seen all throughout youtube videos, stand up acts and standard comedies on television. The widespread audience and attention caught by such “jokes” is seen by numerous viewers and repeated by them resulting in the ongoing process of racial and ethnic targeting in the media. What are your thoughts?

White and Nerdy

Racism has been around ever since people were different colors. Even in our open culture today, it is no surprise racism is still present. A big difference with racism today is it is based less on hatred and more on stereotypes. Does this make it any less racist? Music videos help justify those stereotypes. Every black rapper that puts out a music video of girls dancing on them while they throw money and flash their jewelry solidifies that image of a black man. Weird Al Yankovich attempts to make fun of white people in his parody “White and Nerdy”.
The video opens with two black men driving in a very nice convertible with bobbing their heads to the beat. They both double take when they see Al mowing his lawn. He is wearing a polo, slacks, and thick glasses. His nerd status is solidified when he gives the black men an over enthusiastic wave and starts speed walking over to them. The reaction of the men in itself is a parody. They frantically lock the doors (in a convertible) and drive away as fast as they can. This is making fun of how white people react when approached by a black man in a bad neighborhood. They seem afraid of the stereotypical nerd that is approaching them while others are afraid when approached by the stereotypical gangster.
The role flip in itself is not racist. I do not think this video is meant to be racist at all. It does, however, make some assumptions that do stem from racism and negative stereotypes. For instance, every gangster in this video is black and every black person in this video is a gangster. This is a minor detail but a very important one. It gives the impression that in order to be gangster you have to be black and in order to be nerdy you have to be white. This is only important because it highlights how white has come to equal intelligent and well spoken, while black has come to equal gangster and illiterate. At some point in time we have all heard, “why is that white guy acting black?” or “at least that black guy doesn’t act black”. This might be one of the worst forms of racism because black people are the ones that use it most. It has become their identity to “act black”.
Literally every line in this song is a stereotype of white and nerdy people. He talks about how he loves doing calculus, how all of his friends come to him to work on code, and how he has a front lawn. The front lawn is a subtle stereotype. Ghettos are not known for their large front lawns so by the simple line of “they see me mowin, my front lawn”, he is flipping this stereotype. Even though he is talking about being white and nerdy, he is dressed up like a gangster in pieces of the video which is also funny. A big reason we find it funny though, is because a white person dressed as a gangster just doesn’t make sense.
This song and video were all made in fun and with good intentions. That does not mean that it is void of racism. It sheds a light on the type of racism that has been so engrained in our culture and society that it is no longer recognized. The main reason is because black people have accepted it as their identity. This does not make the stereotypes any less harmful to a culture or race though. The worst part is this music video and song are actually really funny. They make fun of the song “Ridin” by Chamillionaire perfectly. I suggest you listen to that song as well in order to get the full feel of “White and nerdy”.

Should More Women "Do It Like a Dude"?

Women have been striving to be considered equal to men for generations. Trying to be a part of politics, business, medicine and show business just as much as men. Feminist songs have become more regular. From “If I Were a Boy” by Beyoncé to “Superwoman” by Alicia Keys, these songs try to convey how men should act or how women should be stronger. Jessie J puts a new spin on feminism. Instead of asking nicely, in her song “Do It Like a Dude”, she mocks and amplifies specific, and not so good, traits of men. The song also reminds society that even when this song was released in 2010, women were still considered “below” men.

The music video starts with a group of women shown lounging around a club gambling, carving tattoos on each other’s skin and smoking cigars. These women, however, are all dressed as men. Their clothes consist of loose t-shirts, dirty tank tops, baggy pants, backward hats, large gold chains, and short hair. Making them look like a gang of guys. Their outfits amplify the actions that follow. Capturing the cliché version of males, the women pull their hats lower, grab their crotch, get in fights and slouch while walking. This classic image captures the black male “gangster” look that has also caught on with white males. Another small feature that keeps occurring throughout the video is the fact that each girl has some type of piercing. Ranging from ears, nose, lip and eyebrow, the girls find something that can be pierced. This could be a possible jab at the males who are getting piercings as well.

Outside the looks of the female dancers, Jessie J focuses in on the language that men use around each other. She uses the lines “pull me a beer, no pretty drinks I’m a guy out here” and “all my B-I-T-C-H’s” to show men’s main view towards women. Trying to put one gender over the other, profanity and name-calling are used to describe women and how they act. The line about beer is stating that men are above such fluffy activities that women take part in. The profanity used is in terms of a female dog. Thus, lowering women to a state of obedience and animal like qualities. Other terms such as “brother” and “dude” are used to describe how men greet each other. This is already showing higher levels of respect between men with less respect to women. The final vulgarity is brought up with the constant use of “d*ck” and “crotch” repeated through out the song. Referencing the sexual and physical aspect some men are obsessed with.

Around this gangster look and vulgar language of young males, is composed a video that has a shaking camera, jerky movements, black make-up and a dark set. Reminding the watcher that she is capturing the shady and confusing side of men or perhaps a side they secretly want to express. The dark coloring representing the inner desire to live like the people in the underground club, and the jerky movements a fight between basic male desires and what is appropriate in society.

The video falls short of the message Jessie J seems to be trying to convey. Instead of saying women can be strong and independent, she seems to hint at the adoption of male attributes. That for women to truly be equal and on the same level as men they must act and behave as them, or simply accept the lower level that some “dude” has placed them in.

Dr. Pepper Ten 'not for women' blog project

The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group has recently launched an ad campaign to market a new iteration of Dr. Pepper for the health conscious American man. Dr. Pepper 10 is a ten-calorie beverage produced for those looking for a healthier alternative to the sugary, full-calorie Dr. Pepper, but find the Diet Dr. Pepper to be too “girly.” The international soft drink industry grosses $74 billion, but has started to slow as more and more consumers are turning to healthier options such as juice and water. Sales of sugary soft drinks have fallen dramatically in recent years, but the attempt to produce diet sodas has fallen short as the sugar-free drinks cannot match the taste of their full-bodied counterparts. Dr. Pepper is exploring a new niche in the market by offering a low calorie soda as opposed to a no calorie drink, trying to satisfy consumers with a sweet tooth and a New Year’s resolution.

While the Dr. Pepper Snapple group is a global force in the market, they have chosen to produce an advertisement targeted specifically at the young American man. The commercial shows a scene from a stereotypical American action film with a clean-cut, no-nonsense hero presenting this new manly soda for one to drink while maintaining masculinity. Even if this commercial had been aired in other countries it is still directed at teenagers. Teenagers in other countries are mostly exposed to American action films and just like those teens in America, they aspire to be the next James Bond. Dr. Pepper Ten however, omits the elderly and other races.

Various details can prove the target to American men. At the beginning of the commercial, the American man strikes back at a snake with his arm, showing his powerful and manly behavior. Then he easily escapes from gun fire and jumps into a car. In the end, the secret of his strength is revealed. The power from Dr. Pepper Ten, a new product designed for men with 10 calories. The Dr. Pepper Ten also “helps” him to stop enemies by virtue of blocking the way. The powerful man in the commercial is featured with muscle, guns and Dr. Pepper Ten to attract men who want to be strong like them.

The Dr. Pepper advertisement not only targets men, but also women. Many women have created Facebook pages and written articles in order to spur reactions to this “sexist” commercial. In the beginning lines of the commercial, the main character directly addresses woman by saying, “Hey Ladies, “ and then rapidly dismisses them by turning his back and yelling, “of course not!” Women take no part in the commercial and would not because of the largely held stereotype played upon in this commercial; Ten calories are too many calories for women, as they are responsible for maintaining a thin and sexy look. If this commercial had not characterized Dr. Pepper as being for an active, adventurous man however, Dr. Pepper Ten would have largely and solely appealed to women. In addition, in a world that is mostly run by women, although indirectly, Dr. Pepper ten shows the power of man. This idea creates tension as to who are the real leaders of the world and controversial questions as to what qualities are best exemplified by what genders.

Another effect of the Dr. Pepper Ten commercial brings is its remarkability, everyone who has seen this commercial remembers this product. This “Not For Women” commercial does a wonderful marketing job. The most successful thing about this commercial is the controversy of the content. Because of this, teenagers talk about this problem frequently. Since more and more people hear about the ad, people are more likely to purchase Dr. Pepper Ten. When people are in the store, they would say, “Oh, I remember that commercial, why don’t I try it?” Then, they will end up buying Dr. Pepper Ten. What this commercial really does is put the product in mind of the new consumer, a feat this advertisement does very well.

boring outside view & vivid TV view

Firstly,the TV can bring visual impact.The TV open people's horizons,which let people learned a lot.The ad shows that things became perfect,in other wards,though the ad,the people feel that everything is very well.This is the effect of vivid television which brought us.The vivid TV can give rise to fresh.The boring outside view can give persons some vapidity.