If you haven’t read this article, please go do that now then continue reading this.

I’ll try to address this post from a few different angles: my inner fat kid, my inner advertiser and my blunt side.

My Inner Fat Kid

I was never severely overweight but at times in my life I probably looked similar to this kid on the left. It sucked, being a chunky kid. My mom bought me “husky” jeans and I was never as fast or as strong as any of my other friends, so it seemed. I can remember some of the insults hurled my way by one particular redneck kid (who probably got busted for making meth later in life). He’d say things like, “Fag,” “Faggot,” “Gay,” or “Gay-wad.” Kids can be cruel. Luckily I never let this dude get to me too much but that’s not the case for other kids. The guy insulting me had no basis for those insults except I was a chunky, timid kid. I can’t imagine it’s gotten any easier for kids these days. I never really lost that weight until I started playing soccer in high school and began running a lot. It made me feel good about myself. Losing that weight improved my self image. It sucks that losing weight made my self image improve. I should’ve been okay with myself no matter what. It did make me realize that being okay with yourself doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to be better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

All that to say, I’ve still never really gotten over feeling like a fat kid. In my head I’m still that kid, sometimes, and that isn’t easy. I know what it’s like to be the kid in these images. Looking back I know that the reason I was chunky is because my mom let me order & eat two Sonic cheeseburgers when I was 8 years old. It wasn’t my fault at that age. Once I became aware of how to control eating that much food & the affects exercise had on my body it became my responsibility to be a healthier person.

My inner fat kid really isn’t bothered by these ads. It’s hard to be reflective and view it from a child’s stance but I can only hope that it sparks a conversation between kids like myself and their parents. I can only hope that other kids who pick on the chunky kids will see that these kids don’t understand why they are the way they are anymore than the skinny kids do.

My Inner Advertiser

I’m in love with this ad. It pushes the boundaries. It challenges us. It gets conversation started, probably more than those really nice, “My pretend friend Shrek likes to go outside & play so I should do the same!” billboards because guess what, exercise isn’t the only key to being healthy. Many people go on exercise plans and completely ignore their diet. Yes, there are a number of different reasons for people’s excess in weight but I’m willing to guess that at nearly 90% of overweight children could see change in their bodies with a change in their diet.

This campaign leaves nothing to question, the point is made and done so quickly. As a graphic designer/advertiser I get it. It makes sense to me. It’s way more interesting than just about anything else they could’ve done. I also understand that positive reinforcement is generally a better idea than negativity, but I kind of see it like this: so far our positive, neat little messages aren’t working, so it’s time for someone to step the game up, start conversations, and create some change.

My Blunt Side

I’m all for having a positive body image and getting rid of the stigma towards overweight individuals, but at some point we have to stop coddling and say, “Enough is enough. You’re overweight and that’s unhealthy. If it’s absolutely something you can’t help, then I’m sorry, you’re kind of screwed in the whole thing & I hope that people don’t judge you based on that. However, if it is something you can change, it needs to change.” Being overweight isn’t healthy. Whether it’s caused by your diet, your genetics, medication side effects, disease, whatever, it’s just not healthy. At some point it’s going to take a toll on your body. Your heart is going to get pissed, your organs will stop functioning properly , your muscles will get weaker, and you’ll die. That happens to all of us but being overweight only increases the chances of those things happening at a faster rate.

And I know, we don’t all need to be skinny-minnies because that’s not healthy either. Girls, especially girls, I’m not saying you need to be tiny to be sexy or healthy, that’s just not true. I know plenty of people who aren’t skinny that are really sexy, healthy individuals and I don’t want to rip you of that or make you feel like something needs to change because it doesn’t. Guys as well, we don’t have to be cut with six packs and bulging biceps to be healthy, sexy people. It’s just not true, it’s a media stigma that we need to let go of.

So, This Guy Sounds Like a Butthole, What Does He Think Should Be Done?

Education, education, education. If nothing else let’s hope these types of ad campaigns spark good conversation, conversations about our health and what we can do to make that better. Conversations about school lunches being healthier, parents having a better understanding of nutrition, making it easier for those in different socio-economic brackets to have access to healthy food. Education my friends. That’s the name of the game for me. I think that with education we can create a shift in our society. It won’t be easy, especially since we’re so far gone, but I believe it’s not too late. Let’s reach out to our friends and family. Let’s educate each other. It’s possible to eat healthy on a budget, even if you’re only option is Walmart. It. Is. Possible.

If you feel strongly about any of this, there are ways to get involved:
http://saladbars2schools.org/
http://www.foodfamilyfarming.org/
http://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/
http://www.thelunchbox.org/community/lunch-box-blog
http://www.dunbargarden.org/ (Little Rock local)

Everyone in advertising is going ape shit over Old Spice right now. They’re doing it right, they really are. Funny ads, great social media engagement/responses via youtube. It’s all looking good. Here’s where I get a little lost: who’s the market? Are they trying to reclaim the bros that Axe stole by offering them a false sense of authenticity? Are they just creating an awareness and appreciation for their brand? Is there a sense of nostalgia that I don’t feel because no man in my family has ever been an Old Spice man?

Obviously I’m not the target market. I hate products that smell. They’re annoying and make me want to sneeze. I make my purchases on a more pretentious, conscious level. If I knew that Old Spice didn’t test on animals, had better ingredients and offered an unscented product I might buy it. However, I don’t want to put the research into that when I already know of several other brands who meet those requirements. Also, my ideals of being a man don’t really match up with any popular-modern-masculine-bath-product. I don’t want to feel like I’m driving a race car when I’m shaving, no need to send me up in a fighter jet to wash my hair and I don’t need to feel like I can sweep a beautiful girl off her feet because of the deodorant I wear or body wash I use.

The only advertising campaign in recent years that’s made me want to buy the product were the Ketel One Vodka spots. You know why…because fuck Grey Goose. I want vodka on the rocks, I want to smoke cigars, wear suits and drink with my buddies. We’ll complain about work, run gambling rackets in the back of our restaurant, pay off the cops and do what we want. I don’t want to walk around in a bow tie as some arm candy for a French model while she orders a dry martini with 2 olives.

While Old Spice is killing it in the ad game, I feel like because I work in advertising I should recognize that their product’s really not that great…they just got a really creative agency to pass them off as being great. Anyone can do that right? I guess in comparison to the other modern products I’d choose Old Spice. I’d rather have that than Axe or Bod or whatever else is out there.

Thoughts? Am I missing the point?

Do I need some sort of television service so I can see these ads more often? Yes.

Do I like vodka more than deodorant? Yes.

@andreasmalec: RT @rebeccawissler The new glass ceiling will be gen Y’s climbing the ladder then waiting for senior mgmt to retire. #lma10

I wikipedia’d gen y and I think I fall under that category?

I agree whole heartedly with this tweet. It’s very evident in the places I’ve worked and attended school. These old folks won’t freaking leave. Either become relevant or gtfo. As for ‘climbing the ladder’ which I associate with the ‘American dream’ I rather despise it. I have absolutely no interest in gaining ground, climbing the ladder and being in senior mgmt. All I want is to do what I do, get paid appropriately, pay off my student loans then do whatever I want. There are some things I want to accomplish in my life: start a clothing line, start a music/opinion blog that’s well read, be in a band and some other things. I feel pretty locked in to the corporate world until the student loans are paid off. I know it’s not necessarily true but it also means I don’t view the corporate work force as the perfect solution to working. I don’t wanna be the CEO, the Senior Creative Director, etc. I want to pay off my student loans and be happy. If the opportunity for advancement comes I’m not saying I’ll turn it down but my idea of success isn’t to be the top dawg.

My questions are these: does my generation give a crap about the american dream at all? do we give a shit to climb the ladder? a lot of my friends (college grads) still haven’t put their degree to use and I don’t blame them. They have cool/fun jobs at places like Whole Foods and other neat restaurants/venues. (btw, if you’ve never worked the food service industry you’re missing out, it can really be a blast, maybe not for a lifetime, but for a good couple years) Will my generation regret not wanting to climb the ladder when after 6 years of working food service we can’t get a ‘real’ job b/c we have no experience and what we learned in college has become irrelevant? Are some of us just grinding the corporate world for a few years to ‘get it out of the way’?

The first season is incredible.

It rolls beautifully from the hand held prototype that got the show its spot in the first place. The humor’s on point, everything feels organic. It just works. Maybe some shows should stop after that. You know, after you don’t have the idea anymore, let it go. Do something else, like the BBC Office. Now I can’t say this with complete confidence because I haven’t finished the 2nd season or even begun the 3rd season but halfway through this second season I’m losing faith. In every scene where the gang is drinking somewhere besides Paddy’s they’re holding a Coors or Coors Light. Every shot inside of Paddy’s displays some sort of Coors paraphernalia. I’ve even noticed several of the episodes in a row either being completely about taking down ‘the man’ or at least some lines that take shots at ‘the man.’ Is this going to be like Arrested Development? I mean the last time I saw this kind of blatant irony was with Arrested Development. They knew the show was tanking and wasn’t going any further so they started being conspicuously ironic during the last season. Just go back and watch it, you’ll see.

The other thing I noticed in the first season is that the bar seems to be a little dirtier. It has a more homely feel. I understand Frank comes in and makes em clean up but the second season sees the bar with a little less natural character. Things seem more plotted and less organic. In the first season I saw Thrice stickers in several different shots. Thrice is a post-hardcore/hardcore/experimental band from California. Obviously someone on the show likes them and that’s why the stickers were there. Season 2, those stickers are gone. I did see Mac wearing a Bleeding Through shirt which I took as him saying in a way, “screw off Coors!” Does Coors know who Bleeding Through is? Probably not. Does it matter? Probably not. I just hope I’m not witnessing the demise of a great show.

Maybe I’m making all of this up and it’s a fabrication of how I feel about ‘the man’ and big time corporations.

At any rate, I’m hoping the second half of season 2 picks up or that season 3 is incredible.

DVS Skate & Create Submission

DC Skate & Create Submission

UK Texting While Driving PSA

This one’s circling the interwebs right now. True, using your phone while driving isn’t the smartest idea but this video just portrays something ridiculous. How about we show the annoying parts like, oh you know, the guy you rear ended and having to wait on the cop and having to collect insurance and having to pay to get your bumper fixed and having to go to court or just paying off the $100 or so ticket. That’s more of a reality. This is like, cars flying everywhere. Especially the one that t-bones them, where did it come from? The magical forrest? Did that car not see them from the 100 yards back from whence it was coming and slow the f*ck down? K, done ranting. Mediocre job.

Australian Drugs and Driving Ad

Ok this one is just insane. I guess it’s closer to reality because it’s just something random that could happen because you weren’t paying attention…but wait, that’s just it! It’s something that could happen regardless of drugs. You could just step out of your car to switch drivers because you’re tired, not notice someone coming by and all of a sudden, kaputz. Stay away from that reefer or you’ll get rund over.

Above The Influence ‘Human Puppet’ PSA

I swear. Kids these days. Is this what they do now? Well I’ve actually never ever ever done this. Maybe once, and the person was probably awake and let us. Whatever the scenario, it was funny and there were no drugs or alcohol involved. It was just college kids goofing off. I suppose this is embarrassing but I could think of far worse things to be done to someone who was passed out.

Above The Influence ‘Fitting In’ PSA

Now for the good! This PSA is great. It’s cool, it’s simple, it’s not pushy and it’s got a great tune. I will watch this PSA over and over and over and over. The kid makes his choices and still gets to do cool stuff. This one just doesn’t portray any ridiculous situation or happening and for that, I give it a thumbs up.

Conclusion

I guess I should end by saying I don’t think any of these are necessarily wrong just that they don’t portray accurately what happens. They pick out the 1% chance of something absurd happening and use that. It’s like when you’re in church as a little kid and you get really scared of going to hell so you go down front, say a prayer and/or get baptized. It doesn’t really mean anything. You just did it cos you were scared and once that wears off you’ll be back to the same shenanigans.

Remixed Slap Chop

Original Slap Chop

So I just thought this would be kinda witty and funny. Then I remembered the Talib Kweli lyric from his song Eat To Live,

“It’s harder than it sound, cause nowadays, put that swine in everything
The white sugar so addictive it’s like pure ‘caine
They got, pork in the toothpaste, soda in the Sunny D
Jello brand gelatin is laced with the lecatin
In Africa they starvin, over here the food hurt you
Cows goin mad and the chickens crunk with bird flu
It’s too ill how the food kill it’s like blue steel
Lies never set you free, but the truth will
The truth still matter the proof is in the batter or the pudding
You can tell we eatin good, we gettin fatter”

Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear- Two Weeks of Hip Hop (by The Hood Internet)

You should also check out The Hood Internet. They’re the ones who put this little mashup together. I’ve got some tracks from them before, like a mashup of Death From Above 1979 vs. Three 6 Mafia.

The Almighty Defenders- Bow Down And Die