Sex sells — we're just not sure whatPop quiz: Take a look at this ad. Examine it closely. Study it intently. Consider it, um, fully. Now what exactly is it selling?
Uhhh, push-up bras? Umm, skin care products? Errr, flotation devices? No. No. And, seriously, no. This ad is selling — drumroll, please — shampoo. Yes, shampoo. The stuff you wash your hair with every day. I am in no way joking.
More specifically, this is an ad from Brazil for Pantene Pro-V. And, oh, it gets better. Just wait until you read the tag line, which translates roughly to: “Ensure that your hair will be the second thing he looks at.” Get it? The second thing! Or, if you're being a stickler about the numbers, the third thing. Groan. And just in case you're not into brunettes, there is a blonde version. Wow, you've got to hand it to Pantene and its parent company, Procter & Gamble. They certainly are equal-opportunity employers when it comes to sleazy objectification.
Gosh, where to start? We could spend hours dissecting the blatant, unapologetic sexism inherent in this campaign. But even from a simple “buy my product” standpoint, this ad seems to be an epic failure. I mean, I can't be the only one perplexed by how bad the model's hair actually looks? Unless, of course, this is a new styling line called “Stringy & Unkempt,” in which case — wow, talk about your truth in advertising.
See, that's how it should be done. But these new ads... just ick. Darn it, Pantene. Now this means I have to go find a new shampoo. Submitted by on October 7, 2008 - 5:00pm. |
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My oh my.
Ew
i remember a tv add for car
The only way this could be
The only way this could be MORE offensive is if the models just had the damn shampoo bottles wedged into their cleavages. Or if the taglines read "Look at my boobs! Now buy Pantene!"
~Can't everything be like before when it overcomes me?~
LOL
I thought it was an add for breast-implants and/or photoshopping skills :P
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THE UNOFFICIAL JILL BENNETT FANCLUB WEBPAGE
http://www.freewebs.com/ujbfc
haha
My initial thought was
SPANDEX!
Then I remembered what decade it is...
Restoring age-damaged hair
Lol sexist or not that was clever.
-<_>_<_>_<_>_<_>_<_>
"The first duty of a man is to think for himself"
Jose Marti
I think the Mona Lisa one
I think the Mona Lisa one was meant to be an example of clever, not sexist.
I agree with the poster above about these being good ads for photoshopping skills, but they should have also photoshopped in some pretty hair while they were at it.
Clever ads
On First Glance
I thought it was an ad for Second Life for some similar virtual world. Then I looked more closely and realized that that picture is (purportedly) of an actual person. That's terrifying.
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"From error to error, one discovers the entire truth."
- Sigmund Freud
Trihardist's BlogAre U sure this is from Brazil?
Because the things in the add are written in spanish.
But this is ridiculous. If this is really from Brazil, than I feel we're more oldfashioned than I thought.
Straight Women
omg
but that is kind of a
but that is kind of a stupid way to get ppl to buy shampoo.... its more like pointless.
What??
I used Pantene and grew a cup size...
that's just honest advertising
Still dying of laughter
Your hilarity amuses me!
~I WITNESSED the death of THE COOL~
maybe its a culture thing
I am from the US, and my thoughts were pushup bra or breast implants or skin care products. But I had this conversation with my gf (who is Colombian)
Me: Look at this add and tell me what you think they are trying to sell.
Her: Shampoo.
Me: What??
Her: Am I right?
Me: Wow.
yes, it is
You're absolutely right, it's probably a culture thing.
Of course I don't think it makes the ad better, but I'll tell you I'm from Brazil and when I looked at the ad I really thought they were selling shampoo.
And I never thought of the pushup bra possibility. Only when you folks mentioned it here.
I agree
Fructis by Garnier
Forget Pantene and try Fructis. I love the way it smells and makes my hair feel soft. And so far, they haven't managed to offend me with big-boobed women in their advertising.
Don't send flowers! Send your girl a sexy gift basket!
http://www.ComeTogetherGiftBaskets.comScrolling down the page, i
Scrolling down the page, i initially thought selling shampoo. but when i scrolled more to reveal the rest of the picture, i thought selling breast implants. So maybe it's a promotional thing. Free implants with every purchase or free shampoo and conditioner with every implant procedure.
Bottom line....If you put your breast out there for all to see, they're gonna be seen. Why else where a push up bra and a low cut v-neck? Because it's hot outside and the only way to stay cool is to let your boobs breathe?
Not much thought put into advertising anymore.
Pantene
holy mother of...
Jeez the first thing that came to my mind was oh, that's cute, when i saw the top half.... then i scrolled down and was like HOLY F*CK are those real?
If they're not, those are some mad Photoshop Skills. Someone must have loved doing that.
The Way The Cookie Crumbles
No Borders Allowedi was spontaneously
Ha
Gosh... That boobie ad
Gosh...
That boobie ad would never be allowed in a million years in my country...
Maybe it's a cultural thing, but I, along with many other women of my country, straight or otherwise, would find that rather offensive...The ad just would not make sense at all.
along the same line....
Burton Snow Boards has a line of boards called "Love" that feature playboy bunny photos from the seventies. Here's the marketing language that goes with the product (from the Burton website): "Hi. My name is Love™ and I’m on the market for someone who’s looking to score serious action, no matter where they like to stick it. I enjoy laps through the park; long, hard grinds on my meaty Park Edges followed by a good, hot waxing. Whether you’re hitting it from the front or the back, my mid wide shape, supple flex, and twin tips like it kinky. Keegan and Mikkel love riding me, I hope you will too."
This has caused quite an uproar here in Vermont (home of Burton):
http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2008/09/new-burton-boar.html
http://tinyurl.com/3ws2aq
IMO Burton has jumped the shark with this campaign in a desperate attempt to appeal the the 14-21 year old male market.
The Magical Shampoo
No Hair in Shampoo Ad
Where I come from (conservative Islamic country), we had an ad showin on local tv a few years back where the girl was wearing an Islamic headdress. She was a popular local actress, was recently married and had sported the headdress post-nuptials. Throughout the ad, she was seen in the shower shampoo-ing(so typical), but we only see foam on her head, nary a hair to be seen..it turned out to be one of the most popular shampoo ads ever..
Go figure...
Volume.... in MORE PLACES than one....
well.... i'll admit that i thought the ad was okay.... then i scrolled down and, "OHMYG-D THEY'RE HUGE!!".... out loud too.... at least no one heard me :D. suffice to say.... i didn't really get "shampoo" from that advertisement.... until i read further :).
purrito >' '<
Boobs
Does anybody else think that their boobs look weird? Hmmmm...maybe it's just me.
My sister's a hairdresser, and she said Pantene is bad for your hair. Something about it coating the hair in protein (or something), and making it look crap if you use it for too long (or something)...i'm sure it's very technical...anyway, I'm not allowed to use it :/
Shit ads, shit product...
One of my friends told me
One of my friends told me the same thing about Pantene. She said your hair can't breathe or something like that.
I also thought that the model's hair looked stringy and unkempt. And greasy.
This ad is so disgusting. So fucking disgusting.
ugh
No, I totally agree. They were weird, fake, and... exposed. How demeaning. That ad was a complete boo-crap. 10 bucks says someone of the opposite sex came up with it. (If I had more than $10, that money would be on this statement as well)