If The Dodge Charger Made Ads For Oppressed Women
[youtube:v=ou5Ens-qNRc]
Last Superbowl Sunday, Dodge staged a rallying cry for all men who feel oppressed by the demands of the modern heterosexual relationship. "I will put the seat down. I will separate the recycling. I will carry your lipbalm," emasculated Dodge guy announces, before reclaiming his masculinity by getting behind the wheel of a Charger.
What if Dodge focused its ad on all the demands placed on the modern woman, in the hopes that a healthy reminder of that other gender-based oppression might inspire women to go out and buy a big fucking car? What would the demoralized Dodge woman say? According to this female response to Dodge, written and directed by MacKenzie Fegan and shot by Paul Yee, she would say: "I will watch Superbowl commercials that depict men as emasculated and depressed, and I will feel so fucking sorry for you." Full transcript after the jump.
I will get up and pack your lunch at 6:30 a.m. I will eat half a grapefruit for breakfast. I will get the kids ready for school. I will ignore your smelly loser friend who is crashing on our couch. I will make 75 cents for every dollar you make doing the same job. I will assert myself and get called a bitch. I will catch you staring at my breasts but pretend not to notice. I will put my career on hold to raise your children. I will diet, Botox, and wax. Everything. I will assure you that size doesn't matter. I will be a lady in the street but a freak in the bed. I will turn a blind eye to your ever-encroaching baldness. I will humor your Fantasy Baseball obsession. I will pretend not to notice when you cry at the end of Rudy. I will watch TV shows where fat, stupid, unattractive men have beautiful wives. I will allow you to cheat on me with other women. I will see Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Twice. I will elect male politicians who will make a decision about my body. I will listen to Rush and tell you, yes, if there were a gold metal for air-drumming, you would win it. I will get angry, and you will ask if it's that time of the month. I will watch Superbowl commercials that depict men as emasculated and depressed, and I will feel so fucking sorry for you.
2:43 pm
It says it's been removed by the user...no!!!
3:18 pm
So husbands aren't supposed to stare at their wifes breasts? She's nagging me about everything else why doesn't she complain about that and pretend not to notice?
4:03 pm
And enriching an auto maker with the fruit of her husband's labor will somehow solve any of these things?
4:09 pm
I want to defend these ads (except the Danica Patrick one, which is obviously sexist), but I don't want to allign myself with the other defenders on these boards. Those folks seem either totally misogynistic in tone, incredibly easily entertained in the sense that they think these ads are funny, or stupid in the sense that they don't seem to know what "satire" means.
I think part of the disconnect is that the characters of these ads seem totally alien to the kind of enlightened people who would read and/or write a northeastern metropolitan feminist blog. To this audience, of course women aren't shrill, controlling harpies, and of course men aren't illiterate, sex-and-beer-obsessed oafs (oaves?). It's great that, among this audience, those stereotypes don't hold true, and even to the extent that they do, we recognize that a little bit of compromise in a relationship and mild subversion of one's traditional gender role are small prices to pay for the joy of companionship.
That said, most people in this country are a.)really dumb and b.)insufferable assholes. They were never brought up to think critically about politics, religion, cultural norms, and so on, and they've been rendered basically incapable of doing so. One of the results of this is that they willingly submit to the very stereotypes presented in these commercials. There really are plenty of women out there who really are incessant naggers (but who otherwise play the submissive role in their relationship) with husbands who feel legitimate (if unfounded) anguish when they have to subvert their sense of traditional masculinity. There really are plenty of men who are proudly anti-intellectual meatheads and feel society expects and requires them to be domineering. Millions of couples related strongly to these ads.
These are the idiots and assholes to whom Dodge is selling cars. Because seriously, who would buy a Dodge other than an idiot or an asshole?
I'm not defending these ads are being worthwhile, just as not being particularly sexist. And who gives a shit anyway, cause the fuckin Saints won the Superbowl! Who dat!
4:26 pm
I just realized my argument is kind of all over the place. What I'm trying to say is that lots of men and women really do suck in the gender-specific ways depicted in the ad, and if you found it degrading, you weren't part of the target audience. Dodge doesn't care about you and you shouldn't care about them. Why were you watching the commercials anyway? You should have been busy making prop bets with your friends for the next set of downs.
4:49 pm
I have one big problem with this video. ALL people love Paul Blart: Mall Cop - not just men.
5:02 pm
JB,
I don't think the fact that there are people who fit and believe these stereotypes is a good argument for excusing people who create media that perpetuate them. If anything it is an argument for the opposite side. It is true that people really do have to live these crap lives because they don't know that they could actually not be "shrill controlling harpies" or "illiterate, sex-and-beer-obsessed oafs" then it that actually makes it EVEN WORSE.
Why not challenge these people and possibly make their lives a little better by helping them see that their spouse doesn't have to be their enemy, that there is nothing wrong with them if they don't fit the rigid definitiosn of what is normal based on how their genitalia is shaped.
6:01 pm
This is fantastic, and I agree wholeheartedly with JB about the problems with exploiting sexism for profit, but I do actually expect my wife to tolerate my obsession with fantasy baseball. IT'S AT HEART A MATH GAME.
6:37 pm
Awesome Awesome Awesome. Thank the heavens for this video!
6:59 pm
This is why I constantly disagree with feminists. Thank you for your misdirected anger, and thank you for violently stating your viewpoints, with profanity no less. I have officially lost all respect for you.
Many points of the feminist movement are completely legitimate, but the feminists obesessed with the ridiculous all-encompassing dogma of their movement have lost their way. They have missed the mark. This is taking the feminist movement a step backward, depicting feminists as catty women filled with anger, and presenting an illogical emotional argument for an (almost) equally ridiculous car commercial.
The fundamental flaw of a movement which seeks to promote equal rights for women is that NO ONE IS EQUAL. Women and men have funadamental differences that will never be equalized because of their very nature. While I agree that women deserve the same rights as men in many respects, and these rights must still be pursued, there are concessions which must be made in order for both sexes to coexist harmoniously.
Yes, there was a great satirical element in this video, one which showed that men and women both have to put up with each other. Realistically, however, anyone who takes a superbowl ad seriously (unless it is about donating to Red Cross Relief for Haiti) is severely misguided.
7:34 pm
Everyone has natural differences - it's true; all individuals are different, and they do not fit into rigid binary boxes (male & female, for example) .
Also, there has been no gene for "I am the boss of you" discovered in the genome project. Nor have I heard of the "nagging" or "submission" genes.
Blah, blah, blah natural differences. Blah, blah, blah - how can I respect feminists if they curse. Feminists have never heard this before. Oh wait.
I also suspect that G's version of harmoniously coexisting involves the women in his life doing exactly what he tells them.
7:45 pm
Such retorts did not work with men's "The Penis Monologues" and it does not work here. As I said on the other post, no feminists actually want to ask why men feel like the Dodge ad represented their opinions. It is much easier to simply mock them, although in this instance doing so only makes one look worse than the men who actually agreed with the ad. Responses like the above video are precisely why so many people think feminists hate men, and the video does an excellent job of demonstrating that feminists do seem to hate men.
That said, the greatest irony is that this video -- as inane and petulant as it is -- actually proves the satire of the Dodge ad was well placed. It is like watching Fox News talking heads retort Daily Show bits. Feminists do their own movement a disservice every time they react like this.
7:55 pm
Hahah you guys are too much. The Dodge ad was "just satire!" and offended parties need to lighten up. But some women make a spoof of the ad and all of a sudden it's very serious bidness. I especially love the "you feminists are angry!" response above. The men in the original ad get no such reaction, despite their anger over... having to pick up after themselves and eat fruit.
Women have to deal with annoyances too; that is the point. On top of that we deal with institutional sexism. But you'll only see a spoof like this on YouTube; our concerns don't get air time on national television so you can settle your manly heads.
8:05 pm
JB your defense is so elitist and so full of BS. Do you really think our country is full of people who are walking talking stereotypes. You, the educated, modern, city dweller is a unique and special individual but anyone living in the country or anyone with conservative morals must be living a horrible, miserable, red neck existence.
Do you honestly think that regular Americans do not have happy, loving, and respectful relationships with the opposite gender.
This add represents a stereotype, and the thing with stereotypes is that they don't represent real people because real people are more complex than "incessant naggers" and "anti-intellectual meatheads".
I would seriously reconsider your disgustingly snobbish attitude towards millions of Americans, because the idea that you are somehow better because you live in the city is seriously laughable.
8:10 pm
Yeah I can see many a feminist cheering for this response video as if it is so accurate and disproves the Dodge ad. This is nothing but the result of someone getting pissed at the Dodge ad and making a response video in hopes of justifying their anger. Funny thing is it hits and misses just like the Dodge ad (maybe that was the intent but I doubt it).
Toy Soldier:
Responses like the above video are precisely why so many people think feminists hate men, and the video does an excellent job of demonstrating that feminists do seem to hate men.
If not hate men at least respond to the way men feel by telling them to basically "Man up! I've got it worse!"
8:17 pm
How should women respond to the complaints in the original ad, Danny? I'd really like to know.
8:24 pm
Well I take that women would be pissed because some of the things in that ad are bullshit so the response is to do pretty much the same thing by way of making a response ad in which some of things are just as much bullshit as the ad that is being responding to?
Or are we supposed to believe that all the things in this ad above are undeniable fact?
8:28 pm
The reason this doesn't work is it's too close to the truth. Hearing men whine about the matriarchy controlling them is a god-damned joke. This hits all too close to reality.
And leave it to a dude to explain what feminists need to do. It wouldn't be a thread here (or on Broadsheet) without a bunch of dudes telling women the right way to feminist.
8:45 pm
Toysoldier, HOW MANY TIMES have you whined "No one talks about the issues in this ad," and yet I've asked you OVER and OVER again to actually present a defense of these "issues" of which you speak, and you've failed to do so.
Yet again, the definition of satire: Mockery FOR A CORRECTIVE PURPOSE. The men's version of the ad does NOT present any satire, because it is not trying to correct anything...it is marketed to men who see nothing wrong with their immature ways and just want a car to indulge them. Not shining any moral lights, not seeking to correct anything = not satire. The woman's version of the ad DOES try to correct things--it points out unfairness in how women are paid less than men, how women sacrifice professionally for their families, and how men complain IN A NATIONALLY TELEVISED forum how "oppressed" they are when asked to behave like decent human beings. It highlights the absurdity in the men's complaints, and therefore serves as satire.
How does this ad "show that feminists hate men"? I think it shows that feminists object to 1) being paid less for equal work, 2) having a disproportionate share of family responsibilities, 3) being told to starve themselves and get surgical procedures to be "good enough," and 4) being treated like insufferable nags for wanting a VERY basic level of respect. This isn't "hating men," it's objecting to people who are treating others demonstrably badly. There's nothing inherently male about being the kind of asshole the guys in the Dodge commercial were being...it's no precious "autonomy," "dignity," or celebrated maleness to be rude to people's relatives or discriminate, it's just being an asshole.
Furthermore, what is all this shit about "Feminists do their movement a disservice when they react like this"?? On the other thread about the Dodge ad, you cheered a guy who ran a campaign to REMOVE a Verizon ad who showed a father who didn't know what Wikipedia is. You actually claimed feminists were negligent in not being pro-active enough about challenging ads that were unflattering TO MEN. Now, you're saying we're overreacting when we satirize an ad--not try to get it removed, mind you, but satirize it (see the definition of satire above)--that vilifies women, and we're somehow out of line? What hypocrisy!
8:54 pm
Ladies, isn't it sweet that G thinks we women deserve the same rights as men in many respects?
9:11 pm
John Dias, the parody most certainly DOES NOT advocate enriching an automaker...where did you even get that notion?
And why are you so quick to assume she's using "the fruit of her husband's labor"?! Many, many women have their own finances. I know it's hard for you, but try to stop being such a chauvinistic pig.
9:54 pm
The fact that we are still talking about the ad over a week later now tells me that the ad did what it was supposed to do -- hype Dodge and generate some buzz.... Without any buzz, an ad quickly falls out of favor and loses its luster. This one seems to have legs. Do people here realize the environment we live in today with 100+ channels, DVRs and TIVOs that zap through commercials?? Ad recognition is becoming harder and harder for advertisers. Is anyone here looking at this from a capitalists perspective ?
10:27 pm
I am looking at it from a capitalist's perspective and I have vowed not to buy a Chrysler product. Until such time as the company apologizes for its offensive ad.
10:37 pm
I don't know if you ladies noticed (what with being humor and proportionality impaired) but the parody is much more hateful than the original ad.
1. The original ad features men saying the things they'll do, all of which reinforce the idea that men are slovenly and lazy.
2. The parody features women saying the things that they won't do in response to men being such awful pigs all the time, reinforcing the idea that men (such as my very muscular, stinky and charger-driving self) are only out to hurt you, baby. Where the ad was basically saying "Men suck, and will do whatever you want them to do for the chance to drive a DODGE CHARGER," the parody says "Men suck. They cheat on you, they somehow trick you into having and taking care of the kids, and ALL OF THEM think women who stand up for themselves are bitches."
3. The parody actually manages to out-unfunny the original ad. Which is funny, since there's nothing funny about the original, while at the same time actually making me hate women marginally more, because I now hate all the women involved in its production.
4. Women doing equal work don't earn a quarter less money.
10:45 pm
Also, for anyone just joining us:
THE AD IS A FUCKING AD. It wasn't produced to make a point about how women are horrible, nagging harpies. It is supposed to sell cars.
THE PARODY IS (supposedly) A CRITICAL RESPONSE TO THE AD. While in fact it is a deep-cover troll plot by actual misogynists to make feminists look like fly-off-the-handle crazy bitches who actually espouse the very same gender-hatred that they claim to fight against, all while being painfully unfunny.
10:45 pm
That ad is hilarious to me, thanks for sharing Amanda. I'm a sucker for good satire.
I think my favorite thing about this ad is all the mansplainers coming out of the woodwork to let all us wittle bitty girls know that we're just angry man-haters and what we should do is blah blah blah. So apparently the original Dodge ad wasn't angry or woman-hating at all, right? But a woman reciting a laundry list of complaints, totally unacceptable and totally proof that we're man-haters. Um. No. Just no.
11:07 pm
I see there are lots of trolls out looking for scraps, so rather than feed them, I will just say that the parody vid is excellent and makes me feel marginally better about suffering through the original.
Now, all it needs is a drinking game . . .
11:22 pm
"I think my favorite thing about this ad is all the mansplainers coming out of the woodwork to let all us wittle bitty girls know that we’re just angry man-haters and what we should do is blah blah blah. So apparently the original Dodge ad wasn’t angry or woman-hating at all, right? But a woman reciting a laundry list of complaints, totally unacceptable and totally proof that we’re man-haters. Um. No. Just no."
Wow! Aren't you just so satirical with your sarcasm.
The problem, as someone kindly diagrammed for you, is that the dodge ad basically says that men are bums, since they have to be nagged to do all these REASONABLE AND NORMAL tasks, presuming that they're speaking to their girlfriend/wife/whatever.
The spoof ad says that men are scum who cheat, call you a bitch, and have smelly friends.
See how that's not a satire? It doesn't point out any inconsistancies or mistakes or assumptions in the original, it just says that men are bad. Not just that, but because it's structurally the same as the first, we're supposed to assume that a man has nagged these women to do these COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE, UNFAIR things, because men are bad.
Now, if you read that, and you think "You're just a manpologist, it's hilarious satire and the original is a women-hating piece of propamanda," well then maybe you should be in a relationship with someone who likes to call you a bitch when you stand up for yourself.
11:26 pm
And how do you find anger in the original ad? No guy is saying "I won't mock you for not being able to hold your liquor. I will ignore how you were flirting with my best man. I will deny to the end that you've gained any weight. I will cook, clean, and work full time so you can stay at home and watch your stories."
That's what an angry, misogynistic ad would've sounded like, because those are examples of men saying "I'll bend over backwards because that's what you demand," which would imply that their wives and girlfriends are horrible harpies.
Interestingly, that's a lot closer to the tone of the spoof than the ad. Maybe you should look in a mirror.
11:30 pm
Haha, what a bunch of concern trolls! It's hysterical to see men here playing the outrage game and trying to rein in feminists with how they should be acting out of some false concern for the movement. Get over it dicks, no one believes you.
11:39 pm
What stands out to me is that the "sacrifices" of the original ad are
not real sacrifices at all, more like very minor deferments of male
ego and performative masculinity. The sacrifices of the response ad
are disempowered acts of upholding or tolerating male dominance and
privilege. That's some scary shit that represents two sides of a very
sad, stereotypical gender dynamic. In general, it makes me feel worse about the very important question of how two people can be in a romantic relationship that is not patriarchal but one of genuine love -- that subverts power dynamics and avoids prioritizing one's own ego or one' partner's at the expense of mutual growth and does the opposite.
I wish that we could make a third ad about love, and in it present
male and female characters in hetero- and homosexual bonds listing
ways that they consent to giving of themselves in ways that are
actually loving. Like, "I will fully focus my attention on you even
when I am tired or distracted." "I will carry your bag when you are
tired." "I will stay up late with you to help you finish your
thesis." "I will tell you the truth even when it makes me
uncomfortable." "I will go with you to the hospital to care for your
dying mother despite years of her homophobic commentary." "I will
ensure that we use birth control out of respect for both our bodies."
"I will honor the past after and during our fights." "I will control
my temper, and call you out if you do not control yours."
And for a last line I'd suggest something like, "When a commercial
attempts to make me feel artificially degraded me so that I will buy
their overpriced car, I will raise an eyebrow and scoff, and you will
do so with me."
11:49 pm
Claire, you realize the difference in the magnitudes of the sacrifices are due to the fact that the original ad employs these minor sacrifices as a way of saying "men are really this lazy" while the spoof uses the very extreme sacrifices to say "Men are really this horribly demanding".
That's the problem with it, it somehow equates a totally valid and in-the-right complaint like "Wash the sink out" with the hypothetical male's complaint "Have my kid and let me ogle you, and then cheat on you, while you take care of the kid." There's just no relationship, men would agree that all of the things in the spoof are unfair, and that the ones in the dodge ad are totally fair. But if people want to claim the dodge ad is relying on the idea of a naggy (albeit very reasonable) wife/GF (who the critics seem to think stands for EVERY SINGLE WOMAN IN THE WORLD), then they have to admit that the spoof has an unseen husband/BF/Hyperdouche (who I guess would be every guy ever).
12:05 am
Dawn, there is a very simple difference: Dodge does not actually believe anything presented in its ad. It is simply a sarcastic parody of how some men view themselves used to sell a product.
In contrast, the feminist from the video actually believes the things she says, so it is not satire and it is not really parody. She is literally just reciting a list of complaints. Normally that would be fine, except the only reason the video was made was to prove males have no right or reason to complain. In other words, the feminist video was made purely out of spite.
The problem is that feminists cannot say the Dodge ad is hateful and sexist, but then argue that the feminist response video is also not hateful or sexist, not unless you wish to pull a Nixonian "When feminists do it, it's not sexist." In all seriousness, it is an immature response. It demonstrates that even if the prompt to the discussion is an idiotic, unfunny, albeit brilliant piece of advertising, feminists do not consider any male grievances valid. And this is the same response feminists have to men's groups advocating for domestic violence and rape services for boys and men. Feminists simply do not think men or boys experience any legitimate grievances.
Honestly, this video is no different than some of the hate videos I have seen from MRAs on Youtube.
12:36 am
If the Dodge ad was sexist, how is this one any better? I actually thought both were stupid, whiny rants about how the opposite sex has "oppressed" them in some way that were pointless wastes of time, but that's just me.
12:47 am
It's also sweet when people who don't understand feminism and can't be bothered to learn put us in our place by saying they've finally, after (fill in the blank), lost all respect for feminists.
1:07 am
"I won’t mock you for not being able to hold your liquor ... those are examples of men saying "I’ll bend over backwards because that’s what you demand""
Really, Storke Power? Refraining from mocking someone about something as trivial as alcohol tolerance is "bending over backwards"?
1:12 am
A real feminist would never rely on "I'm a feminist and you're not" as a defense of their argument. That's all you have. A real feminist, if there were something to react to in the dodge ad, would've explained what was offensive about it.
Look, the only way the dodge ad is offensive is if you accept these two premises:
1. That the person the men are responding to is a representation of women generally.
2. That men assume that the message of the ad is that this everywoman is a nagging harpy.
1 is possible, but 2 is patently false. Everyone I've talked to about the ad thinks that the requests made of the men are absolutely reasonable, and wouldn't really be termed nags by anyone with half a brain.
The other problem is with the interpretation of the spoof. If you think the spoof is somehow justified or accurate, you need to accept:
1. That the structure implies there is an everyman requesting that the women of the ad comply with his 'nags'.
2. That the nags presented are ones that reasonably represent the feelings of the average man.
Again, 1 is fine, but 2 doesn't make sense. I don't know any guy who'd say that those are fair or equitable demands. So what the spoof actually does is set up a fake evil everyman, and then say "look how bad this guy is". It doesn't make sense.
And finally, to find it compelling as satire, you have to believe that the average man would think that the demands in the dodge ad are equivalent to the demands in the spoof, which is just stupid.
1:15 am
"Really, Storke Power? Refraining from mocking someone about something as trivial as alcohol tolerance is “bending over backwards”?"
Ok, bad example. But that's not really the point.
1:52 am
Okay, everyone here needs to realize how to watch a satire. Honestly, I haven't even seen the dodge ad, so I'm speaking not from a comparative point of view. To me, this reads as women who are getting aggravated due to the oppressions society (both men and women) have put upon them, yet if they speak out, they will considered "whiny" and "bitchy." Oh hey, kind of like what's happening here...
And no one should like Paul Blart: Mall Cop. That movie should be used in lieu of water-boarding, it was that horrendous.
2:30 am
How can you tell people they should learn how to watch a satire, then claim something about the satire, without having ever watched the thing it's supposed to be satirizing?
2:32 am
And if you think this is a decent satire and you haven't seen the thing its about, you're a nutter; because how satirical is "I'm sarcastically pretending to say yes to something guys wouldn't actually demand of me anyway"
That's like me saying "Yeah, Obama should really nuke Pakistan, that'd be a great idea." and then calling it a satire of his foreign policy.
2:36 am
Toysoldier, let me try to explain AGAIN what satire is: mockery to highlight absurdity and thus seek to correct it. The women's ad is not a satire of women's grievances--it says those very clearly and honestly (although it is trying to correct it, as such, it would be called a "critique"). It IS a satire of the men's ad, in that it is using the structure to point out the very real problems that women face as a contrast with the petty and stupid stuff the men are complaining about. It therefore shows that the Dodge ad is absurd and that such whiny attitudes need to be corrected. Hence, satire.
Please, Toysoldier, please. Before you say the word "satire" one more time, please take a friggin' English lit class. Really.
And your trying to claim false equivalence between the two ads is nonsense. We are perfectly right to state that men shouldn't complain about the things presented in the Dodge ad, because NO ONE is justified in complaining about those things. EVERYONE has to be civil to one another, regardless of gender. Anyone who won't go to work is a lazy slob. Any decent human being would clean out a sink or not leave dirty underwear around a space they share with another person. Someone who complains about stupid juvenile shit like that (male or female) deserves to be mocked.
And where the hell do you get off thinking you can say it's an "immature response" to highlight the fact that women get paid less for equal work, have politicians try to limit their access to medical care, are pressured to sacrifice their professional ambitions, etc.? Is it "immature" to point that out? Is it "just like the MRAs" when we are vocal in opposing real systemic injustice? Is it "sexist" to complain that a major company is encouraging men to make a "last stand" against basic human decency towards women?
And, lots of women's groups do put a lot of effort into addressing male victims of rape. Granted, we don't take kindly to MRAs putting up fake "tester" victims to try to sue, intimidate, and divert resources away from women's shelters, but reputable services such as RAINN do in fact do extensive outreach for men.
3:09 am
So, basically, you're upset by the commercial, because you think that it's saying that women are nagging harpies, even though the 'nags' are things that everyone agrees are reasonable to ask for.
But you think that the dodge ad is actually representative of the views of males, rather than being a rather dull, lighthearted superbowl ad. More than that, you think that you can compare the two, and that in that comparison the spoof is shown to be satirical dynamite because the concerns it presents are real, despite the fact that MEN AGREE that those things aren't appropriate. The spoof is satirizing a position that doesn't actually exist, it's just a straw man.
And if that wasn't enough, many of the problems addressed in the spoof aren't problems caused by society, they're problems caused by picking the wrong guy. The most egregious flaw in the spoof is that it mistakes crappy guys for guys generally, as though I somehow want you to end up with a cheating, douchey husband.
Furthermore, it's not a satire, because what mistakes is it pointing out for correction? That ads are stupid and rely on stereotyping for their humor? That it's bad to ask your wife if you can cheat on her?
All that being said, women don't actually make 75 cents on the dollar for equal work, it's something like 95 cents. Not perfect, but it's not bullshit propaganda.
11:04 am
Toysoldier, let me try to explain AGAIN what satire is: mockery to highlight absurdity and thus seek to correct it.
Satire is, according to Merriam-Webster, "1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn, 2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly." Some satire is mockery, some of it is wit, some of it is sarcasm and some of it is irony. Sometimes the intent is not to correct the problem, but just to point it out. When it is used in advertising, the intent is usually to entertain, although sometimes, like with the Dodge ad, the intent is to present the product as the solution to the problem.
All Dodge did was take men's typical relationship complaints and satirize them to sell Chargers. The response video took typical feminist complaints solely to try to dismiss the notion that men have any legitimate complaints. That is why the response does not work, either on its face or as satire. Had the response video actually been a mock ad, perhaps listing women's typical relationship complaints and ending with some completely uselessly or unconnected product (Yoplait or Dove) as the reward, then it would have been satire. It would have mocked the premise of the ad, instead of attacking men or a strawman position.
11:37 am
CONGRATULATIONS, guys! This video response is incredible. Thanks for showing the other side.
11:40 am
Here it is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou5Ens-qNRc
2:47 pm
The original ad is not really that offensive. Overreaction to nothing.
3:16 pm
No, Toysoldier, The Dodge ad does NOT satirize men's relationships. It does not hold their vices up to ridicule or scorn. It APPROVES of their vices and enables their immaturity and rudeness. Not exposing or discrediting, so not satire. It just bashes women to sell cars. Period.
The women's ad is not satirizing the commercialism of the men's ad, it is satirizing the petty shit the men are complaining about, hence why recommending a product is not necessary. That would reduce it to a cheap parody that would only say, "Men want cars! Women want chocolate! Hahaha..." LAME!! The point of the satire here is much stronger--the attitude of many men that they can vilify their girlfriends/wives for wanting a modicum of respect and consideration IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. And, frankly, the stuff the men complained about in the Dodge ad were NOT legitimate complaints. At all. Hence why they deserve a biting satire.
I hate to break it to you, but these aren't just "typical feminist complaints"--they are real problems that women have to deal with every day. I'm sorry if it's inconvenient for you to be reminded of these facts, but I suspect that's because you don't like women very much and wish we'd shut up. Well, sorry, but no.
As for the more lighthearted complaints in the women's d, "I will pack your lunch," "I will ignore your smelly loser friend," and "I will tell you size doesn't matter," these are there to point out that EVERYONE makes accommodations for their significant other, and showing that it's immature of the men to act like they need to make a "last stand" as though the little things men complained about in the Dodge ad were such unique and significant burdens (they're not).
Please, read "A Modest Proposal," at least, and THEN come back and try to talk coherently about satire. If you're not familiar with it, it is widely regarded as the greatest work of satire in the English language. And, yes, it deals with "typical Irish complaints" and it is forceful in "attacking" the English for their policies. That's what makes an effective satire.
3:46 pm
Now, if you read that, and you think “You’re just a manpologist, it’s hilarious satire and the original is a women-hating piece of propamanda,” well then maybe you should be in a relationship with someone who likes to call you a bitch when you stand up for yourself.
Actually, I never said that the original Dodge ad is a "women-hating piece of propaganda," and neither did the majority of feminists who critiqued the ad. Where did you get that? What I said, and read, is that the original ad was a cynical manipulation of masculine anxiety while simultaneously stereotyping modern women. It was a blatant attempt to stir male panic in order to stimulate sales, and it's offensive to both men and women. How does that sound like "women-hating piece of propaganda"? Because it doesn't.
3:48 pm
It’s also sweet when people who don’t understand feminism and can’t be bothered to learn put us in our place by saying they’ve finally, after (fill in the blank), lost all respect for feminists.
Very good point, Em. Cosigned!
6:06 pm
I suspect that’s because you don’t like women very much and wish we’d shut up.
To the contrary, I do not know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
2:08 am
There's a real Charger ad made for women too yaknow...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2pgSuhzOCo
The author might want to check it out.
8:56 am
I was just as put off by the response ad as I was the original ad. Does one side win by proving it has it worse than the other ?? It bothered me because instead of mocking Dodge, it mocked men! And does so with stereotypical insults that were prevelant in the orginal ad. The feminist response is to classify men as overpaid, sports and sex obsessed, dirty, unfaithful, under-endowed/balding (body shaming makes me sick).. Fight one sexist commercial with more sexism? Thats not how feminism works in my book.
1:01 pm
I made my own response to the Dodge Charger ad. I don't mean to be too self-promoting, but I hope you like it?
http://www.vimeo.com/9436919
4:30 pm
What I find disappointing is that no one seems to be telling men that they really don't have to do all of the things the Dodge ad, and culture more generally, says they don't want to do.
To me feminism is all about reinforcing that we are full and autonomous human beings, and we spend a lot of time giving each other permission to NOT do things, you don't have to stay in a marriage that is not good for you, you don't have to have kids, you don't have to spend your whole career as a secretary for people who aren't as smart or talented as you are, you don't have to shave your legs in order to not be acceptable, etc.
So, women have gotten to a place where performing the cost-benefit analysis and making these kinds of choices is commonplace, and men, are still being told, by men and women, that they have to shave, go to work, eat fruit? or whatever to be acceptable human beings, and what is worse, they are still buying into and have no support system to help them process the feeling that this is bullshit.
4:46 pm
As a woman, I think women seriously need to get over themselves and start worrying about things that matter more than how to hate on men and get back at them through snarky comeback ads. We don't have problems. People in Haiti have problems. Really, put your privileged lives into perspective and start doing something about the issues that really matter...
7:55 pm
@bellacoker,
It is most certainly NOT bullshit to tell people (of either gender) that they should go to work, be civil to others, take their SO's call, clean up shared spaces, eat fruit etc. None of this is "anti-feminist" at all--these requests aren't subjugating anyone, aren't unfairly constraining anyone's ambitions, aren't setting unattainable standards of appearance or behavior (in contrast, the things feminists say women shouldn't have to do ARE unfair in those ways). The things that the guys were complaining about are basic responsibilities that any decent, civilized human being grew accustomed to sometime in adolescence at the latest.
It's not "oppressive" to expect someone (of either gender) to go to work--if you want food to eat and a roof over your head, you will need some source of income. It's not "oppressive" to advise someone to eat fruit--it's a simple and tasty way to take care of your body. I'm sorry if your arteries are "oppressing" you, but that's just how physiology works. It's not "oppressive" to expect someone to take a call, clean up after themselves, or be civil to someone else--that is just simple kindness that everyone should give and receive in return. I would laugh at anyone (male or female) who tried to claim they should be "liberated" from basic responsibility and respect for others.
9:40 pm
@LeftSide:
I understand what you are saying, but it seems to me women are currently in the same place men were in during the 2nd wave. Men are saying, "There is something wrong with our lives." and they are looking around and trying to find out what it is. Sure, the way they are saying it is offensive to women and they might attribute the problem to women forcing them to be respectful and responsible, but whatever they decide, men deserve the space to work these problems out for themselves.
While we are calling out offensive commercials, I think we should also remind men that we have questioned our gender roles, we feel that our lives are better for it, and that they can too.
11:01 pm
Bella,
That's my point--there ISN'T "something wrong" with the lives being presented in the Dodge ad. They don't even have anything to do with gender roles. EVERYONE has to learn to be respectful and responsible--it's just a part of growing up. Frankly, people should "work these problems out" in HIGH SCHOOL...maybe college for the finer points.
11:27 pm
LeftSide,
We might feel that there is nothing wrong with the lives these guys have, but everyone has to decide that for themselves. There is nothing wrong with being a wife and stay-at-home mother, but I would find that role oppressive. There is nothing inherently oppressive about chemically-straightening your hair but that is a rallying point for many African-American activists.
I am definitely not comfortable telling men that whatever they are unhappy with in their lives is just part of growing up, because "adult" is not a term whose meaning is set in stone. The men in the commercial and, I guess the men they are supposed to represent, look unhappy and unfulfilled. I'm sure we can agree that the answer to that dilemma is not a fancy, masculine car, but "learn to accept your suffering" doesn't seem like a good answer either.
12:22 am
I think it's ridiculous to say the Dodge ad is "bashing women". Pick up a copy of Fight Club and you'll have a better understanding of what Dodge is trying to tap into: the mind-numbing monotony of middle class American life. It's not about hating women, it's about standing against a culture where being a man has no connection to the evolutionary-biological drives that took thousands of years to develop.
There is no challenge or danger to modern life. The traits men depended upon for basic survival now lie dormant, hence the dissatisfaction with the current sedan-office-sedan-couch lifestyle.
11:05 am
The one about size not mattering doesn't seem fair. Men have no control over that. It would make them feel very bad. It's completely different from a selfish partner.
12:25 pm
As a feminist man I feel really offended by this. I'm not part of this movement to be blamed and insulted on the basis of my gender; feminism is meant to be about equality. Men cry and feel depressed sometimes, and I don't judge either women or men for doing so.
1:17 am
I find the Dodge ads to be mildly offensive so I was excited to watch a feminist send up of them. Unfortunately this response piece is a satirical failure-- no matter which definition of satire you use-- because it makes no 'mockery' of anything at all. There is not a single bit of humor in the entirety of the 76 seconds. Perhaps the creators of the video would have been more successful if they had responded to the Dodge ad's representation of the small-potatoes sexist assumption that wives are naggy with examples comparable in scaled.
Instead this is an embittered and saddening performance that actually reifies the message of the Dodge ad (by portraying women as hypersensitive about smelly men and birth control alike) and-- more importantly-- is damaging to feminist goals at large. Firstly, by using a variety of women to deliver the passive-aggressive list of begrudgements, the video homogenizes feminist concerns and implies that all women feel the same way about these concerns, that all feminists share the same views. This is a shame because while the most basic goal of feminism is to create women's equality, the real meaning/condition of equality for women is that women as individuals will have as many choices and as much personal agency as men. There is no single best species of feminism, just like there is no single best ideal of Woman.
Secondly, and much more problematically, this video portrays women who deny themselves power and act against their beliefs, intuitions and desires. The statements about voting and staying in an unhappy unfaithful marriage are the most angering in this respect. People can vote for whoever they want to (even if they lie about it afterwards) and no one has to choose to stay in an unhappy marriage. Not only are these statements awful portrayals of women, they are also largely responsible for this videos failure at satire. The Dodge ads that this video responds to features instances of men responding to women's requests for behavior which will make a difference to their personal co-habitation and implies that the men are emasculated by the women's requests. Though the 'satire' piece does site legitimate instances of women's disempowerment (wage discrimination)it ultimately portrays an image of women psychologically hindered to the point of incapacity, sometimes in response to demands that don't have anything to do with the day-to-day husband/wife relationship that the video attacks. This is a terribly distorted depiction of the impact of patriarchy and sexism on women, and the women who collaborated to create this video as a form of feminist action should be well aware that even the patriarchy isn't capable of erasing women's power to act.
3:46 pm
I see no sexism in anything,women should be what they are and men what they are.It's the differences that makes us bond.The video is awesome though.