And I thought that AUSTRALIS make-up ad I wrote about a while back was bad.
Seriously this type of thing makes me physically sick.
No, I’m not talking about the hotdog [though I’m sure that would have a similar effect] I’m talking about this kind of puerile, sexual-metaphor-laden, sorry excuse for an ad
Do they really think they’re being clever?
Do they really think this is the best way to sell a hotdog?
For fucks sake …
I bet the person behind it was a male.
Infact, I would bet the person behind it was some young Singaporean male whose only experience of sex has been when he’s alone in bed with only a sweaty sock for company.
Look I’m no prude, hell on the the cynic site we even say we love ‘bananas’ because woman find it impossible to eat one [if a man is watching] without feeling embarrassed … but we wouldn’t make a fucking ad about it, or at least not one that’s aimed at appealing to sexually immature idiots who get excited just riding the fucking bus.
And I find it somewhat ironic that the Singaporean Government would allow this piece of sexual-immaturity-shit to run in venues that attract the entire age spectrum of their population when then say words like “BUM” cannot be heard on television.
But then this is a country that used to have politicians publically state …
Photo: Straits Times Newspaper
Nice eh?
And let me tell you – as much as no one would say something like that in public again – there’s a hell of alot of people in the country who still feel that way, despite the fact the genius who built this country – Lee Kuan Yew – achieved much of it by exploring, borrowing, adapting and developing ideas that he learnt from his experiences visiting and working with other countries.
[So whereas Western prejudice tends to want people who DON’T come from their country out, many Singaporeans don’t want locals who’ve left to broaden their mind, experiences and talent, back]
I should point out that my anger behind this ad is not because of its pathetic sexual metaphor.
I think everyone knows I’m very much for freedom-of-speech and expression – so if someone really wants to do a piece-of-shit ad like the one above [or this], then good luck to them – my anger is that someone [and I’m talking agency / creative and client] thought this was the best way to flog some shitty hotdogs because not only does that undermine the value of the industry I work in/love, but it creates even more sexual typecasting in a country/region that is already adrift with gender stereotypes.
Sexuality and sensuality can be a great way to sell brands – just look at Lynx/Axe, Hagan Daaz, Wonderbra – but if the communication has nothing appealing or emotional or subtle or witty about it, then it’s nothing more than Ad Porn.