Facebook and the misogynistic pages urging people to attack women

Facebook in trouble this week for allowing people to set up groups about raping women.  Lots of companies that advertise on Facebook are withdrawing their adverts after finding out that the ads for their products could appear down the sides of these pages.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2332028/FBRape-campaign-Companies-pull-adverts-Facebook-refuses-remove-anti-women-content.html

Disney's Brave - In trouble for making her more "princessy"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2325181/Disney-bows-public-pressure-pulls-Meridas-blatantly-sexist-princess-make-website.html

Disney in trouble this week for featuring the star of the Brave film looking decidedly more princessy / glamorous / thin etc on their website.  Lots of people complained that this was bad for children, a poor message, etc.. Disney have finally removed the image and apologised.  An example of a market liberal perspective at work?  And audience regulation?

American Apparel - Objectifying women?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2325474/American-Apparel-branded-sexist-degrading-ads-unisex-shirt-featuring-half-naked-women-g-strings-fully-clothed-men.html

Fashion brand under fire for advertising the same product to both men and women but in all the ads aimed at women, objectifying them in a sexual way.  Why aren't both ads representing people in this way?

Ad campaign laughs at women's weight struggles

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2320442/Try-romantic-body-shapers-New-ad-pokes-fun-torturous-extremes-women-try-rid-cellulite.html

An advert that pokes fun at the lengths women will go to in order to look thinner and more toned.

Fiat's Motherhood Viral Advert

So Fiat have made this new viral advert to advertise their car.  It features a woman doing a spoof gangster style rap about motherhood.

Things to think about:

1) Name 3 reasons why audiences would like this advert?

2) Discuss how the mise-en-scene, camera, editing and lyrics communicate meaning

3) How is the life of a mother represented overall?

4) Why do you think Fiat chose to do a viral advert like this?  Why this style?

5) How do Fiat use and challenge the conventions of a typical Gangster Rap music video?

Christian Dior Adverts and Airbrushing

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2221757/Natalie-Portman-ad-Christian-Dior-mascara-banned-misleading-women-thinking-gave-lusher-lashes.html


The latest Christian Dior mascara advert has been banned for misleading audiences due to the extreme photo manipulation (digital retouching) of the eyelashes.   Should adverts be retouched?  What effect do you think this retouching has on an audience?

Representation of gender in Christmas Adverts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/17/asda-christmas-ad-gender-stereotypes


So what do you think about the representation of men and women in the recent array of Christmas adverts from the likes of Asda and Morrisons?  Do you agree with this journalist?  Are men often represented as lazy, stupid, and incapable of looking after a family?  Are women often seen as the leaders of the household?  Workaholics?  Why do you think these companies rely on gender stereotypes likes this in their adverts?

Represention of women in the media - all about appearances?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2249229/Sports-Personality-Year-Liz-Jones-gives-verdict-sports-stars-outfits.html


Thought of the day - Even when people are talented, skillful, hard working and achieve great things for their country, are women still just judged in the media by their appearances?  This article fails to really focus on the achievements of the women nominated for Sports Personality Of the Year and instead, picks apart their fashion choices.