Par for the course in a rampantly speciesist world?
To speak of Madison Avenue ethics is an oxymoron. In most cases the same goes for taste. This is an industry that will cheerfully use anything and anyone to achieve its mendacious goals. If an assassinated president like Lincoln is made to do the Conga, along with other legendary presidents, just to sell cars, what can keep them from desecrating the image of a victimized animal few care about to push an antacid?
Tums TV Spot, “Chicken…”
Source: Foxylvania
– – It’s grotesque, absurd, and surreal, and like something out of a vegetarian’s worst nightmare…the plucked, decapitated, and man-sized chicken in a commercial for Tums Ultra Strength antacids. Standing upright at an upscale outdoor barbecue presumably where it was consumed, this most foul fowl and the man who is now tormented by it become aware of one another’s presence at the same time. The chicken carcass utters what I suppose martial arts challenges would sound like if vocalized by a chicken, and begins to swing its sizable plucked wings at the hapless human, landing at least one good slap. Although caught off-guard, the man responds by dodging and directing a punch at the giant plucked bird…thankfully, we are spared the full fury of the combat.
…the announcer then interjects, “When that chicken you had at the barbecue starts fighting with heartburn, fight back with Tums!” Antacids apparently succeed where fisticuffs do not, for in the final scene, the man and the great carcass are playing nicely with one another at a friendly game of volleyball. Sports is often seen as an outlet for male aggression and a substitute for war, after all…and I do so like to see conflict resolved amicably, especially when it involves the barbecued dead…
If you think this kind of ad is indeed a gross show of insensitivity, then try and contact the people responsible for it. I warn you, it ain’t easy. Like malefactors everywhere —both of the corporate and political sort, they hide themselves pretty well behind (literally) platoons of security honchos and multiple layers of hacks. After all they are capitalist celebrities.The agency is BRUNNER DIGITAL, and this is their “staff/leadership” page. The CEO is Michael Brunner. The press contact listing is:
Amy Trow
VP, Director of Marketing
412-995-9557
atrow@brunnerworks.com
GlaxoSmithKline, British big pharma with numerous consumer products. Its CEO is Andrew Witty, since 2008. This corporate suit was—get this—knighted in 2012. Is that a laugh?
