I saw the "Just Do It" ad while watching the opening game of the NFL season last night (the one that aired was slightly different from the embed above). It's incredible to me to see how much controversy this ad has generated. For those unfamiliar with the backstory, you can read details at The Guardian or CBS News or a hundred other sites today.
It is, after all, an ad for shoes. AFAIK, nothing in the images or dialogue is otherwise offensive to anybody. All of the other context is layered upon the video by the biases and preconceptions of viewers.
Despite Donald Trump's assertion that Nike stock is crashing (it has plunged from $82 to $80 since the ad was announced), there are reports of millenials eagerly buying the shoes, and analysts in the business world indicate that athletes love this ad, so Nike should achieve its goals of selling shoes, plus attracting future endorsers among the world of elite athletes.
Addendum: Here's the business world's view, as reported by MarketWatch
I think it's fairly inaccurate to say that it's the ad that's generating the controversy, rather than the person who headlines it.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has a right to express his o her beliefs. I really don't understand the anti-Kaepernick people. Everyone has a right to say his or her beliefs. And there is no question, at least in my mind, that there still is way too much prejudice in this country.
ReplyDeleteI always find it interesting when people assert that "everyone has a right to express [his beliefs/opinion]," but then are critical of people who express an opinion opposing the original opinion.
DeleteYou are purposely conflating two things here.
1: The right of anyone to *express* an opinion.
2: The right of anyone else to disagree with *the content* of that opinion.
If you disagree with an opinion, or are able to show the flawed (or lack of) logic of an opinion, that does not mean you criticize the right of people to have said opinion.
In other words, I support the right of people to express their disagreement with what Kap does. However, that does not mean they're not full of sh!t.
The problem you run into with discussions like this one is that you can't argue with nonsense.
The stock had actually dropped 5% at one point. In fact, that's when I bought several thousand dollars worth of it :)
ReplyDeleteI figure Nike knows it's market, and the ad won't hurt sales despite the talk of boycotts. So it should bounce back fairly quickly.
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." The words of Patrick Steward, in his role as Jean-Luc Picard, 'Star Trek: The Next Generation. Truer words were never spoken. The positive side is that he leaves us with a reminder. "...she, or someone like her, will always be with us, waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness. Vigilance, Mister Worf - that is the price we have to continually pay."
ReplyDeleteRemember these words, and stand against tyrants wherever you find them. Or, in this case, choose not to stand, against them. (Commas are important)
I don't care about the political controversy being now sold for advertising. But "inspirational" ads are profoundly fake and misleading, because it's a sleek exercise in lumping things together. Disabled sports, top athletes, losing 120 pounds, gender mixing... refugees faking their age, to get themselves into school or to get ahead in age divisions.
ReplyDeleteAlso using top athletes/role models to advertise, "while saying don't try to be somebody else" is pretty much a self-contradiction.
Youtube instead decided to show me a video about opening a lock with a paper clip. Took me a while to realise this wasn't the video you actually linked to.
ReplyDelete