Comments on: Dove’s New Viral Video, “Onslaught” Under the Gun…(but not from me) OR The Post in which I Sort of Lose It http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/ Anyone else find childhood a little stifling these days? Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:02:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Seiko Champion » Blog Archive » Web 2.0 Branding Lessons http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-296 Seiko Champion » Blog Archive » Web 2.0 Branding Lessons Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:11:46 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-296 [...] the real lesson, and unfortunate truth, is that they are simply out to sell more product, and as one women states well: no matter what we’re out here saying - this film is circulating like wildfire and I didn’t [...] [...] the real lesson, and unfortunate truth, is that they are simply out to sell more product, and as one women states well: no matter what we’re out here saying - this film is circulating like wildfire and I didn’t [...]

]]> By: Still defending Dove (now please send me free stuff) « blue milk http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-132 Still defending Dove (now please send me free stuff) « blue milk Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:03:28 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-132 [...] I actually discovered through her post on that ad. It has been really interesting to see how feminists have variously responded to this advertisement. Make no mistake,  ‘Onslaught’ is an advertisement, it it trying to sell products to [...] [...] I actually discovered through her post on that ad. It has been really interesting to see how feminists have variously responded to this advertisement. Make no mistake,  ‘Onslaught’ is an advertisement, it it trying to sell products to [...]

]]> By: Shaping Youth http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-70 Shaping Youth Tue, 09 Oct 2007 02:36:03 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-70 I agree...would've been nice to tie in a "call to action" as we say in the biz. (rather than dump it on parents' laps to 'talk to your daughter") sheesh---no amount of media deconstruction will erase those images seared into their brain, jangling their synapses 24/7. Maybe they could've concluded with a URL in 'what you can do' mode so we wouldn't all feel so overwhelmed. (e.g. cobranding Dove with the Dads&Daughters advocacy arm, About-Face.org, or for that matter, Shaping Youth could've teamed with them as a nonprofit voice with a stronger dissolve, "Is this REALLY how we want to be shaping youth?" And end on our logo for the 'call to action' element, "using the power of media for positive change' to fund our own documentary in development, Body Blitz: Media Shaping Youth" --- But alas, it wasn't a PSA, it was a paid spot. So not to get on my soapbox, (ahem) but admittedly, Dove's doin' a dang good job of getting attention for themselves w/some solid production values and decent budgets/awareness building, profit motive or not... I hope we can 'up the ante' on the messaging next by showing 'the real thing.' Documentary, SHOCKumentary, call it what you will...it's a heckuva reality show...We're hopin' it'll work when folks see the trickle down impact this mess is having on REAL kids in REAL time...no commercial glitz. (But alas, that takes $. In fact it ALL comes down to money. That's how we got into this mess in the first place..) Hey, maybe Shaping Youth should start our own UGC video contest w/BlogHer etc. and use social media to compile our 'evidence' gleaned from playgrounds? We could invite our readers to send in their best footage to compile in our film from all over the world...kinda like we did with the Age of Conversation book for children's charity? That might be a much quicker way to get a global take on this...maybe I'm going about this film funding thing all wrong trying to be 'SuperSizeMe' in quality & length & distribution when it could fast forward as a UGC global montage, aired on Current, or QuantumShift.tv or Blip.tv or BlogTV, or YouTube viral video for that matter...or at least use it as a raw, rough-cut trailer for the bigger piece we have in development?! Hmn. What do you think, ladies? Bring your video to the playground (or mall) next time and record some behavioral data firsthand. (I can post a prototype talent release...I'd love to see some footage besides mine, from regions around the globe!) Thoughts? I agree…would’ve been nice to tie in a “call to action” as we say in the biz. (rather than dump it on parents’ laps to ‘talk to your daughter”) sheesh—no amount of media deconstruction will erase those images seared into their brain, jangling their synapses 24/7.

Maybe they could’ve concluded with a URL in ‘what you can do’ mode so we wouldn’t all feel so overwhelmed. (e.g. cobranding Dove with the Dads&Daughters advocacy arm, About-Face.org, or for that matter, Shaping Youth could’ve teamed with them as a nonprofit voice with a stronger dissolve, “Is this REALLY how we want to be shaping youth?” And end on our logo for the ‘call to action’ element, “using the power of media for positive change’ to fund our own documentary in development, Body Blitz: Media Shaping Youth” —

But alas, it wasn’t a PSA, it was a paid spot. So not to get on my soapbox, (ahem) but admittedly, Dove’s doin’ a dang good job of getting attention for themselves w/some solid production values and decent budgets/awareness building, profit motive or not…

I hope we can ‘up the ante’ on the messaging next by showing ‘the real thing.’ Documentary, SHOCKumentary, call it what you will…it’s a heckuva reality show…We’re hopin’ it’ll work when folks see the trickle down impact this mess is having on REAL kids in REAL time…no commercial glitz. (But alas, that takes $. In fact it ALL comes down to money. That’s how we got into this mess in the first place..)

Hey, maybe Shaping Youth should start our own UGC video contest w/BlogHer etc. and use social media to compile our ‘evidence’ gleaned from playgrounds? We could invite our readers to send in their best footage to compile in our film from all over the world…kinda like we did with the Age of Conversation book for children’s charity?

That might be a much quicker way to get a global take on this…maybe I’m going about this film funding thing all wrong trying to be ‘SuperSizeMe’ in quality & length & distribution when it could fast forward as a UGC global montage, aired on Current, or QuantumShift.tv or Blip.tv or BlogTV, or YouTube viral video for that matter…or at least use it as a raw, rough-cut trailer for the bigger piece we have in development?!

Hmn. What do you think, ladies?

Bring your video to the playground (or mall) next time and record some behavioral data firsthand. (I can post a prototype talent release…I’d love to see some footage besides mine, from regions around the globe!) Thoughts?

]]> By: Ringo http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-69 Ringo Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:55:39 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-69 This campaign makes me think of all of the green-washing companies engage in to stake their environmental claim in the ground, regardless of past misdeeds and the fact that their bottom line is still their bottom line, Mother Earth be damned. I like that companies are starting to think green (or in Dove's case, pro-women), but the questions lie in how much change they are truly going to affect with this new stance, how deep within the organization these principles are embraced and applied, and how committed they will be to them if at some point they no longer make money off of it. If a company can affect change and make money at the same time, I say good for them. If they are doing good with one hand and doing harm with the other, that's another story. But I imagine that wholesale societal change likely happens on many levels, and corporate America probably has its role to play in this, which is the role Dove is adopting. And if Dove has decided it's important enough of an issue to women today to focus on this, that must mean something, right? It's unfortunate though that they squash all fantasies of the purity of their message when they finish the ad by imploring that WE should speak to our girls before THEY do. They wash their hands of all responsibility from that point on, and that's the point where I lose faith in them. This campaign makes me think of all of the green-washing companies engage in to stake their environmental claim in the ground, regardless of past misdeeds and the fact that their bottom line is still their bottom line, Mother Earth be damned. I like that companies are starting to think green (or in Dove’s case, pro-women), but the questions lie in how much change they are truly going to affect with this new stance, how deep within the organization these principles are embraced and applied, and how committed they will be to them if at some point they no longer make money off of it.

If a company can affect change and make money at the same time, I say good for them. If they are doing good with one hand and doing harm with the other, that’s another story. But I imagine that wholesale societal change likely happens on many levels, and corporate America probably has its role to play in this, which is the role Dove is adopting. And if Dove has decided it’s important enough of an issue to women today to focus on this, that must mean something, right?

It’s unfortunate though that they squash all fantasies of the purity of their message when they finish the ad by imploring that WE should speak to our girls before THEY do. They wash their hands of all responsibility from that point on, and that’s the point where I lose faith in them.

]]> By: wwwmama http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-64 wwwmama Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:52:02 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-64 I love this post. And I like the video. I agree that it's better than nothing. It's sort of like the gap red campaign thing as far as I'm concerned. Who cares if it makes profit for someone, as long as it's doing some good too? If ad campaigns like this work, more companies will use them, and it's a sign that people are waking up about this issue. As a mom of a very young girl, I find myself already working against the negative images out there in how I relate to her. It's not all up to individuals, as you say, but still, it ain't a bad message to have out there that we should talk to our kids about this stuff. I'm not dumb enough not to recognize that it's all a sales pitch, but it's one I can appreciate a bit more than your typical ad fare. BTW, I've found that giving your little girl a big belly kiss daily and telling her how much you love it while dancing wildly with her to her favorite music is a great way to start immunizing her against the beauty myth. I love this post. And I like the video. I agree that it’s better than nothing. It’s sort of like the gap red campaign thing as far as I’m concerned. Who cares if it makes profit for someone, as long as it’s doing some good too? If ad campaigns like this work, more companies will use them, and it’s a sign that people are waking up about this issue. As a mom of a very young girl, I find myself already working against the negative images out there in how I relate to her. It’s not all up to individuals, as you say, but still, it ain’t a bad message to have out there that we should talk to our kids about this stuff. I’m not dumb enough not to recognize that it’s all a sales pitch, but it’s one I can appreciate a bit more than your typical ad fare.
BTW, I’ve found that giving your little girl a big belly kiss daily and telling her how much you love it while dancing wildly with her to her favorite music is a great way to start immunizing her against the beauty myth.

]]> By: blue milk http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-63 blue milk Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:05:06 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-63 Great, great post! I really like this ad too and while I think it's fair to point out its flaws (we shouldn't be mindless just cos it's pitching our message), I don't want to get bogged down in nit-picking when there are much, much bigger beauty campaign fish out there to fry. I'm desperate for some sign of mainstream awareness of this problem and I'll take what I can get. I'm very pleased with this ad and I agree with your point that this will reach a lot of people who won't be reading The Beauty Myth anytime soon. Great, great post! I really like this ad too and while I think it’s fair to point out its flaws (we shouldn’t be mindless just cos it’s pitching our message), I don’t want to get bogged down in nit-picking when there are much, much bigger beauty campaign fish out there to fry.

I’m desperate for some sign of mainstream awareness of this problem and I’ll take what I can get. I’m very pleased with this ad and I agree with your point that this will reach a lot of people who won’t be reading The Beauty Myth anytime soon.

]]> By: The Secret Ingredient http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-61 The Secret Ingredient Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:06:28 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-61 It is sort of like Phillip Morris putting out the "quit smoking" ads.....but as you said, it is better than nothing. How about a tag line something like "live the way you want your daughter to live" (although I guess that still places no onus on Dove). We ALL stress about bathing suit season, trying on jeans, etc., but then want/expect our daughters to somehow be different. Is there any solution????? It is sort of like Phillip Morris putting out the “quit smoking” ads…..but as you said, it is better than nothing. How about a tag line something like “live the way you want your daughter to live” (although I guess that still places no onus on Dove). We ALL stress about bathing suit season, trying on jeans, etc., but then want/expect our daughters to somehow be different. Is there any solution?????

]]> By: Two Knives http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-58 Two Knives Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:21:53 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/doves-new-viral-video-onslaught-under-the-gunbut-not-from-me-or-the-post-in-which-i-sort-of-lose-it/2007/10/03/#comment-58 Funny, most people agree 100 percent with me ALL of the time. Last night I laid awake in bed thinking about this damn video. Part of me really hates to be so critical because of the same great points you make -- isn't something better than nothing? I don't know the answer. For the record, I don't want to go after Dove. There are other corps that need our attention. Dove just happens to put itself out there. A new tagline might be to give some information on a good organization working to combat the sexualization of girls -- CCFC comes to mind. But not a Unilever-created foundation. Otherwise it still looks like just another ad. Funny, most people agree 100 percent with me ALL of the time.

Last night I laid awake in bed thinking about this damn video. Part of me really hates to be so critical because of the same great points you make — isn’t something better than nothing?

I don’t know the answer.

For the record, I don’t want to go after Dove. There are other corps that need our attention. Dove just happens to put itself out there.

A new tagline might be to give some information on a good organization working to combat the sexualization of girls — CCFC comes to mind. But not a Unilever-created foundation. Otherwise it still looks like just another ad.

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