Sunsilk’s women don’t mind a little torture
 There’s been much ado lately about sexism in the media (Heineken’s woman = keg campaign) and sexism and violence in the media (Captivity’s overall themes and its banned ad effort). So it’s tough to know how Sunsilk’s new commercial will be received. On the one hand, it lampoons and subverts recent trends, using horror cliches (a bound victim, apparent torture devices) to point out that women torture themselves to perfect their hair. On the other hand, well, there’s a bound victim, apparent torture devices and the implicit message that “torture” is OK as long as the client’s products repair the damage and great-looking hair is the end result. There’s even a “plot twist” of sorts that’s questionable, considering its “Women do it to themselves” connotation. Perhaps the key question is: Exactly who is she going through all this for? The spot gives us a clue: The reassuring therapist in the final scene is, predictably, a man.
—Posted by David Gianatasio
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August 28, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
Here is another one from the same campaign. Even funnier: http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/sunsilk_hair_off
Posted by: ads of the world | Aug 28, 2007 3:32:06 PM
This is horror? This is torture? David, this isn't even controversial. This is a stupid fashion ad that tries to be a little edgy but fails miserably. Seriously dude, are you a client? You seem to think like a client.
"The reassuring therapist in the final scene is, predictably, a man"
---And that is a bad thing, why? I assume you like pussy, but please, can you try to separate your personal life from your agency life?
And for the record, women do torture each other in many ways. Watch Ugly Betty for more information.
Posted by: Bobby | Aug 28, 2007 5:38:41 PM
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