Sorry, Chevy, I’m not laughing
My last car was a Chevy Cavalier and the one I owned before that was a cute little Geo Metro, also produced by Chevrolet. Both cars were good to me — giving me little trouble even after the odometer reading was well beyond 100,000. But today I’m joining in with Tweeters who are declaring “Screw you, Chevy” in response to one of the company’s recent ads.
The auto brand’s official store is currently selling an Impala art poster that says, “Remember when your cup holder sat next to you and wore a poodle skirt?” The image and accompanying text ran first as a billboard in Detroit to celebrate last month’s Woodward Dream Cruise classic-car event, according to Sociological Images blog. The blog had this to say about the ad: “Ah yes, more nostalgia for a time when men were men and women were useful accessories.”
And that description explains exactly why this ad is so problematic. Sure, some may say, “Oh, it’s all in good fun. Lighten up.” And I’ll admit I’m a person you’ll often catch laughing at things that poke fun at stereotypes. But when it comes to this ad I simply don’t get the joke. I don’t see Chevy making fun misogynistic attitudes but instead celebrating them, wishing for a time when a woman’s worth was disparaged and that was okay. What exactly is so funny about that?
h/t: David Griner at AdFreak.com
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