TV adverts are one of those things that can be brilliant, or can be the most annoying thing ever.
There’s a reason for this – to sell, they need to be memorable (which is different to being good!) and they’re on repeat as often as possible, so that they’re seen by as many people as possible. This deadly combination of striving to stick in the mind and endless repetition can have any one of us shaking our heads and moaning at the TV in dispair…
Generally, I try to ignore the clamour of advertisers trying to sell me stuff, but these two adverts really get my goat:
The Activia Yogurt advert -
Apparantly, according to this advert, a yogurt can magically tidy your house, bring in a new light and bright atmosphere, help you feel thin, healthy, and to stick to those elusive New Year weight goals.
I’m not knocking the benefit of yogurt (it’s genuinely pretty good for you, especially if you eat it plain and naturally sugar-free), but can it change your life? I mean, really? And can anyone explain to me what exactly makes this better than a normal bio-live yogurt? Because I just don’t get it.
It’s just a YOGURT!
The Boots the Chemist Advert -
TV adverts have historically been hot-beds of sexist ideals, but this advert manages to insult both women and men by tarring both with the wide sweeping brush of gender stereotypes.
Two clearly ill, cold-hearted women bitch to each other about how much they have to do (while spreading their germs around, I might add), and then callously patronise a man who’s sensibly gone to bed with his cold. I mean seriously – f**k the ‘I have to keep going like a superwoman regardless of my health’ attitude that’s foisted on us women these days. If you’re ill, call in sick and get some rest, you idiots.
And, also, well done bitch number two for making a man who you supposedly care for look bad while blatantly enforcing the negative male stereotype that all men act hard until they get a little sniffle and then they turn into whiney, pathetic puddles of man flu.
And what’s worse is that they’re clearly trying to be ‘feminist’ with this advert; totally mis-understanding that feminism is about equality and not the sickening “girls are better than boys, ner ner ner” attitude that’s on show here.
*aaand, deep breath*
Sorry, I started ranting… but oooh, it makes me so angry!
Now it’s over to you! Which adverts get you angrily shaking your fists at the TV, and why? Let me know in the comments.
