I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes!
How could a man be so mean?
Driving through downtown Chicago, I saw insult after insult about a woman named Sarah which seemed to come from a man she recently broke up with.
- The first graffiti display clarified Sarah’s jeans did make look fat.
- A few blocks later on a bus stop, the same writer proclaimed his mother never liked Sarah.
I asked my shuttle driver about the mean messages…
- He explained if I looked closely, I would see the graffiti was a movie promotion.
- What an ugly campaign!
As I walked Michigan Avenue I saw similar disparaging comments.
I love to walk around Chicago - and didn’t appreciate being blasted by all the negative messages.
- I found they brought my energy down.
- I decided to cut my shopping short - something I would rarely do!
The marketing team definitely created a campaign that got people talking.
I worry the messages makes it okay for others in bad breakups to smear a woman’s reputation the same way.
I’m guessing I probably won’t find the movie funny either.
Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you offer your members a positive experience help to offset the negativity in their lives?
Filed under: Savvy Leadership
I think Kristen Bell stars in this movie (Forgetting Sarah Marshall). Didn’t you indicate that she was a student of yours? If so, would that change your opinion of whether you might enjoy the movie or find it funny? Just curious if addtional information changes your perception.
I don’t believe Kristen Bell’s an issue. It’s more Judd Apatow and his posse who calls the shots here.
To her credit, Katherine Heigl’s career and income per picture shot up after holding her nose now and then and starring in “Knocked Up”
Apatow’s not known for being the most enlighted lad in the world, IMHO.
Perhaps I’m being harsh, but I went to college with guys like Apatow and his posse. They weren’t that funny then, and well, they really aren’t that funny now.
Judd, Judd (and to your fans or posse). Look, I loved Freaks and Geeks, it was great stuff and to some extent honest. But your misogyny’s showing son, and like the bare portions of your posse whom you display on a regular basis, not particularly pretty to look at. It’s getting old and it’s not that ultre either.
To his credit, it looks like terrific marketing, whatever one thinks of the movie or message. And, he so far raking in the bucks, so look for the misogyny to continue.
But it is misogyny. So what does that say about us as a whole?
Hi Alan,
Great question. I enjoyed Kristen Bell as a student and think she’s got a lot of talent as an actress.
That said, I don’t like the precedent set by the movie promotion. Not everyone will realize that it’s a joke.
I know part of the movie promotion is a fan club which supposedly invests in contra signage - which still doesn’t make the orginal campaign okay to do.
The promotional campaign is a well run combination of web 2.0 and guerilla type marketing and yet…
If I’m going to be true to my values, I can’t support a move which makes publicly slandering a woman for breaking up with them okay to do - even if a former student who I enjoyed teaching is in it.
At some point, enough is enough. My line was crossed.
What do you think?
Cynthia
Hey Caveman!
Wow. Nice job telling us what you really think.
I agree Apatow’s moives often have a sexist, challenged slant - and still am sad that Kristin agreed to do the part.
Just because someone else came up with the idea does not excuse other adults from participating in the concept.
Given how involved Kristen is in the marketing effort photo shoots, etc. I’m sure she knew what the key messages would be.
Or do you think she should be relieved of responsibility for her actions - especially as Apatow’s last film propelled a new it girl?
What’s a little bad humor that may inspire others to take similiarly slanderous actions - it it guarantees an actor a spot on the A list?
Cynthia