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Added by Babs on July 8, 2009
Recently, this new awareness campaign was brought to my attention. Being that I am all about political movements and all that jazz, I thought it would be cool to look this over. Boy, was I disappointed. I feel campy just writing this! The campaign focuses on bringing awareness to civil rights laws and issues in Colorado, and is entitled " The Rights Five."
I went to the website to look over the campaign advertisement and my first reaction was positive. On the surface I thought this would actually be a good way to educate people on civil rights laws. Then I watched the video, 'Meet The Rights 5.' and I was disappointed. Honestly, if the people behind this campaign are trying to make it easier for insensitive people to poke fun at a serious issue, then they have certainly done their job well.
When people make too light of a serious issue or a serious subject it tends to comes off as a joke. My first thought was "Super Friends." Ask any comic book fan and they will tell you that comics and comic characters haven't been "campy" since the 1960's. It was horrible. If the people behind this take their issue seriously, then they should not have taken this approach. It is corny, and it diminishes the seriousness of the subject completely.
I feel that initially, the people behind this movement may have had good intentions but that their tactics threw their motives out the window. What's up with their names? I understand the idea of there being a play on words, but that was a complete joke. "Two-Pops Shakur" and "Desi B. Coupler"? What?
What is their target audience, anyway? Are they supposed to be targeting children, or are they planning to educate adults as well? This was very confusing. On the surface I got the impression that the advertisement was created to educate kids. After listening to the dialogue in the video however, I realized that a lot of the language that was used to convey information regarding this movement would go over their heads. Children are going to have a difficult time understanding the message this campaign is attempting to convey.
That's my rant. Check out the campaign video, it's only about a minute long. Let me know how you guys feel.
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34 Comments
Hmm it seems to work on the news page...It should work now. Let me know. :)
It works for me. But I don't see anything wrong with it. Obviously it isn't for kids if you look at the website, the information is too difficult to understand for them. However, the site is really elaborate and explains the laws in full detail. I think they just picked Superheroes because well.. Superheroes are 'Famous' in the US.
Honestly, i think it's a great initiative. Sure, they could have picked something else other than superheroes. It's not something i'd recommend. But it does its job to relay the information and that's the most important part.
Honestly, i think it's a great initiative. Sure, they could have picked something else other than superheroes. It's not something i'd recommend. But it does its job to relay the information and that's the most important part.
why is the little girl named two pops shakur?? like why are they makin a refrence to tupac . i dont see the point
first off now I know where the announcer from the "Superfriends" cartoon son went off to. Second why couldn't they have picked names that weren't fodder for puns and jokes. All and all concept A+ delivery F
Well, it's an advert, not a comic, so the idea of using the concept of 'super heroes' to advance something is all well and good. It's just the concept itself I find stupid. If it was a comic it would matter, I think.
I don't get it? I thought this was about civil rights and racism, So why did they just help gay people? Is this about a marriage law that is being passed in Colorado?
@burr787 said:
" I don't get it? I thought this was about civil rights and racism, So why did they just help gay people? Is this about a marriage law that is being passed in Colorado? "It's about discrimination. My problem is that they took a serious issue and they used campy super heroes with names that are like play on words. Lame.
Well...I don't think it's really meant to be anything other then a catchy satire of the superhero genre pushing an agenda. So I'm not too worried if it makes superheroes look inherently juvenile. There are still people out there that go to a Batman film and expect Adam West "POW and BAM" expletives. That's a stigma we'll always fight, but you've got to look at this from less of a comic aficionados perspective and more from the shoes of propaganda. Brightly colored spandex and golden back-lighting makes for advert gold. Take Stan Lee and the infamous drug issue of the Amazing Spider-Man. When asked to do the issue, he knew that Peter Parker could noticeably present the problem way better than any crust old curmudgeon senator. 'Ole web-head would get far more attention. Take Capt. America, who's literally punching out Hitler on the cover of his very first appearance. The subtitle may as well be "America...FUCK YAH!" It's borderline undermining the Holocaust, tragic battles, and grim deaths that made the war...yet it also has this almost shameful appeal to it. It got your attention. Therein lies it's charm. He's entirely birthed out of WWII Americana and propagandized patriotism. Superheroes are noticeable archetypes, being the physical (though fictional, thus everlasting) embodiments of positive traits, and though these specific super characters are original creations to their cause, they still represent that personified (albeit perhaps dated) imagery that Capt. America or the Amazing Spider-man were simultaneously once used for. So I can let it slide...despite the camp...as most superheroes can be used as a mascot.
But seriously, thanks for the interesting blog. I just joined today and was very nervous that it would be nothing but narrow vs. threads and blogs. You made this long-haired, liberal, hippie tree-hugger happy with the politics blend. Heh! I could talk all day...just tell me to STFU. =]
But seriously, thanks for the interesting blog. I just joined today and was very nervous that it would be nothing but narrow vs. threads and blogs. You made this long-haired, liberal, hippie tree-hugger happy with the politics blend. Heh! I could talk all day...just tell me to STFU. =]
@Babs said:
But at least people are trying... (maybe we could try just a tad more for such an important issue?)
It's about discrimination. My problem is that they took a serious issue and they used campy super heroes with names that are like play on words. Lame. "I agree, as an glbt activist myself I find that this is entirely to campy and playful. Def, not the right approach for such a senstive issue.
But at least people are trying... (maybe we could try just a tad more for such an important issue?)
@WonderBoy1132 said:
@celestialheroin said:
" @Babs said:I'm sorry, but I think you're being a little over sensitive. The point is to get the information out there in a way that every Coloradan can understand, and possibly generate interest in actually knowing the laws. This is also aimed at getting GLBT people to learn and understand their rights, not so much to spread awareness to non-GLBT people (although I'm sure it could accomplish that too.) If you ask me, this is a much better alternative to just reading a law, it adds a little humor and fun to what would otherwise be totally stuffy and boring, which makes people more likely to watch read and understand. They aren't making fun of anyone, I don't see the problem.
It's about discrimination. My problem is that they took a serious issue and they used campy super heroes with names that are like play on words. Lame. "I agree, as an glbt activist myself I find that this is entirely to campy and playful. Def, not the right approach for such a senstive issue. But at least people are trying... (maybe we could try just a tad more for such an important issue?) "
@celestialheroin said:
"why is the little girl named two pops shakur??"Two pops. Two dads. Her fathers are a gay couple.
comic book super heroes have been used to bring social awareness of political issues before, but when the political issues make their own super heroes to convey a message it loses all of its impact
@MysterioMaximus said:
"I'm happy that your first Comic Vine experience was a good one. Hopefully you will feel that among the battle threads there is also plenty of room for intellectual discussion and deeper observation/perspective that goes beyond "red hulk beats green hulk."Well...I don't think it's really meant to be anything other then a catchy satire of the superhero genre pushing an agenda. So I'm not too worried if it makes superheroes look inherently juvenile. There are still people out there that go to a Batman film and expect Adam West "POW and BAM" expletives. That's a stigma we'll always fight, but you've got to look at this from less of a comic aficionados perspective and more from the shoes of propaganda. Brightly colored spandex and golden back-lighting makes for advert gold. Take Stan Lee and the infamous drug issue of the Amazing Spider-Man. When asked to do the issue, he knew that Peter Parker could noticeably present the problem way better than any crust old curmudgeon senator. 'Ole web-head would get far more attention. Take Capt. America, who's literally punching out Hitler on the cover of his very first appearance. The subtitle may as well be "America...FUCK YAH!" It's borderline undermining the Holocaust, tragic battles, and grim deaths that made the war...yet it also has this almost shameful appeal to it. It got your attention. Therein lies it's charm. He's entirely birthed out of WWII Americana and propagandized patriotism. Superheroes are noticeable archetypes, being the physical (though fictional, thus everlasting) embodiments of positive traits, and though these specific super characters are original creations to their cause, they still represent that personified (albeit perhaps dated) imagery that Capt. America or the Amazing Spider-man were simultaneously once used for. So I can let it slide...despite the camp...as most superheroes can be used as a mascot."
But seriously, thanks for the interesting blog. I just joined today and was very nervous that it would be nothing but narrow vs. threads and blogs. You made this long-haired, liberal, hippie tree-hugger happy with the politics blend. Heh ! I could talk all day...just tell me to STFU. =]
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on July 8, 2009