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This Week on Subliminal Matters

So I hope you're excited to see what I've been up to while I've been away. I have some fun ads to share but I must say to every single visitor thanks for coming back. SM is about to hit 5,000 visitors and I think that most certainly is a milestone. Thanks for the emails and I even had a few comments while I was away which was pretty cool. Although I haven't been posting I've most certainly been collecting and I am buzzing with excitement to share, hope you enjoy!

Friday, 13 April 2012

Mary J Blige Burger King Commercial


Quote: Mary's line: Crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing, wrapped up in a tasty flour tortilla
Wendy Williams' reaction: There's something about black people singing about fried chicken that is just very, very embarrassing

Subliminal Matters: chicken + black performer + hip hop beat = bad cliche & stereotype; Black Americans take themselves too seriously?


Location: Burger King TV commercial

<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/fun/did-you-find-mary-j-bliges-bk-commercial-offensivefunny/question-2586203/" title="Did you find Mary J Blige&#39;s BK commercial offensive/funny?">Did you find Mary J Blige's BK commercial offensive/funny?</a>Ad Review: From the reaction of the American public, and the removal of the commercial, it's clear that lots of people found the ad offensive. I found the ad to be funny. I would never put MJB in a BK ad. To me she'd be synonymous with maturity, sophistication and poise not ever BK's chicken wrap?! For me the contrast spelt humour. BUT, while the black people outside America may give the commercial a pass, we can depend the American public to be more vigilant about the media's use of stereotypes. 
I can honestly say that I appreciate that about America. It's not that it's not funny, it's just that it's probably best kept as a private joke, it's just not one for media use anymore. Racial stereotypes get taken seriously. The ramifications of the media's stereotype overuse exist in the most unwanted parts of everyday life. Bottom line: nobody likes being stereotyped, especially not black people. As a consequence, the public chimed in to say "no thank you BK"- #expected! 


Wendy's take: 


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