Nike Puppets insult Blacks?

[Guest The Situation]

I just got done reading this and do not agree.

 

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/02/17/cut-kobe-lebron-puppets-strings/

 

I really just think this is another writer just trying to obtain some attention and ruffle some feathers.

 

What do you think?

 

Also check the comments underneath his article.

[Real Deal]

Haha, I commented. He's just seeking attention from his article.

[Flash]

And we see the race card being used...yet again.

[BasX]

OTR Real Deal 2-18-2010 11:57AM

 

Fellas, don't post the article anywhere. It was written more for the reaction, nothing more. Writers produce without reason, half the time. The less you link to this article, the less he gets from it.

 

And if he believes everything he actually wrote in it, well, there isn't much to speak on that subject, either, as he's really the only one complaining.

 

OH SNAP, good comment actually.

Edited February 18, 2010 by BasX

[Hero]

I'm confounded at Mr. Terrence Moore's allegations. He's completely lost his sanity.

[Rajon Rondo]

I hate those puppets.

[reno]

Writer just seeking bs attention,I also enjoy the puppet adds.

[Poe]

If the Most Valuable Puppet adds are racist, then so are the Mac vs PC adds.

[GamerGuy]

I love how he's complaining about non-existent racism in these commercials. Seriously, do you not have anything better to write about?

[Rajon Rondo]

Fanhouse is one of the sites I refuse to go to.

[Erick Blasco]

There are clearly racist undertones with the Rapping Santa commercial clearly presenting an unflattering portrait of its target audience, black youth basketball fans. Since the puppets in the video are black, the portrait envelops Nike's view on black youths more than it would white youths. The common stereotype is that blacks speak in ebonics and not proper English. This stereotype is reinforced through the commercial, which contains no white puppets.

 

They take Kobe and LeBron, two very articulate individuals, and make them look like fools by associating them in a song with pointless self-promotion. There are also numerous references to "The hood" and "The streets" in KRS-One's version and Lupe's version.

 

If you look at the images from the mainstream video, Santa has jewelry on, but when they show his kitchen, it has a run down stove, a calendar, a dingy light bulb hanging down, a hat, phone, and no wallpaper. The implied message is that even though he's Santa Claus, because he's black, he lives in a low-income house. Even a mythical figure, if he's black lives in squalor. And yet he has jewelry and is used to push sneakers.

 

Nike choose all the elements of the lyrics and the images. Nothing was accidental.

 

• Broken Grammar
• "Ghetto" Santa
• Self Promotion
• A dumbed down version of who Kobe and LeBron really are, which is harmless in most commercials---in the fire commercial, Kobe's ditziness and valuing his shoe over the safety of the people in the house are used for comedic effect and balanced by LeBron's disapproval of Kobe's actions by sighing and shaking his head---but not in this one, which has no redeeming value.
• By dumbing down LeBron and Kobe, Nike is saying that what Kobe and LeBron represent (as media icons) has value, but who they are as spokespeople doesn't have value, hence their ultimate diminishing as people.

This is how stereotypes perpetuate and dominant ideologies are spread. By mass-marketing these images to the public, they become absorbed and accepted. Veiled Racism doesn't lie in the obvious, it lies in the contradictions of those who encode the meanings.

[Lkr]

you know what is more offensive? the nba quadruple header on mlk day

[TheNextBestThing]

Since the puppets in the video are black, the portrait envelops Nike's view on black youths more than it would white youths.

 

 

Yeah, maybe they chose black puppets to send a message. Or maybe they just chose the two most famous players in the league, who happen to be black.

 

 

They take Kobe and LeBron, two very articulate individuals, and make them look like fools by associating them in a song with pointless self-promotion.

 

 

The fact that Kobe abd LeBron are so well-spoken is probably why they feel comfortable with these videos. Clearly any negative implications are unfounded.

 

And the "pointless self-promotion?" You do realize that this is a commercial?

 

 

Veiled Racism doesn't lie in the obvious, it lies in the contradictions of those who encode the meanings.

 

 

If anything, the inherent contradictions should destroy the credibility of any insult. And if it has no basis, why would it be upsetting?

 

And yes, veiled racism doesn't lie in the obvious. That is what "veiled" means.

 

 

BONUS: I know you like the ridiculous Steve Nash commercials (who doesn't?). They make Steve Nash look like a total idiot, not to mention the vitamin water ones that portray him as an insufferable jerk. Why is it not racist to trounce the reputation of white people like that? After all, if you show someone behaving stupidly in a commercial, you're insinuating that every member of his race acts the same way, right?

 

Except you're not. Because surreal contradictions are just that: not indicative of reality. I think you're really jumping at shadows here.

[Poe]

BONUS: I know you like the ridiculous Steve Nash commercials (who doesn't?). They make Steve Nash look like a total idiot, not to mention the vitamin water ones that portray him as an insufferable jerk. Why is it not racist to trounce the reputation of white people like that? After all, if you show someone behaving stupidly in a commercial, you're insinuating that every member of his race acts the same way, right?

 

Except you're not. Because surreal contradictions are just that: not indicative of reality. I think you're really jumping at shadows here.

I think Blasko's observations are less towards Kobe and Bron's image on how stupid or smart they look, but more towards the example set for kids and their self-image.

 

Most of the MVPuppet commercials are completely innocent and can hardly be considered racial in any way, though I think Blasko makes a good point on the one with the rapping and the Black Santa. The Black Santa was deliberately made to have a low income house simply because he's black, and how "black" and "ghetto" are supposed to be associated in this society sets an example for kids growing up.

 

 

It's kind of like young girls and magazine cover models. Many young girls like to spend time with their friends at the mall, and when they see these unrealistically perfect looking women in big posters and magazines and whatnot around them, that sets an example to their self-image, and they start wanting to become something either unrealistic or not worth achieving.

 

It completely relates to young blacks growing up. They'll see rappers on TV and the internet with gold chains, walking with a limp with their pants halfway down, hat sideways, talking in ebonics, say [expletive]a in every other sentence, and talk about their life in the "hood". Kids will take example from this, and it sets a standard for them growing up. Very few break from the mold.

[Flash]

The sensitivity in here is ridiculous.

[Erick Blasco]

Yeah, maybe they chose black puppets to send a message. Or maybe they just chose the two most famous players in the league, who happen to be black.

 

It's not just that LeBron and Kobe are black. The little kid who lives with them was DJing, and they portrayed Santa Claus as black, something Nike carefully chose, considering the dominant portrayal of Santa Claus is white. Nike chose that image especially to appeal to urban culture, and by portraying Santa as black, Nike is selecting the images they associate with black culture.

 

 

 

 

The fact that Kobe and LeBron are so well-spoken is probably why they feel comfortable with these videos. Clearly any negative implications are unfounded.

 

And the "pointless self-promotion?" You do realize that this is a commercial?

 

 

If anything, the inherent contradictions should destroy the credibility of any insult. And if it has no basis, why would it be upsetting?

 

And yes, veiled racism doesn't lie in the obvious. That is what "veiled" means.

 

Kobe and LeBron probably aren't delving too deeply into ideology and see $$$ signs attached to the commercial. And what conduit for reaching the public is more mainstream than commercials? The commercial isn't a parody, which uses different rules. It isn't a commercial made purely for comedic purposes.

 

It's why there's nothing wrong with the other commercials. Two well-off individuals live together, they live unassuming lives in a well-furnished house, they act as pseudo-mentors to a youngster, Kobe acts a bit ridiculous and is balanced out by LeBron who is more of a straight character who opposes Kobe having a snake eating a shoe and opposes Kobe for not caring that his house is burned down because his shoe is too hot.

 

If the ideology is that blacks/young adult males/basketball players care more about shoes than safety, it's balanced out by the fire chief and LeBron's displeasure in Kobe's decisions. What you get out of the fire commercial is that shoes are not more important than safety and that Kobe's new kicks are sweet.

 

In the rap commercial, the message is that even if you live in a rundown place of living, bling, basketball, knowing the hood, and crushing those who challenge you are more important than social mobility.

 

That's the contradiction. If Santa has enough money and time to buy jewelry and play basketball, why does he have a dirty stove, no furnishings, and a light bulb dangling down from the ceiling? This is an admitted stretch, but there's also no Mrs. Claus either, while many white Santa images of Santa in his home will somewhere have a Mrs. Claus in there. I'm not going to make a huge deal about it---it's a 2 minute commercial---but it's another stereotype reinforced.

 

Most of the other images of the mainstream commercial are harmless---getting revenge on bullies isn't a negative statement at all, but the diminishing of Kobe/LeBron's speech, and especially Nike's deliberate choice in how to portray Santa are nothing but reinforcing stereotypes.

 

BONUS: I know you like the ridiculous Steve Nash commercials (who doesn't?). They make Steve Nash look like a total idiot, not to mention the vitamin water ones that portray him as an insufferable jerk. Why is it not racist to trounce the reputation of white people like that? After all, if you show someone behaving stupidly in a commercial, you're insinuating that every member of his race acts the same way, right?

 

Parodies are a little bit different. You aren't veiling the stereotypes, in fact, you're bringing them to the forefront and blowing them way out of proportion. Nash claims to make the office better by his presence. He walks into the room and asks if anybody needs a pick-me-up. Nobody responds. He signs the woman's Shaq shoe when she doesn't want him to, she curses him out. The commercial isn't hiding the fact that Nash is absurd, and his absurdity is being rejected by the office's disapproval of Nash. The message evolves into acting as if you are the center of everybody else's universe = bad.

 

Also, look at the powers at be in the commercials, plus assumed stereotypes.

 

Assuming white corporations are the powers that be, Nash is often in positions that mirror the dominant structure. An office spokesman, a vitamin water flavor creator spokesman, etc. If anyone is reflected poorly, it's the dominant power structure, which isn't nearly as severe as attacking other groups.

 

Also, what assumed stereotypes are made in the commercials? Is it that white people are jerks? The other white people in the commercials don't really back that up. Is it that getting paid is the most important thing? That statement is mocked by Nash's ridiculous dance.

 

And in the other commercials, like the most ridiculous man in the world commercial, it's nothing but pure silliness with no meanings lying whatsoever. Silliness is mostly harmless without context to add meaning.

 

Except you're not. Because surreal contradictions are just that: not indicative of reality. I think you're really jumping at shadows here.

 

You're statement works if you assume that the commercial is surreal. Just because it's not indicative of reality doesn't mean the messages encoded aren't indicative of assumed cultural stereotypes.

[Erick Blasco]

I think Blasko's observations are less towards Kobe and Bron's image on how stupid or smart they look, but more towards the example set for kids and their self-image.

 

Most of the MVPuppet commercials are completely innocent and can hardly be considered racial in any way, though I think Blasko makes a good point on the one with the rapping and the Black Santa. The Black Santa was deliberately made to have a low income house simply because he's black, and how "black" and "ghetto" are supposed to be associated in this society sets an example for kids growing up.

 

 

It's kind of like young girls and magazine cover models. Many young girls like to spend time with their friends at the mall, and when they see these unrealistically perfect looking women in big posters and magazines and whatnot around them, that sets an example to their self-image, and they start wanting to become something either unrealistic or not worth achieving.

 

It completely relates to young blacks growing up. They'll see rappers on TV and the internet with gold chains, walking with a limp with their pants halfway down, hat sideways, talking in ebonics, say [expletive]a in every other sentence, and talk about their life in the "hood". Kids will take example from this, and it sets a standard for them growing up. Very few break from the mold.

 

Poe. You win the internet.

[Poe]

Poe. You win the internet.

Well it's about time.

 

[Make It Naaaashty]

Haha that's funny.

[Real Deal]

Racism exists because of those who continue to nitpick at things like this.

 

Erick...no Mrs. Claus? Really? Come on man...that's foolish. I might as well point out that LeBron and Kobe live together in the commercials, which may hint that they have ran out on their wife and kids, and shacked up together as homosexuals. That's how far you're going with it.

 

Another example: the kid looking up to LeBron and Kobe was black. Maybe that means that white kids shouldn't look up to a sport "dominated by the black man," right?

 

The little boy slapping the man eating Doritos (Super Bowl commercial)...maybe that was encouraging black kids to act out against their mother's boyfriends? She was in what seemed to be a nice home with her son, and since that guy was just a friend, the boy's father ran out on him, and the mother took him for all he's worth?

 

You can twist anything like this, in any direction, and that's why racism will never die.

[Flash]

Racism exists because of those who continue to nitpick at things like this.

 

Erick...no Mrs. Claus? Really? Come on man...that's foolish. I might as well point out that LeBron and Kobe live together in the commercials, which may hint that they have ran out on their wife and kids, and shacked up together as homosexuals. That's how far you're going with it.

 

Another example: the kid looking up to LeBron and Kobe was black. Maybe that means that white kids shouldn't look up to a sport "dominated by the black man," right?

 

The little boy slapping the man eating Doritos (Super Bowl commercial)...maybe that was encouraging black kids to act out against their mother's boyfriends? She was in what seemed to be a nice home with her son, and since that guy was just a friend, the boy's father ran out on him, and the mother took him for all he's worth?

 

You can twist anything like this, in any direction, and that's why racism will never die.

 

+ 100

 

You guys are way overanalyzing this stuff.

[BasX]

Puppet Commercials: Serious Business.

[Doc]

haha that was lame.

[Erick Blasco]

Racism exists because of those who continue to nitpick at things like this.

 

Erick...no Mrs. Claus? Really? Come on man...that's foolish. I might as well point out that LeBron and Kobe live together in the commercials, which may hint that they have ran out on their wife and kids, and shacked up together as homosexuals. That's how far you're going with it.

 

Another example: the kid looking up to LeBron and Kobe was black. Maybe that means that white kids shouldn't look up to a sport "dominated by the black man," right?

 

The little boy slapping the man eating Doritos (Super Bowl commercial)...maybe that was encouraging black kids to act out against their mother's boyfriends? She was in what seemed to be a nice home with her son, and since that guy was just a friend, the boy's father ran out on him, and the mother took him for all he's worth?

 

You can twist anything like this, in any direction, and that's why racism will never die.

 

Nothing in the commercial hints that they're homosexual other than the fact that they live together, or that they've ran out on their wife and kids. The commercial shows each of them living a carefree lifestyle filled with sneakers, cars, and video games. It places LeBron and Kobe almost as mature adolescents who obviously wouldn't have kids. Though you are right. Family-oriented doesn't sell sneakers to the urban youth, so they take the pretext of family away from Kobe and LeBron.

 

The concept of a child protecting his mother from a potential boyfriend is universal to all races. It could've been a White, black, or asian and it would've conveyed the same message.

 

All I've done is displayed what Nike has explicitly chosen to show and what those representations mean. You're assuming things that aren't there. The Doritos commercial assumes little other than that the man is physically attracted to the woman shown by the male-gaze [expletive] shot of the woman walking. We assume its her place (feminist scholars must be thrilled), and it's well-kept. You're making wild assumptions that aren't suggested by the commercial.

 

Again, nothing suggests that because the kid is black that white people shouldn't look up to Kobe or LeBron.

 

I haven't twisted anything. I took image choices Nike deliberately made and how they reflect black, urban, youth culture, and reflect dominant ideologies. You're grasping at examples in order to make me look ridiculous without looking at how ideologies work.

[Flash]

LMFAO @ where this has gone.

 

When trying to act way too smart goes wrong..