Re: Social Awareness Contradiction

1. How do you feel about the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty? Do some quick research if you don't know what this is about because it is worth knowing.

I think that the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is really down-to-earth and inspiring. It reminds us that we’re all individually beautiful in our own way – even if we don’t fit the typical beauty stereotypes or if we don’t have the “perfect” body/features. It encourages viewers to feel beautiful in their own skin and forget about society’s narrow idea of beauty. The media’s unrealistic standards have caused many women and young girls to feel unhappy about their bodies, leading to depression and eating disorders, and it’s about time to stop. Dove makes an effort to spread positive messages about the concept of beauty and how we should love the way our body is naturally.

2. How do you feel about the Axe Effect Campaign? Does it make you laugh hysterically or roll your eyes in disgust? Tell me why?

The Axe Effect Campaign is so over exaggerated in a funny way – would women actually be all over the guy? I don’t think so, but the exaggeration makes it quite amusing. The campaign and the way it’s marketed doesn’t make me roll my eyes in disgust as I don’t see the company taking “women being crazy over men with Axe sprayed” seriously – it’s just a joke. However, it really makes me wonder if guys are naïve enough to believe that women would actually be crazy about them if they wear the spray. Although the Axe Effect Campaign is over exaggerated, and some may find the message degrading to women, I still think it’s pretty funny.

3. Do you think that a 'parent' company has some responsibility to ensure that all of their different sectors uphold the same sort of beliefs and values? Tell me why or why not.

I don’t think that a ‘parent’ company has responsibility to ensure that all of their different sectors uphold the same sort of beliefs and values because their main focus is to sell their products. Though the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty spreads a positive message onto the perception of beauty, their main point is to market their care products. They’re trying to say that, even though we aren’t as pretty as those photoshopped models on billboards (and that we should love our body), their care products can help us look better naturally – without having to lose weight, etc. Similarly, the company marketed Axe as a product that can attract women for the purpose of selling their product as well. I don’t think the ‘parent’ company cares whether if the two ads contradict each other or not, just as long as they are getting business. 

 Picture Credit:

• http://purethinking.typepad.com/pure_thinking_a_streamofc/images/2007/10/10/denver_ad_agency_unilever_dove_axe.jpg