Mercury in Retrograde, Civilization in Decline
By raincoasterThere, I said it.
You know, this week started badly, is worsening rapidly, and at this rate I really don’t know if I’ll be able to face Friday without smelling salts. Tell me: Do they make overproof Earl Grey? I’ll have a double.
One doesn’t want to natter on about the Good Old Days before one was born (too much) because they were oppressive and hypocritical and full of ugly, synthetic garments and hostility towards the people who supply the toys for our Happy Meals and our mail order babies.
But.
One is reminded, one is, of the time Mister Walt Disney went to former Mousekateer Annette Funicello and asked her to keep her bellybutton covered during her upcoming beach movie, for the sake of the reputation of the Mickey Mouse Club. Well, she did and they gave her three sequels anyway and as far as we know she’s sitting on a beanbag full of cash, drinking whiskey sours her cabana boy mixed and emailing Perez Hilton corny jokes from the verandah of a swanky retirement villa in Santa Barbara. And good for her.
My, how things have changed. First Miley Cyrus, now this:
From Slate:
After reading of the Cyrus flap, I e-mailed my photo to Disney… How did the company square its position on the Liebowitz photo with its risqué billboard in China?…
Foster said he didn’t know which ad agency prepared the ad, how old the model was, or where the photo shoot took place. But he was sure it was the work of a Disney licensee: Shanghai Zhenxin Garments Co. Ltd… He assured me the billboard would be removed immediately…
It may be a small world, after all, but not everyone shares Burbank’s mores, and you can’t be too careful protecting your brand: You never know when a Chinese licensee, or an American glossy, will deviate from the Disney way.
So to speak.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:01 am
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: that is ADULT lingerie.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:42 am
A 12 year old in a Wonderbra. Great.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:50 am
But wait, there’s more:
http://www.tmz.com/2008/04/30/disneys-dirty-little-victorias-secret/
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 am
I did read the original article where the writer mentioned that, unfortunately, this type of advertising is not unusual in many parts of the world including Europe and much of Asia. I’m sure Disney will follow up on this, especially now that it has gotten so much publicity. As large a company as Disney is, I certainly hope that they are taking precautions to make sure that all advertisers conform to their standards.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:55 am
I agree. I understand that standards and viewpoints are different in other cultures, but Disney’s brand identity shouldn’t vary that much or it isn’t Disney anymore.
You should SEE some of the Italian kids’ ads: I swear to god they have no gaydar whatsoever. It is freaky.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
My cousin designs for girls’ clothes in the Japanese market. Luckily she designs formal wear (flower girl dresses and the like) so it is easy to market modestly. Some of the ads I have seen, though, are really disturbing. Very Lolita-esque.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:30 am
[…] Raincoaster… One doesn’t want to natter on about the Good Old Days before one was born (too much) because they were oppressive and hypocritical and full of ugly, synthetic garments and hostility towards the people who supply the toys for our Happy Meals and our mail order babies. […]