Kellan Lutz of Twilight fame is the star of a new campaign by Abbot + Main and some clear themes of domination, submission, sodomy, and subjugation are apparent.
Dominance is clearly the message here, and maybe in a less subtle way than is first noticeable. While the submissive female seems content in her role, she is still in a sexually suggestive position, and one in which the man clearly maintains virtual absolute control. This message along with his apathetic yet mildly-content appearance suggest post sexual activity, and it is implied that "if you are like him", you also will find yourself satisfied as well - just wear Abbot + Main.
Minor details like the exposed, and somewhat famously known "barrel chest" of Mr. Lutz, imply extreme strength (Twilight role), and the addition of military dog tags provides an unknown mystery and potential danger. Lastly, the tactically placed feint "AIN" in the area between Mr. Lutz's genitalia and our young ladies mouth is a clever trick as one is drawn to discover "just how far did they go?"
Have you ever wondered why in Hollywood movies, all the villains are played by Brits? Jaguar knows and they have a car for you if you agree its #GoodToBeBad.
Sign 1:
Signifier: High technology "situation room" in classical high ceiling mansion room.
The Surface Meaning:A typical rural or subdivision intersection in New Zealand.A Subaru station wagon and a Nissan station
wagon (the minivan of New Zealand) are approaching an intersection with a stop
sign, from opposing directions.Typical
lush New Zealand vegetation and farmland is the background. The Nissan holds a Caucasian
man dressed in business attire that is approaching the intersection
rapidly.The vehicle is shown to rise
from its velocity, over a slight bump, inspiring a belief in probable speeding.A Maori descendent man (native NZ tribesman)
fails to double check the road and pulls his Subaru in front of the businessman
in the Nissan.Through stop motion
effects the two see the impending collision and are delivered a brief respite
from the impending collision, where they exit their vehicles and speak.The Maori man asks the businessman to spare
him, as his son is in the back of the wagon.The businessman replies “I’m going too fast”.The Maori man states “I just made a mistake”
in referring to his failure to double check the intersection.The advertisement concludes with both men reentering
their vehicles, and a slight loving glance to the boy, before time resumes and
the fatal impact is portrayed in graphic detail from the boy’s perspective.It is clear the Maori man could not survive.
The Advertiser's Intended Meaning:The New Zealand Transport Agency is clearly
advocating for driving slower through this visualization of what can happen
when a driver makes a simple mistake, in conjunction with another driver who is
speeding in excess of posted limits.The
campaign clearly intends to impose a feeling of guilt before any crime has
occurred and forces the audience to view the feelings that occur in motor
vehicle accidents, in a more palatable manner.The dialogue is clearly intended to produce an emotional reaction and drive
home the belief that slowing down on NZ roadways will save lives.The inclusion of two station wagon’s as the colliding
vehicles is clearly intended to remind the audience of the common existence of
children on NZ roadways, as well as an intended belief that the speeding businessman
is himself a father.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has seen an increase in
traffic collisions that occur with slight, not heavy, speeding involved.The
choice to use a bright sunny day with good weather is clearly a reminder to
audiences that collisions and mistakes occur in even the best of
weather, and that even marginal speeding can be fatal; and that posted limits
exist for reasons not visible to all motorists. The NZ Transport Agency’s
data supports that many are marginally speeding, but still with enough velocity to
overdrive road conditions and impede their ability to react in collision avoidance
situations.
A societal belief
that marginally speeding “Isn’t hurting anyone” is the direct target of this
campaign.
The Cultural or
Ideological Meaning:The choice to use a
Caucasian businessman and a Maori descendent is likely a play on societal
values and customs that many will understand in New Zealand where the stereotypes
in this film can often be true.The
white businessman constantly in a hurry is a stereotype that is certainly true
in New Zealand, and elsewhere, where a type of white superiority over Maori,
and other people of color, can exist from the collision of societal values that
we see between these two “tribes”.The Maori value quality of life and family
much more than “keeping up with the Joneses”, and this advertisement clearly
highlights the laid-back Maori rural lifestyle where “mistakes” happen, and urban attitudes toward law obedience can result in tragedy.
Many would argue that this duality is also an
indicator of urban sprawl encroaching into agricultural areas, with the businessman
bringing his “lifestyle” to the rural Maori farming areas where a slower pace
is the norm.
I’m persuaded.I know
it and my financials testify to it.My trash
man can testify to it.Watching The Persuaders was a little like being
told why my wealth is often squandered and I have an endless supply of worthless
barely used 1D trash going
out of my house – and worse yet why I can’t do much to stop it.
I’m a constant purveyor of products, most of which I
purchase because of some strange attachment or feeling - for an intangible
substance, taste or emotional connection.Marketing is what they call it and this film exposed a world that is
much larger, and much more sinister than I ever could have imagined.
They once marketed eugenics in America and the
techniques used to sell the final solution have molded well to selling my
family useless items and overpriced products that have the correct symbol establishing our place in society.
I have often wondered if my ability to independently choose
consumables is chosen for me long before I make a choice, or even realized I
needed toilet paper.Funny how the film
eluded to predictive efforts and now Amazon tells me that they are going to
predict my needs and send the crap I consume before
I know I need it.That’s okay for
Kuerig cups, but maybe not pregnancy tests.
Worse yet is an endless amount of marketing efforts directed
exclusively toward my children and in terms that make it very difficult to
properly communicate parent to kid.Increasingly desperate advertising firms now exponentially increase the lengths
they will take to grab the attention of my children – who of course will beg
and pester for the items they “believe” they need.These products grace my home and remind me of
just how short the career of a Disney or Nick star is these days, as an endless
array of “celebutard” products are discarded for the next tween flavor.Hanna Montana and I-Carly just departed, only
to be replaced by the next five minute flavor – and Bob
Iger needs my cash to maintain the lifestyle he has become accustomed to.
Disney just ended Shake it Upin October and
now Bella Thorne is “slutting
it up” over at Candie’s and my 9 year old daughter will run like the wind
to the Candie’s section at Kohls.Lucky
me and thank you “Dis-Nicky” for maximizing profits on the backs of my kids -
and the backs of all those Chinese workers who continue to roll out paper thin
shirts and lead poisoned plasticy thingys.Hell Bob over at Disney is so cool he killed two birds with one stone by
having kids
make the toys they should later consume.
In the end, The Persuaders was a disgusting look in the
mirror that makes me glad I never joined Friend Face or spent much time with
any online persona.If the persuaders
know this much about me from simple financial statements and known purchases,
what would they know if I willingly blabbed it all?
FACE IT, nobody owes you a living.
What you achieve, or fail to achieve in your lifetime
Is directly related to what you do or fail to do.
No one chooses his parent or childhood,
But you can choose your own direction.
Everyone has problems and obstacles to overcome,
But that too is relative to each individual.
NOTHING IS CARVED IN STONE!
You can change anything in your life
If you want to badly enough.
Excuses are for losers! Those who take responsibility for their actions
Are the real winners in life.
Winners meet life challenges head on
Knowing there are guarantees, and give it all they've got
And never think it's too late or too early to begin.
Time plays no favorites
And will pass whether you act or not
Take control of your LIFE
Dare to Dream and take risks.......
Compete!
If you aren't willing to work for your goals
Don't expect others to.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
