UBU REVIEW 2

As a supporter of equal rights between men and women, the first thing that got my attention was the word feminism. Taking into consideration that the first wave of feminism “focused on the promotion of equal contract and property rights for women and the opposition to chattel marriage and ownership of married women (and their children) by their husbands,” it’s clear that women have made some progress when it comes to issues of equality.
But they are still discriminated against. The video on The Production of Meaning exemplifies the impact that commercial have on our lives. In many adds of today’s society, women are portrayed as a sex object. It’s typical to see a hot girl drinking your favorite beer, smoking your favorite cigarette, or driving the car of your dreams. People are being sold the idea that if they consume the products being advertised, they can get sleep with a beautiful girl. “I bought some Calvin Klein underwear, now I’m good looking and I can get laid all the time.”
If today’s advertisements had the intention to promote same rights for men and women, I’m certain that women would occupy a better place in society. Another aspect that got my attention is that there is and there has been a push towards a consuming society. Today’s adds tell us to spend lots of money on things we don’t even need. Wealthy corporations place unhealthy products in the market and they refuse to accept that they influence society in a bad way. This is exemplified at the beginning of the video when CEOs deny that cigarettes can cause an addiction. Every time that someone offers a different opinion that challenges the status quote, he or she is portrayed as crazy.
Kalle Lasn, for instance, asked people not to spend during the holiday season. The CNN anchor introduced the commercial saying: “this add points nothing at all.” Clearly Mr. Lans had a point, a point that was not convenient for CNN or for any other medium since they generate their revenue through adds, and a commercial that promotes no spending could be counterproductive for the business cycle.