This banned Super Bowl commercial takes place at a restaurant. Two chefs are seen discussing someone’s previously made meal while they are currently eating it. The camera shifts to the dinner table where a robot shows up and tells the person eating the meal that it is poisonous and an ambulance is on the way. They are informed that they most likely will not survive after their meal. The robot then tries to apologize with four bottle of Bud Light.
How could this be seen as offensive to certain cultures?
Honestly, I don't really see anything wrong with this commercial. It just seems to be an extreme exaggeration, but I don't think their is a specific group that would be hugely offended by this. To some degree, the banning of this commercial makes little sense, as its really just supposed to be funny. Their are no overtly racial or sexist overtones. It's just a commercial.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason that I could possibly think of which accounts for the banning of this commercial is that human lives are considered frivolously as indifferent. Four bottles of Bud Lights can compensate the loss of lives which are poisoned to death by the sushi. I think the commercial is entertaining and it will definitely attracts the audience's attention and raise the sales of the product after being aired. There may seem to be some exaggerations, but they are not offensive to me because as what Zach said, it's just a commercial.
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ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that this commercial is not depicting a real-life situation. Actually, the creators of the commercial do not intent to make the audience to perceive it that way since they just want to make the commercial funny. I agree with Zach and Wannie that this commercial uses certain amount of exaggerations. However, it is still fairly clear that through the exaggerations, the really message that is being conveyed is that this brand of beer makes people happy.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the producers of this advertisement were trying to convey the message that in the end, a bottle of Bud Light makes everything all right. While it was pretty funny at the end when the robot tells the chef to ask for the check (presumably while his customers are still alive), it might have been controversial because some people might have thought it treats death lightly. I thought it made good use of background music, as the first half of the ad uses melodramatic piano music and closeups of the people who are about to die, much like when contestants are about to get cut from America's Next Top Model, or any other type of reality show. The ad then surprises the viewer by taking a nonchalant attitude towards oncoming death with four frosty bottles of beer and upbeat, almost jazzy music.
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ReplyDeleteI do not see any offensive parts in this commercial, while I was really amused by the last part when everyone thought that they will die. Everyone seems shock and nervous but all in a sudden their facial expression turned to be happy and relax when the Bud Light pop out from the robot. I agree with Sarah that the producers were trying to bring the message that the power of the beer goes beyond everything even a human life.
ReplyDeleteAs we all know, modern and designs have seen such means as: exaggeration, imageries, exchange, comparison, humor, and suspense, which, properly used help the audience better understand ads and help information reach farther. Exaggeration is used the most extensively and the most successfully. I think this is the reason why some ads may make people feel offensive to certain cultures. I don’t think we need to treat ads seriously; it is not a serious form of arts. The aim of ads always just gets audience’s attention. After watching commercial ads, and which can leave an impression in your mind, no matter good or bad, and then they achieve their goal. I agree with what Wannie said about the only reason we can come out why this ad might be banned. I like this ad and it really entertains me, especially the sentence at the end of this ad---“Create your own apology at Budlight.com.” It seems inventive enough.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that this commercial can be offensive to any type of culture. I think that this is a very funny video that should have been aired. I think that if someone was going to try to make any offensive intent out of this commercial, they would have to make a far stretched inference from it. I do like what sarah and siew said about how the producers were trying to say how a bud light was more important then life. In my opinion it was a very good commercial.
ReplyDeleteI, like most people, don't find anything wrong with this video. The only reason I think it shouldn't have been aired is because only funny commercials should be aired during the Super Bowl. And this video wasn't that funny. As far as being offensive to cultures, maybe if I was Japanese it could be considered as enforcing some Japanese stereotype about sushi or something, but I can't really judge how offensive it potentially is seeing as how I am not Japanese.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this commercial is offensive. The creator just want to create a funny atmosphere and let the audience feel the same kind of relax and happy. And I don't think it should be aired. As Yuru Liu said, we don't need to treat ads seriously, it is not a serious form of arts. And a proper use of exaggeration can let the information of the product get more people's attention. The Japanese accent and sushi might be offensive to Japanese, but without a foreign accent and without the comparison of the helpless faces with the pleased laughter, this commercial might not be so funny and might not get people's attention.
ReplyDeleteThe pitfalls coming from this ad might be to prompt people to recall the danger of eating raw food. It would affect sales of sushi and popularity of Japanese restaurants, which is the main reason for banning this ad. And I don't see any particular offence from this ad, except for the over-exaggeration of their trading life-threats for a bottle of beer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others that the video is just an advertisement and shouldn't be taken to seriously. I can see how some ethnic groups could find the advertisement demeaning or offensive, but not enough for the commercial to not be aired. I don't find the commercial funny but I think it is effective in conveying the message that Bud Light is great and will make you feel better. Overall it is a mediocre commercial.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the rest of my classmates that this commercial was not offensive to any culture. I thought that the commercial was funny and there was no part that could be taken away as offensive. As most people have stated above, the idea was to show how a bottle of Bud Light can make any situation better. I think there are far worse commercials out there and that this commercial should have been aired.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this commercial is offensive to any culture in any way. I found the commercial funny and interesting. I agree with Sarah that the creator made a good use of background music especially when the beer bottles popped out of the robot. I agree with Taylor and the rest of my classmates that the idea of the commercial was to show how Bud Light can make a situation better and lighter. According to me, the video definitely should have been aired.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone that this commercial isn't offensive. I don't think it is controversial at all. I thought that it was funny that they inserted their name into the message of the robot in the similar way of your voicemail on your phone. The music in the background while the robot is talking is dramatic while the tone of his voice isn't very sympathetic. The people exchange worried looks until the robot offers Bud Light. I agree with my classmates that the point is it make it seem like Bud Light makes a situation better. I don't find anything offensive and I believe the commercial could have been aired. There are many more offensive and controversial things that appear on television.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of my classmates that the commercial is not offensive. Actually, most of the commercials are just to attract the customers and I think this was the main focus of the commercial. I found this ad interesting specially the change in reaction of the people when they were told that the food they ate was poisonous. Moreover, the spontaneous change in their reaction when they were served Bud Light was really dramatic and intersting. The creators of this ad have done good job in making the audio transitions with the situation. I found everything fine with this ad and I don't know why this ad was banned.
ReplyDeleteI agree with almost everyone else that this commercial was not really offensive to anyone, and there was not really anything controversial in this at all. The commercial was just trying to make its audience laugh, which it most likely did. In no way was it actually portraying a real life problem. It was just trying to tell its audience that Bud Light makes everything better. There is no legitimate reason for this commercial to be banned.
ReplyDeleteFrom Justin: I do not feel that this commercial is at all offensive and nor should it have been banned. Its really a quite simple ad depicting that bud light makes bad situations better. I do however see where certain groups of people could find negative connotation within the ad. This being that alcohol will make all of your problems better. Clearly this is not true and alcohol will not fix your problems. Aside from this possible interpretation I really see nothing wrong with this commercial.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the previous posts in that the commercial was simply meant to be funny so I personally believe it could have continued to air. However, Asian restaurant owners could have been offended by this ad because it could cause potential customers to be weary of coming to their restaurant due to their fear of food poisoning. Also, critics may be worried that this commercial downplays the importance of human life because the sadness one would normally feel if they were given a death verdict was erased by the promise of beer. I also thought it was interesting that the creators of the commercial chose a robot to deliver the message instead of the chef or another human being. I think the creators chose to do that because it adds to the comedic and unrealistic tone of the commercial.
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