This controversial commercial for Doritos and Pepsi Max was to be played during the Super Bowl, but it was banned. The video shows the people of the church receiving the sacrament of Communion as Doritos, representing the bread, and Pepsi Max, representing the wine. These items are used to bring people into the Church so that the parish can pay it's bills. Do you think this video is offensive to people of this religion? Is it offensive to you? Do you think the advertisement is making fun of Christianity?
I find it interesting that this commercial was banned from the Super Bowl airing times. I can see how the video can be offensive to some people towards this religion, but I can also see the other side as it is just a spoof of the idea not necessarily making fun of the parish paying its bills. I don't really find this commercial to be that funny, but I guess it is somewhat comical that people are flocking to church to get these two food items. I don't think this commercial is making fun of Christianity on purpose at all, but I do think that it can be seen as offensive to many people.
ReplyDeleteI thought the video was pretty funny! I do not think the commercial is attempting to specifically ridicule Christianity. I think the creators were just trying to pick an activity that many Americans have experienced at least one, going to church, and putting a comedic, creative spin on it. Because it is an activity many people can relate to, the commercial is especially more memorable, which I think was the creator of the commercial's primary goal. I Also, many people look to the Church for guidance, so that may be another reason, besides comedy, to choose a church as the setting. The commercial definitely does not offend me although I can see how some people would feel the integrity and seriousness of the church was being attacked. I do not think that is a warranted anger, however.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the commercial does not ridicule Christianity on purpose, but many people may be irritated by it because it alters the primary incentive of going to a church. The flocks are excited to go to the church because of the treats, Doritos and Pepsi Max, but not because they want to pray to the god. It can be viewed as a humiliation to Christianity. However, the commercial is undoubtedly a successful one because it catches audience's attention and makes a comedic joke out of it. It does not offend me because I only see it as an effective commercial but not a specific humiliation to Christianity.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see how this commercial would be found offensive by religious people. Even though I do not feel that the commercial was meant to intentionally make fun of Christianity, it could be seen as offensive because the commercial essentially shows how people are starting to put less importance into their faith, and are more concerned with free food. Personally, I do not find the commercial offensive, but I also do not find it to be very funny.
ReplyDeleteGiven the fact that this commercial was designed to be put on air during Super Bowl, the main purpose is most likely to be promoting the products; therefore, as a commercial, I find one detail that is very interesting, which are the stacks on the pastor’s table. At the beginning, there is none on the parishioner, but a huge stack of bills to pay. However, thanks to Doritos and Pepsi, the situation reverses at the end. It is inferring the popularity of Doritos and Pepsi implicitly, which, I think, makes this commercial more creative when it is letting the audience to figure out how popular the products are by the details of the commercial.
ReplyDeleteI think the most interesting (and perhaps the most offensive?) part in this commercial is where the pastor prays, "Give me a sign," and God replies with the sounds of opening a bag of crunchy chips and a fizzy coke. This might imply that God believes in spreading his word by the use of commercial products, which might anger people who believe that God is more spiritual and would not promote the consumption of commercial products. In their eyes, this commercial might be distorting God's message as a means of promoting chips and coke. While I found this commercial not particularly offensive nor funny, I could see why people might be offended by this advertisement, and therefore banned from being played during the Super Bowl, which is watched by many religious people.
ReplyDeleteJust as everyone else, I agree that the video's intent is not to ridicule or make fun of Christianity. Ben makes a valid point about how the commercial plays on society's desire for anything free. This is the reason some might find it offensive. I did not find the commercial that funny, but it does provide a good example of how edgy and risque today's advertising is. Just like the last post, American's want to draw the line somewhere and I think it will lead to controversy.
ReplyDeleteClearly this video was not intended to offend people's feelings or mock Christianity. It should not have offended anyone and obviously it did not offend me. Although it wasn't a derogatory video, I am unfortunately not surprised in the least that this was not allowed to be aired. America has become way too politically correct and way too religious that now companies aren't even allowed to use that religion in a commercial. It is utterly absurd these days how protected religious groups are.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else that the creators of this commercial did not intend to offend anyone who was Christian. However, even though it was not meant to offend people, it definitely did. That's why it was banned. I also agree with Ben when he said this video also shows how little people care about faith nowadays. So, honestly, I don't think this commercial should have been banned. It was not meant to ridicule Christianity, it was just made to help advertise a product.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else that I don't think the creators of this commercial intended to offend people who practice Christianity. I personally did not find the commercial to be offensive, but I do see how this could be offensive towards Christians. I believe that this commercial was successful because it grabs people's attention and is memorable, and I feel that it shouldn't of been banned.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I do not understand what the Doritos and Pepsi are representing in this commercial since I do not involve myself with any religion, so I may be mistaken with my own personal opinion. I do not see how this would be offensive to people nor do I see why this commercial could not be aired. To me, the use of free Doritos and Pepsi at a church to attract new people is no different than a restaurant making a change to its menu or a store having a sale. Since I cannot see this as anything more than a clever idea for a commercial, I may be biased in saying this, but I firmly believe that this commercial should have been aired instead of become the topic of a controversial discussion.
ReplyDeleteI tend to have the same opinion as everyone else that has commented so far. I feel like even though the makers didn't intend to make this commercial offensive, it comes of offensively to some of the more strict followers of this religion. Some of the less strict followers might thing that it is just a funny little joke that is good advertisement. I honestly think that its funny and a good commercial but others might not view it in the same way so i think that its a good idea that this wasn't aired.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this is an commercial that is offensive to someone else on purpose. I strongly think this is just an ad for food and drink. The ad-maker may also be a person that hasn't involved a religion. He or she just wanna make the ad in a different way to attract other people. So take it easy. Do not raise this to a higher level. This is just an idea for commercial not for offending people who were Christian. I agree with several comments above that this ad is effective in advertising their products.
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ReplyDeleteEven though I'm not religious, this ad seems to go too far, and quite blasphemous. I think this clip shows not only lack of the creator's imaginative capacity to be necessary to generate good ads, which are supposed to be rather amusement, but also lack of courtesy to be kept since ads are exposed to general public. Basically, the creators must have had some thoughts that the ridiculous situation reveals at least some funny or satirical elements in current church practices, but they should have speculated more about it, and have humility and moderation. I do find this ad to be one of the worse I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteI didin't realize before i ask one of my american friends. When I saw it for a second time, I can definitely feel it.
ReplyDeleteThe files about "involves to be paid" on his desk suggests the situation about the church now. And the way the to solve this problem is to use some snacks and soda pop in the the sacrament of Communion to attract people to come. I think it's really offensive for people who believe in Christ. The creator of this commercial might not intended to make fun of Christianity. But anyway, I think it's really stupid of the creator to relates Christianity with the snack and soda pop.
From Justin: When using religion there is always the possibility of offending a certain group of people. This ad balances along a fine line. It openly mocks a common problem that the majority of churches face, attendence,while using humor to draw attention to the product. Taken lightly this ad seems to be pretty harmless. However, if you really dive into the ad, I can see where it is offensive. Religion is something very serious to many people and I do not think religion should be exploited to sell common goods.
ReplyDeleteFrom Yuru: When I first traveled to the USA, the tour guide told us three topics you should avoid taking to the American---Money, politics and religion. Because we don’t treat these things very seriously in China, people there do not think these are forbidden zones. Therefore, as a foreigner here, I watch my behavior carefully to avoid offending them unwittingly. When I watched this advertisement, it really scared me. I agree with most of my classmates said, that this commercial advertisement does not mean to make fun of Christine on purpose. Because the motivation for advertiser is to sell, to make a profit, to make money, i.e. it is self-interest. If the advertiser meant to make fun of the Christine, it will go back on the economic roles. At least, they will lose huge numbers of customers, not only the Christine, but also the other people who think this company do not respect people’s religion. However, like what Wannie Hung said that, “many people may be irritated by it because it alters the primary incentive of going to a church.”
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of my classmates that this ad serves as controversial for strict religious people. According to ad the church depicts as restaurant in which free meal is being serving to grab new customers, and I think commercial was made to mock Christianity. Moreover, it also depicts from the ad that makers try to convey that the current church practice uses consumer psychology by giving free coke and doritos to increase number of visitors. On the other hand one thing which I found interesting was the makers of the commercial have done good job by using the good camera effects to made better contrast by focusing one person and product at one instant and the background kept blurry at that instant. Moreover, I found that the background music was also interesting, as beats and pitches of the sound was perfect and was according to the situation.
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