tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post609878719910322958..comments2024-03-27T06:58:00.659-05:00Comments on Balancing Jane: Stereotypes and White Supremacy in KRAFT's MilkBites CampaignMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-28303571726263430542013-06-03T01:40:08.346-05:002013-06-03T01:40:08.346-05:00UGH, Actually I grudgingly did read it all, I was ...UGH, Actually I grudgingly did read it all, I was being facetious. So, yes my opinion still standsnicoleasmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-77005661647307515522013-06-02T22:11:45.717-05:002013-06-02T22:11:45.717-05:00Well, if you didn't read it, it's hard for...Well, if you didn't read it, it's hard for me to really care about your criticism of the argument, since you don't know what the argument was. <br /><br /><br />Also, I definitely understand that there are other races beyond black and white and that people who are biracial in many forms face discrimination. I mention black and white specifically because there is a specific literary trope of the tragic mulatto being played upon in this commercial (but that's probably in the part of the that argument you didn't read.)Michelle (Balancing Jane)http://www.balancingjane.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-77498461707642436382013-06-02T22:06:53.185-05:002013-06-02T22:06:53.185-05:00I couldn't even read this entire crazy rant of...I couldn't even read this entire crazy rant of yours, because I found you making a big ado about absolutely nothing. You read way too much into their personifications. They were obviously taking inventions that people put together, like the spork, and comparing it to the milk bites. I thought it was great! None of that was about race, and if you really do believe it was, why aren't you thinking along the terms that Kraft is ultimately trying to get people to but their product, and in turn, is saying the Milk bites are the best invention EVER?! I thought it was creative. And I kind of found it appalling with your tragic mulatto mindset, that you were thinking in terms of black and white? HELLO! There are more races in this world, so it's not always about black and white...but that's all you mentionnicoleasmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-8098304039035357872013-04-09T01:57:26.808-05:002013-04-09T01:57:26.808-05:00Unfortunately I think the commercials took away fr...Unfortunately I think the commercials took away from most of us tryingt the best granola bar ever until it was too late. I saw the commercials and they didn't describe how amazing the bars were which is not good for a new product. If it was an old product I could understand the need for a weird taboo lets make people awkwardly laugh commmercial. I found the ads ineffective at selling but entertaining. Who knows maybe the writer was bi racial and felt it was a clever ad- although the ads made me think what a weird ad! To each their own- we all face discrimination and interpret things according to our experiences. We dont know what others have been though. If you found out the writer were bi racial, black, Mexican or Asian would u feel the same? The saddest part is I never thought to try the bars till the went to the outlet store damn they are delicious but discontinued probably in part due to the ineffective ads.Bekahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-5976280107266791342012-05-27T13:39:07.612-05:002012-05-27T13:39:07.612-05:00.
The entire "Tragic Mel" marketing camp....<br />The entire "Tragic Mel" marketing campaign for this <br />product is so racist and offensive on so many levels <br />(For example -- the reinforcing of the false and racist <br />stereotype of ''The Tragic Mulatto'; the reinforcing of <br />the stereotype of “the closeted-racist White person” <br />who chooses to 'Fetish-ize’ and / or ‘Objectify’ either <br />Interracial-Relationships, Mixed-Race / Multiracial <br />people or People-Of-Color, in general – and worse<br />yet, expects them to “enjoy it”; etc.) – that one is <br />led to wonder “What on earth was the marketing <br />department thinking when they approved of then <br />created this unnerving and offensive nonsense?”!<br />.<br />By the way – listed below, please find links that were <br />created in HONOR of interracial relationships and of <br />mixed-race / multiracial people and groups. =D<br /><br /><br />http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/4162<br /><br /><br /><br />https://www.facebook.com/allpeople.gifts/posts/452738141409383<br /><br /><br />.APGiftshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00008389897767302637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-46060855224991925102012-05-16T11:47:03.628-05:002012-05-16T11:47:03.628-05:00Welcome to "post-racial America," folks....Welcome to "post-racial America," folks.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-16050306725818124832012-05-16T10:40:09.268-05:002012-05-16T10:40:09.268-05:00You know what I'm sick of? White women like yo...You know what I'm sick of? White women like you... This miscegenation problem and what is reflected on TV has gone too far. Your righteous indignation is laughable. Of COURSE you would be with a "Black man"....BRAVO.. What does your "caught in between 2 worlds" daughter think about the commercial? Oh that's right...I don't care.Buttercupnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-31348809897244182512012-05-08T16:59:22.187-05:002012-05-08T16:59:22.187-05:00oops jane elliott and eye colour but a fabulous st...oops jane elliott and eye colour but a fabulous story of prejudice and uswam moirhttp://nanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-66626406104104452612012-05-08T08:36:44.116-05:002012-05-08T08:36:44.116-05:00it has lots to do with racial stereotypes. Why do ...it has lots to do with racial stereotypes. Why do some men prefer a hair colour? It is the WHY that is important? Are there good and bad in different proportions according to hair colour? Do you believe all blondes are dumb? In Australia there are individuals and institutions which believe all Aborigines are the same but white people are different because they are individuals. My dim memory was of a school teacher who divided her class into groups of hair colour with amazing results. Any one remember her????billy moirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-61887346958112727372012-05-06T21:34:43.152-05:002012-05-06T21:34:43.152-05:00I personally think you are reaching. I think the ...I personally think you are reaching. I think the confusion is more about it being a new product and not knowing how the public will react to the new product, thus the what am I, who am I questioning. I see the ad and think wow they are really desperate for sales on this product so they are essentially making their product a virtual character to plead with the consumer. The mom and dad issue is will mixing the granola and milk still taste good to the consumer, am I bad or am I good, its not racial, its an do I taste good or bad. And the video about the dating and hair color, well I can't lie that is definitely a big stretch. People have a preference when it comes to hair color at least everyone I've ever met has. Some men prefer blondes to brunettes, brunettes to blondes, redheads, and women have the same thoughts. That has nothing to do with race. <br /><br />Like I said I think you're reaching and am offering a different theory on how the advertisment was "meant to be" seen.MommaNikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04797003096621929221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-91710532941686965712012-05-05T18:16:33.095-05:002012-05-05T18:16:33.095-05:00I always love when people who disagree with an int...I always love when people who disagree with an interpretation come in, react with nothing but profanity and dismissals, and then claim I'M the one overreacting. <br /><br />So, Anonymous, have you signed the petition yet?Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-62122382786507876232012-05-05T15:24:10.614-05:002012-05-05T15:24:10.614-05:00All Of you people are fucking unbelievable. I am a...All Of you people are fucking unbelievable. I am a son of a bi racial couple and i do not find this offensive whatsoever. ITS A FUCKING COMMERCIAL ABOUT A BREAKFAST BAR. Its people like you that are looking for shit to bitch about becuase you have nothing else to do that are what is wrong with society. If you have a problem with this commercial and what you think it stands for then may you people are really ashamed of who you are, who you dated, marrried or fucked. Look in the mirror like mel and try to figure who the fuck you are because normal people you are not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-32850420476028443782012-04-29T16:43:59.289-05:002012-04-29T16:43:59.289-05:00Well, the videos are pretty integral to the analys...Well, the videos are pretty integral to the analysis, and I really don't think I've gone overboard with this one. There are times when I have to make some creative leaps to make a claim, but this isn't one of them. The message is pretty clear.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-68686265518080356312012-04-29T16:36:05.567-05:002012-04-29T16:36:05.567-05:00I read down to the second video. I can't watch...I read down to the second video. I can't watch a bunch of videos while I'm trying to read, so I gave up. Because that's all the further I got, you've gone way overboard with this one.Mason Wirsighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349835842354080847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-34056751339145865862012-04-28T22:02:58.224-05:002012-04-28T22:02:58.224-05:00Thank you for sharing that. I completely agree. Th...Thank you for sharing that. I completely agree. This is not a matter of "taste." It's not like they went with a comical ad, ad we prefer an informative one. Or they're playing 80's rock in the background, and we prefer 90's alternative. The only reason this appeals to the "majority of [their] audience" (if it does) is because their audience is steeped in a culture that casually tosses around racial stereotypes and ignores the consequences that has on real lived experiences. <br /><br />This isn't just about Kraft. It's a cultural problem, but now Kraft is part of it. I really think the only way to change the larger cultural problem is to voice our concern over the smaller examples that make it up. Kraft cares about profit and its image, so if enough people stop buying their products and complain about this, they will listen.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-84966044086487317452012-04-28T21:23:55.861-05:002012-04-28T21:23:55.861-05:00I agree with you 100%!! You may be interested in t...I agree with you 100%!! You may be interested in the email response i received from Kraft today. Kraft is definitely correct that this campaign is not my "taste." The entire campaign is in poor taste. Kraft is an iconic American company advertising to a grand melting pot of individuals. Kraft's advertising team must be clueless about their audience. I hope that others take the time to write and express their concerns to Kraft!<br /> <br /> <br />the email:<br /><br />Hi Charlotte,<br /><br /><br />Thank you for visiting http://www.kraftfoods.com/.<br /><br /><br />I wanted to thank you for sharing your concerns with us about our advertising. Your comments are important to us, we do take them seriously and I want to assure you that I will share them with our advertising staff. That said, I can't promise that you won't see this ad again.<br /><br />We consider our advertising the company's voice to the public. While we try to provide advertising that appeals to the majority of our audiences, it's hard to create advertising that fits everyone's taste.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kim McMiller<br />Associate Director, Consumer Relations<br /><br />~~TLXEA_23453617~~N<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br />I was dismayed at the offensiveness of your recent Milkbite commercial depicting a senario of a "mixed" bar complaining that "you didn't consider how hard my life would be." Such advertising perpetuates ignorance that there is something terrible or awry with being multiracial. I think someone should be held responsible for putting such garbage out as advertising. I think the commercial should be pulled and an apology issued to the public for the ignorance displayed.Charlottenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-24226972346320994672012-04-28T06:27:14.559-05:002012-04-28T06:27:14.559-05:00I really don't get it. I mean, if it were just...I really don't get it. I mean, if it were just a couple of commercials with him going "I'm milk. I'm granola. Ahh, I don't get it!" fine. But to go on and on and on about how he's trying to pass himself as milk and how being two things at once is this crisis of identity. . . I truly don't know what the creator's of this campaign were thinking.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-33188423096307753082012-04-28T05:28:37.659-05:002012-04-28T05:28:37.659-05:00Thanks, and please feel free to share!Thanks, and please feel free to share!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-43654021904239975392012-04-28T02:16:52.884-05:002012-04-28T02:16:52.884-05:00I saw this on twitter, we're from the UK so wo...I saw this on twitter, we're from the UK so won't get milk bites but this still outrages me. Thank you for writing this, is it ok to link to it on my blog? It's just like when people call me an Oreo or a bounty bar, they think it's funny but I find it offensive.Sage Cottage IOWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03462863126262828839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-59893193411446881592012-04-27T20:24:34.794-05:002012-04-27T20:24:34.794-05:00WHAT.
THE.
FUCK.
You are completely right and th...WHAT.<br />THE.<br />FUCK. <br /><br />You are completely right and this is absolutely insane!! I can't believe they would play with fire like this. Insane!Laurenhttp://www.mamanervosa.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-435858712487613372012-04-27T20:22:29.238-05:002012-04-27T20:22:29.238-05:00Yeah--I knew it was going to sound over the top, b...Yeah--I knew it was going to sound over the top, but I really, truly think that the textual support is there. <br /><br />As for why there's not the same level of outrage as there was with Huggies, I don't know. I suspect it's because we're more comfortable talking about sexism and gender stereotypes. Racism, on the other hand, we'd rather pretend is a thing of the past. We want to believe that we're now a "colorblind" society that occasionally has flare-ups with racist individuals who we can repudiate and then distance ourselves from, but we don't want to admit that racism is so systemic that a campaign like this could be using decades-old stereotypes to sell a breakfast food. <br /><br />It could also be that people are most likely to be outraged and respond directly to the companies if they feel personally impacted or attacked. In this case, maybe there just aren't as many people in multiracial families who feel that kind of personal response. The number of multiracial families is growing, however, and racial stereotyping impacts all of us, whether we recognize it personally or not.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827968588643415787.post-87904715840912755542012-04-27T20:14:09.730-05:002012-04-27T20:14:09.730-05:00I have to admit, when I started reading, I thought...I have to admit, when I started reading, I thought you were going a little overboard. I mean, I get the "it's not milk, it's not granola, what is it?" approach. Advertisers use it all the time. But it is the self-depricating attitude about it that just goes on and on that makes you wonder what is going on in this campaign. But the it is the video diaries that really support your argument. I think if they had not done those it would be much easier to look the other way. However, I still think that Kraft doesn't see it your way. And their marketing company probably doesn't either. I don't think racializing this situation (which is usually comical in it's use) was what they saw. Since this type of commercial is a trope, they were probably just trying to come up with a "new" way of expressing it and didn't realize the negative way it would be portrayed. And, unfortunately, the American people won't see it either. When you called out huggies on their "dad test" campaign, their page was covered with angry parents. But on Kraft's page, your's was the only negative comment I found. I can't decide if that is good or bad. On one hand, the fact that most people don't racialize it is a good thing. People don't "play the race card" at every real and imagined opportunity. However, when a campaign like this is run and people fail to see just how racially charged it is, could it be that racist sterotypes are so common in our culture we don't even notice it any more?Amanda R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08321763390879484704noreply@blogger.com