Recently I saw a very powerful ad in support of the Writers Guild of America Strike. A simple yet stunning black and white spot, the ad (which recruited a diverse group of recognizable A-list actors) focused on the idea that they were “speechless” without the writers to support their craft. As a writer I was moved by the imagery and the sentiment:
But then I saw this, also in the series, which (as Racialicious so accurately puts it) “relies on tired, old stereotypes:”
Now I know that Canadians have been urged by PWAC not to take any freelance jobs that would violate picket lines, but this “outsourcing to India” joke (?) really has little to do with the issue and needed awareness at hand. As Carmen Van Kerckhove so wisely says “I’m left scratching my head, wondering what the heck this issue has to do with outsourcing to India? And why exactly does the writers guild need to mock one profession to make a case for fair compensation of their own work?”
Well put.
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10 comments
Wow. That second spot is horrible -- I found it painful just to watch it through to the end.
Posted by Catherine
December 2, 2007, 10:58 PM
I commented on this when I saw it on the Racialicious page - it's actually really shocking how racist it is. I think it's somewhat rare to see such blatant expressions of xenophobia, since racism isn't socially acceptable these days and usually has to find more subtle modes of expression. I'm really flabbergasted that a whole group of people got together, write and shot this ad, and not one single person thought "Umm, maybe, possibly, someone might be hurt by this."
Posted by Thea
December 3, 2007, 12:03 AM
The 2nd spot has left me speechless. I can't believe this even got released to the public, are they crazy?
Posted by Danielle
December 3, 2007, 9:44 AM
What I can't understand is that other than Racialicious, I can't seem to find a single dissenting voice against this ad. I've seen it posted multiple times with bloggers in full support, an it's always the commentators who call it out as being racist (and, well, bad.)
Posted by Stacey May
December 3, 2007, 10:01 AM
Well that's freakin' depressing. Do you think part of the problem is that writers (esp. hugely successful, unionised writers) tend to be a privileged bunch (as in, generally have lots of education, and the wealth to pay for said education), and in that sense can have very poor understandings of their own privilege and oppression? Or am I just bitter?
Posted by Thea
December 3, 2007, 11:26 AM
I think you might be a little bitter. :)
I actually don't think generalizing the writers as privledged, wealthy and hugely successful is entirely accurate. I think what's more likely happening here is a general cultural failure to recognize why this commercial is offensive. I can see an "it's supposed to be funny" excuse being thrown around to protect proponents from the racism accusation. Also, its aligned with an "us and them" mentality when it comes to American economics - "they're taking our jobs," so it's okay to mock them.
I have to say the funniest comment I saw in response to "how great" this ad is was one commentator stating that "Indians butcher the American Language."
Um, the American Language? Excuse if I'm wrong but I think the Brits might have something to say about that...
Posted by Stacey May
December 3, 2007, 11:39 AM
Yah, I think I meant more the writers who work have jobs in Hollywood and who are now striking are privileged - though do I have that wrong? I guess I am making that assumption because they work in Hollywood.
Again and again it's just stunning to me, becuase I feel like Hollywood writers would be a group of people who would at least pretend not to be racist (and maybe I just think this because in my experience the writers I know are bohemians and pretty left-leaning, or present that way).
Esp. now in the US, the sentiment "those dirty foreigners are taking our jobs" is so unfashionable, what with liberals expressing support for the 1000s of Latin American workers who keep the country together. As much as discrimination against undocumented workers and foreign workers is an enormous part of their system, it's not fashionable to articulate that you agree with that, that you're a xenophobe. Racism is something that people make a show of associating with poorly educated lower-income white folks.
It's just totally baffling how this got to see light of day. Oh America. How strange it is to be your hat.
Posted by Thea
December 3, 2007, 11:47 AM
From what I understand the Writers Guild of America is striking, which means anyone who writes for television and film in the US, so although these writers are concentrated in Hollywood, I think "United Hollywood" is misleading.
For the sake of interest, here's an FAQ about the strike, who is involved and why:
http://www.unitedhollywood.com/crumb....
You'll note the strike is specific to internet downloading and writers getting a fair deal on the profit (they're asking for 2.5 cents to the dollar.)
Here's what they say regarding their current wages:
"The WGA is made up of working writers, the vast majority of them middle and working class people who live check to check, working freelance. The real average is $62,000 a year – but most writers don’t work every year."
Posted by Stacey May
December 3, 2007, 12:12 PM
I've been thinking - this is really interesting if you look at the (much larger) question "What is racist?" Obviously a large group of people made this ad (including writers, crew and Holly Hunter) and never once thought it was racist. A whole bunch of people viewed it and didn't think it was racist either. But I think all of us are in aggreement that it is?
Having said that, I didn't think the Maria Sharapova/Canon ad was racist. Why didn't I ever even consider it?
I think a lot of our understanding of racism (and sexism) is examining what we know to be offensive and contrasting it against what we don't think is offensive and then examining the "why."
Why does the Writers Guild video enraged me but I think a dog with an accent is cute?
The key is objective analysis and being open to understanding the what and why of being offended.
Posted by Stacey May
December 3, 2007, 2:02 PM
Just a couple comments as regards Adds I see on TV. *1 Why is it that I detect sounds during the screening of adds that sound like a cell phone?? Do the people responsible for the sound effects not realize that it distracts the audiance from the commercial? *2 Tell me what I am supposed to gather from watching a 40 ton steel beam being dropped on a pick-up ?? That the pick-up will be crushed ? Well la de da . STUPID
Posted by Ezyduce
December 16, 2007, 6:58 PM
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