“Air has no prejudice, it does not carry the opinions of a man faster than those of a woman, it does not filter out an idea, because I’m 16 not 30, Air is unaware if I’m black or white, and wouldn’t care if it knew.
So it stands to reason, my ideas will be powerful, if they are wise, infectious, if they are worthy, and if my thoughts have flawless delivery, I can lead the army that will follow.“
Anyone recognize this? It's the script for a recent Verizon commercial.
Now the words are all well and good. An over all message of inspiration. That's really what air should be. It's the beauty of the free press, and more recently the domain of the internet and digital media. Anyone can say anything they want without restriction. Represent.
However I do have a major beef with this commercial. I remember the first time I saw it I couldn't quite figure out what bothered me about it. The delivery is contrived, but that's not it. The music makes me feel like I'm being brainwashed, but that's not it either. It wasn't until I saw it a second time that I realized the glaring issue in it.
While the commercial speaks of diversity, the idea being the most important idea. It states that age and physical appearance are not important. And while it doesn't come right out and say it, the over all thesis of the TEXT is that diversity of community and ideas allows for an awesome world. Thumbs up for that.
But the actual commercial says something entirely different. While it speaks to medley of the human race, the entire commercial is filled, stuffed to the brim with beautiful young women, all under the age of 20. And I shouldn't have to explain why this is a problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C8MlhGNV3c
It's 100% contradictory to the script. And it really bugs me.
And besides the fact that it's one huge digital contradiction, the reasons behind the contradiction reeeeeeaaally gets me. Our culture worships youth. Go on, I dare you to try and disprove that statement. Youth and beauty are so valued today that we go to surgical lengths to preserve them. I have a theory about it. The further away we get, as a culture, from God, the more we cling to these things. Because, there is a part of us, no matter how much a person denies the existence of any kind of god, that knows that we can't do it on our own. This goes beyond physical appearance and seeps in to the realm of safety. Cars, continuously grow safer as the years progress. I once heard of a family moving because their first child was beginning to walk and they feared that their wood floors would prove harmful if he fell. Without God we fear death. And by extension growing old.
Side note. (As if that wasn't one already) I love the movie Up for the very reason. In our world that idolizes ages 15-37, Pixar created a movie that depicts adventure and life beyond that, and personifies it in the Carl and Russell.
And this is where I was going to have the movie poster, but apparently I'm retarded and can't figure out how to get it where I want it. Awesome.
Wow. TANGENT!
But anyway. Where was I? Oh yeah, worshiping youth and beauty.
Seriously. I can't be the only one who noticed this glaring issue. Did no one at Verizon say "Hey guys, maybe we should have some dudes in this commercial. Or, I don't know, someone over the age of 17. Because it makes no sense right now."
Oh you silly Verizon marketing employee. We have a vision here. Don't mess with the totally screwed up vision.
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