How Not to Sell

Posted on August 15, 2008 | 8 Comments

Trigger Warning

I’ve seen some appalling advertising over the years, but the ad campaign Wrangler is currently running in France takes the prize for being just about the most tasteless, sick and twisted advertising, in the history of the world, ever.

We Are Animals? Yes Wrangler, I think you are.

What on earth possessed anyone to think that this was a good idea?

Hat Tip to Melissa McEwan who covered this over at Shakesville.

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8 Responses to How Not to Sell

jennifer drew | August 15, 2008 at 9:51 am |

O I can just imagine the justifications, excuses and denials for this latest piece of misogynstic advertising. Of course it is just ‘ironic’ and not in the least promoting or normalising male violence against women. Did I say male violence against women – why it does not happen ever. So to those who think this image is ‘harmless fun’ try replacing this image with that of a half-naked man. Would it then be ‘harmless irony?’
Polly Styrene | August 17, 2008 at 12:13 am |

Oooh but it’s all just soooo ironic Jennifer and therefore justified. You see if anything is offensive all you do is wave the ‘irony wand’ over it and magically it is ok.

Unless it’s insulting religion of course. That’s never ironic.
stormy | August 18, 2008 at 8:17 am |

I concur, it is sick.
Greg | February 10, 2009 at 6:24 pm |

Hey, you guys have been so fast to complain about this ad that you havent even bothered to look at the ads and understand them.

It has nothing to do with male violence against women, it is simply a nod towards the fact that we are all, as human beings, animals! The two images are putting humans in situations that you do not expect to see them in – i.e. roadkill or stuck in an oil slick.

Now if you think this is sick from that point of view then fair enough – i think it is unecessarily shocking imagery – but at least try to understand the ad before you condemn it!
stormy | February 10, 2009 at 8:06 pm |

I liked this comment from Victoria:
http://www.10ad.org/wrangler-we-are-animals-advertising-campaign/

Looking like a young, hungry, tough, animal is one thing. Looking like a corpse is quite another. Yes, death is part of the life cycle, but everyone knows that a young, beautiful corpse floating in water means that, probably someone murdered them. Wrangler know it, we know it. That’s great. Wrangler Jeans hopes you get murdered in these jeans, or at the very least, tragically killed. So tasteful.
Polly Styrene | February 10, 2009 at 10:56 pm |

Greg, this is an advert to sell clothes. The woman is naked. And dead.
stormy | February 10, 2009 at 11:39 pm |

but at least try to understand the ad before you condemn it!

Yeah. That is exactly what we did. Understand the meaning behind the images, then condemn it.

Nice try at mindreading though. Don’t give up your day job.
What's in a name | June 30, 2009 at 10:32 am |

For all of you, nobody is dead here and nobody saying that women are animals. This has nothing to do with irony either.

Please see the complete serie, for instance here: http://www.10ad.org/wrangler-we-are-animals-advertising-campaign/