#477

yeah, but the context is America; the world’s largest economy…yet there is no paid maternity leave (!) and the entire concept of universal healthcare is routinely described as a communist plot

it is aggressively individualistic to the detriment of socialised advantages …and so is this ad …which is pretty ironic given that the whole premise of BLM is predicated on striking back at structural (as opposed to individual) racism

1 Like
#480

I don’t get why you think pointing that people and companies can and should do better isn’t positive?

If you think people should help each other and acknowledge the ways we can only succeed together and how we affect each other’s lives then you should want this to be the message given out. Telling people their success and failure is in their hands completely ignores how things are stacked against so many people.

#482

Maybe it’s because it’s just wrapped in the same generic “be the best follow your dream” empty phrasing that you see from so many brands, coupled with the generic thoughtful sparse piano, it just seems like empty platitudes to me.

#484

Could also be a bit patronising to think that just because it’s Colin K reading the script, black people are going to believe that corporate America cares about them or that rising up as an individual makes a difference to racism

#486

no, what I’m saying is what I said about 400 posts previously

capitalism, Americanism, sporting heroism, being ‘the best’ are all the messages you’d expect from a Nike/sports ad but are paradoxically near antithesis of cementing everybody’s equal rights, equal worth and equal protection before the law

not that individual successes shouldn’t be celebrated of course, but rather that the greatest successes are collective victories - hence

because the Nike/Kaepernick partnership is a collective success right now and a very positive group message

it remains to be seen what, if any, consequences that will have for structural change but the actual ad posted above is very much of the standard celebratory, American, individualist, capitalist, hero type

6 Likes
#488

Sorry that was a bit hypothetical there. I don’t really think my privilege makes my position incorrect but then I guess I would think that.

I guess it’s a very small step in the right direction but I feel like I don’t want praise to be disproportionate to the sentiment just because it’s rare for a company to champion any divisive cause.

It’s just disappointing to me that they’ve just wrapped all this in the same individualistic way it’s always done

1 Like
#490

Maybe I missed some subtextual reading because I’m not American but it seems about as far from political as this ad could have been.

There’s barely any reference to something being a movement at all

#492

The extent of my knowledge is his kneeling during anthem protest which cost him a place on an NHL team or something?

I’m not denying he is a brave or good man for this. Clearly he deserves a lot of respect and support.

#493

NFL, NHL is the hockey one isn’t it

#495

But showing solidarity for a political movement, speaking up for maringalised people isn’t really like trying to be the strongest and best athlete. It’s kind of the opposite to me.

BITT has put it well above

#497

Well I don’t believe in heroes but I get your point

#498

Also doesn’t sit well with me with stuff like this:

Also, in April this year the New York Times published a damning report on the company which opened with the line “For too many women, life inside Nike had turned toxic” and detailed how staff outings ended up at strip clubs, reported how a boss at the company tried to forcibly kiss a female subordinate and how women at the company were “made to feel marginalised and were largely excluded from crucial divisions”.

#499

looking forward to the next Nike campaign

Nike

Full Communism Now

Just Do It
:heavy_check_mark:

5 Likes
#500

meanwhile in Mexico

#502

It’s all just so infuriating and tiring.

just relentlessly bombard people with this kind of stuff and eventually the negatives aren’t going to matter any more.

#503

La Société du spectacle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaHMgToJIjA

#505

it’s not a joke, Debord already had this whole conversation with himself back in 1967 :man_shrugging:t2:

“The concentrated result of social labour at the moment of economic abundance becomes apparent and forces the submission of all reality to appearance, which is now its product.”

#507

This is a pretty fascinating video. Wish I was less tired so I could concentrate on it fully. Heavy concepts

#508

It’s a classic, definitely worth your time when you have the time

#509

Reminds me of the lecture on Derrida I went to when I was young and didn’t really understand at all but wanted to