Comments on: Brand World Atheist http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Terreson http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26262 Terreson Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:37:21 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26262 Edward Torres's immediately preceding post highlights a curious point. Poets and MFA types have been making hay on Madison Ave for years, at least since Hart Crane. And Disneyworld, at least in the nineties, has been a godsend for MFAs, what with its professional class called imaginators. I'll bet a dollar on a donut the creator of the offending advertisement is a poet. Certainly has to be a poetry reader, right?, of at least one poem. Oh hell. We all end up dancing with the devil. No way around it, especially if you are a wage earner. Poets are no different, not even Walt Whitman. Anyway, objectifying Whitman offends me far less than the advertising world's pervasive practice of objectifying women. Terreson Edward Torres’s immediately preceding post highlights a curious point. Poets and MFA types have been making hay on Madison Ave for years, at least since Hart Crane. And Disneyworld, at least in the nineties, has been a godsend for MFAs, what with its professional class called imaginators. I’ll bet a dollar on a donut the creator of the offending advertisement is a poet. Certainly has to be a poetry reader, right?, of at least one poem.

Oh hell. We all end up dancing with the devil. No way around it, especially if you are a wage earner. Poets are no different, not even Walt Whitman. Anyway, objectifying Whitman offends me far less than the advertising world’s pervasive practice of objectifying women.

Terreson
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]]> By: Teri G. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26235 Teri G. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:01:08 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26235 I shop for images all the time. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=177128 Consume them right up. I shop for images all the time.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=177128

Consume them right up.
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]]> By: Matt http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26233 Matt Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:49:24 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26233 you don't consume anything? what, you don't wear clothes? you don't eat? you don't buy books? you don’t consume anything? what, you don’t wear clothes? you don’t eat? you don’t buy books?
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]]> By: Michael http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26223 Michael Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:56:18 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26223 Weren't ads run for Leaves of Grass? And didn't Whitman even write up reviews his own reviews for it? Talk about false choice . . . (The ad: http://www.newsbank.com/readex/newsletters/images/NYHerald1856Whitman.gif ) Weren’t ads run for Leaves of Grass? And didn’t Whitman even write up reviews his own reviews for it? Talk about false choice . . .

(The ad:
http://www.newsbank.com/readex/newsletters/images/NYHerald1856Whitman.gif )
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]]> By: Teri G. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26216 Teri G. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:26:06 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26216 Why is consuming bad? Why is a Whitman Levi's ad wrong? Because Whitman was about the real freedom of choice and ads are about false choices between nothing and less than nothing. Go forth--but not too far! Whitman went forth. We can't even imagine. Defend the ad and consumer society and this late late capitalist empire all you want but you know this is a raw deal, to be the caretaker of your little life dedicated to nothing beyond empty pleasures and pointless longevity. Go forth, America. All the way to the nursing home! Why is consuming bad? Why is a Whitman Levi’s ad wrong? Because Whitman was about the real freedom of choice and ads are about false choices between nothing and less than nothing. Go forth–but not too far! Whitman went forth. We can’t even imagine. Defend the ad and consumer society and this late late capitalist empire all you want but you know this is a raw deal, to be the caretaker of your little life dedicated to nothing beyond empty pleasures and pointless longevity. Go forth, America. All the way to the nursing home!
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]]> By: Edwin Torres http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26206 Edwin Torres Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:30:13 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26206 I didn't mention this, but I work in advertising as an art director, been doing that for many years. Which fuels my views against appropriating art for consumerism...especially poetry. (It also fuels a lot of pseudo-political-identity stances, but that's another post). So my ambivalence about Whitman as a pitch-man is tempered by the fact that yes, someone may actually discover his work. The other side of this is to claim something as edgy and life-changing for a mainstream audience when that mainstream is looking for direction (or just to buy some pants)...hence my anti-religion jump. Consuming itself isn't bad, it's just a drag when it's cloaked in a psuedo-belief system. Making rebellion slick by using a cool ad geared for a video generation glosses over true creativity. Here's a link to Ben Friedlander's blog: http://ampoarchive.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/go-forth/ ...he went on a great tangent which gets deeper than my stone skip here. But I wonder if Vallejo wore Levis? I didn’t mention this, but I work in advertising as an art director, been doing that for many years. Which fuels my views against appropriating art for consumerism…especially poetry. (It also fuels a lot of pseudo-political-identity stances, but that’s another post). So my ambivalence about Whitman as a pitch-man is tempered by the fact that yes, someone may actually discover his work.

The other side of this is to claim something as edgy and life-changing for a mainstream audience when that mainstream is looking for direction (or just to buy some pants)…hence my anti-religion jump. Consuming itself isn’t bad, it’s just a drag when it’s cloaked in a psuedo-belief system. Making rebellion slick by using a cool ad geared for a video generation glosses over true creativity.

Here’s a link to Ben Friedlander’s blog: http://ampoarchive.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/go-forth/ …he went on a great tangent which gets deeper than my stone skip here.

But I wonder if Vallejo wore Levis?
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]]> By: Don Share http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26203 Don Share Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:26:16 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26203 Consumption killed Keats! (Sorry, couldn't help it.) Consumption killed Keats! (Sorry, couldn’t help it.)
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]]> By: Matt http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26202 Matt Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:39:02 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26202 why is consuming bad why is consuming bad
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]]> By: Don Share http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26199 Don Share Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:07:19 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26199 It seems quite plausible that Whitman may have worn Levis, as they were around in his time; anybody know for sure? Sometimes I picture him in denim, sometimes in broadcloth. It seems quite plausible that Whitman may have worn Levis, as they were around in his time; anybody know for sure? Sometimes I picture him in denim, sometimes in broadcloth.
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]]> By: Erin Vaughan http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26196 Erin Vaughan Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:46:13 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26196 I have to disagree with what was said above. Of course the music and Walt Whitman's recitation were great. But the imagery? Meh. It looked like a model's interpretation of what Walt Whitman's poetry is. I get that its a jeans ad and they had to show beautiful people wearing the jeans to create the illusion that you, too, could live in this world. And, being young, and knowing the challenges the world is about to face, it does resonate with me in that way. But it's still the old dope: making the audience feel as though they are being edgy by consuming and that there is something significant about brand identification. That's not pioneering, it's tired. I have to disagree with what was said above. Of course the music and Walt Whitman’s recitation were great. But the imagery? Meh. It looked like a model’s interpretation of what Walt Whitman’s poetry is. I get that its a jeans ad and they had to show beautiful people wearing the jeans to create the illusion that you, too, could live in this world. And, being young, and knowing the challenges the world is about to face, it does resonate with me in that way. But it’s still the old dope: making the audience feel as though they are being edgy by consuming and that there is something significant about brand identification. That’s not pioneering, it’s tired.
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]]> By: Michael Gushue http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26186 Michael Gushue Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:55:56 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26186 Well, I am so *not* the target demographic for the ad. I don't think Levi's even makes a boot cut that accomodates my girth. But, I enjoyed the visual/sound mix. And then I felt I was being flattered (ads are supposed to, yes?), and then kind of nauseated by my own narcissism in being flattered. Could it better that poetry be wildly unpopular than be sucked into this kind of maw? Would I be happy if the ad led to one person picking up some Whitman and reading it? Yes. Well, I am so *not* the target demographic for the ad. I don’t think Levi’s even makes a boot cut that accomodates my girth. But, I enjoyed the visual/sound mix. And then I felt I was being flattered (ads are supposed to, yes?), and then kind of nauseated by my own narcissism in being flattered. Could it better that poetry be wildly unpopular than be sucked into this kind of maw? Would I be happy if the ad led to one person picking up some Whitman and reading it? Yes.
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]]> By: Edwin Torres http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26176 Edwin Torres Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:54:22 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26176 Probably, and I'm sure any poem can be placed in context to any product as long as its designed to hit the right notes. I am glad this poem is out there, simply opening more doors for what language does. Probably, and I’m sure any poem can be placed in context to any product as long as its designed to hit the right notes. I am glad this poem is out there, simply opening more doors for what language does.
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]]> By: Edwin Torres http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26175 Edwin Torres Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:39:22 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26175 Ah yes, and I went to Walt Whitman Junior High in the Bronx. Ah yes, and I went to Walt Whitman Junior High in the Bronx.
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]]> By: csperez http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26174 csperez Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:39:06 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26174 a brilliant self-promotor like walt whitman is perfect for an ad campaign. c a brilliant self-promotor like walt whitman is perfect for an ad campaign.

c
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]]> By: Joelle Biele http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26172 Joelle Biele Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:54:47 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26172 In Huntington, Long Island, there's the Walt Whitman Mall, across the street from his birthplace. Saks, Bloomingdale's, etc. On the walls outside, they've painted large green leaves using the words to "Leaves of Grass"-- You can see an image of the mall here--the leaves are very faint: http://mscanlon.lookingforwhitman.org/2009/10/13/under-my-bootsoles-everywhere/ In Huntington, Long Island, there’s the Walt Whitman Mall, across the street from his birthplace. Saks, Bloomingdale’s, etc. On the walls outside, they’ve painted large green leaves using the words to “Leaves of Grass”– You can see an image of the mall here–the leaves are very faint: http://mscanlon.lookingforwhitman.org/2009/10/13/under-my-bootsoles-everywhere/
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]]> By: Francisco Aragón http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26155 Francisco Aragón Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:45:14 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26155 Actually, I spoke too soon: the spot I saw was this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG8tqEUTlvs&feature=video_response Nevermind. Actually, I spoke too soon: the spot I saw was this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG8tqEUTlvs&feature=video_response

Nevermind.
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]]> By: Francisco Aragón http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/11/brand-world-atheist/#comment-26154 Francisco Aragón Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:38:52 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6131#comment-26154 I actually saw the spot last night at the E Street Cinema in DC, and remember thinking that it "sounded" like Whitman without knowing for sure it was Whitman. I quite enjoyed the way word and image meshed. But yes, the LEVI logo at the end seemed an afterthought. A "poetry video" is exactly what it was, and I did enjoy the texture of the voice uttering the words; there was an urgency to it that I liked. Was it really a recording of Whitman's voice? Wow. I actually saw the spot last night at the E Street Cinema in DC, and remember thinking that it “sounded” like Whitman without knowing for sure it was Whitman. I quite enjoyed the way word and image meshed. But yes, the LEVI logo at the end seemed an afterthought. A “poetry video” is exactly what it was, and I did enjoy the texture of the voice uttering the words; there was an urgency to it that I liked. Was it really a recording of Whitman’s voice? Wow.
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