I am Man
Today was a day of laziness and recovery. The most active part of today involved watching television on my couch while consuming microwaved pizza bagels. In what was otherwise a very unstimulating situation, I was struck by the genius behind the latest Burger King ad.
When I googled “Burger King I am Man,” I came up with a feminist critique of the commercial as the first item. I distinctly disagree with their interpretation of the ad as one that is degrading to women; rather, I feel that the ad celebrates man’s identification with pure beef double whoppers rather than mutually excluding women from such meals. Moreover, the gender stereotypes of segments of American society are accurately represented in the ad (for instance when the main character of the ad throws a small vegetable into the air, calling it “chick food”). I commend Burger King for addressing and even challenging the idea that women and men must eat only healthy foods to be socially accepted by the same and opposite sexes.
The irony that men are freeing themselves from the tires of manual labour and from society’s constraints on their sex by satiating incorrigible hunger with fast food is not easy to miss. The satirical burning of tighty whities and throwing of the mini-van are humorous, and in no way, shape, or form do they take away from the efforts of women to eradicate sexism.
January 21st, 2007 at 6:54 pm
My only gripe with the ad is the use of “incorrigible.” Really, who uses such a big word in a commercial jingle? This has actually bugged me A LOT since the first time I saw the ad.