is this ad offensive?

The sad part is, had someone did that, it could have also been misinterpreted as being racist.

Let's say, instead of pulling the ad, someone say it, realized it could have been misinterpreted, and simply replaced the athlete with a "whiter" looking athletic guy.... "What, you don't think the black athlete is strong enough or athletic enough to portray the true power and performance of the Intel?? Racist!"

The ad can only potentially be racist because of the history of racism. In and of itself, it isn't.

 

Well yeah, but analyzing the ad with considering historical context is pointless.

 

I seriously doubt there is any intended racism but it does play on stereotypes. To me this ad wouldn't have been much of an issue if the white standing manager had been removed. The same message that intel processors make your employees fast would've been fine with just the black sprinters but there wouldn't have been the contrast of a standing white guy to make a mental comparison of bowing or white man exploiting black men's strength (slavery).

 

This ad tells me that smug white men are using the stem cells from aborted babies to make black sprinters.

 

well, by talking about vast majority, it's really just racism whether it's good natured or not, it's still racism. i am not black, but i think the ad is inappropriate. not that i really care.

 

I'm black, and I don't think it's offensive. Anytime there are reasonable alternative inferences, like faster software to make your employees more efficient, I prefer to accept those, rather than add them to the kill list for the coming race war. But I would probably instinctively notice the subtext, and I would probably jokingly point it out to a black friend, co-worker or relative.

Maddox has a funny entry on his blog about stock photography in advertising; at least one or two of his comments are about the use of blacks to imply diversity.

Gold star for being observant and empathetic, if not spot on.

 

CF.net color schemes are racist.
White is the "original"
Black is labeled as "dark"


Also.
White, black, but no brown. Racists.

 

What you don't realize is that it's not a building, but rather a boat.

Ditto

 

Why is Mel Gibson just standing there doing nothing?

 

Yeah, well your monitor is racist, man. Think about it: you spend all your time reading the BLACK letters, while ignoring the WHITE space in between.

Personally, as a half-Mexican, I am offended.

 

Offensive? No. Ineffective? Yes.

Bowing? Last time I checked we don't bow in the states unless we are coming out for a curtain call.

Lighten up francis.

 

Little do they know that right after this picture is taken, all of those guys run up and tackle the white guy.

For the record, I don't see anything racist with this ad.

 

I don't assume that the marketing guys who put this together for Intel didn't see the potential racial implications of the ad. I think they were very deliberately using visceral reactions to race relationships to make an impact on their targetted audience -- and figuring that the people who might be turned off by the ad were not a desirable audience anyway. Does it make Intel ('s marketers) racist for exploiting racial stereotypes they know are latent in their audience? I don't know, maybe so.

 

Thoughtful and poignant, so is pouhe's that is a few posts above yours.

Yesterday when I was reading this thread, I was very attempted to do a pouhe "I am black and I don't think it's offensive" impersonation to crack a lighthearted joke. I am glad I didn't.

 

Bingo was his name-o

 

I agree. These advertising agencies are unlikely to make accidents in something like this.

 

kind of reminds me of the Sony PSP White is better than black fiasco.

 

all u racists belong to me

i am rick james baitch

 

I dont think is offensive at all, they are clearly in position to start a speed race.

 

I hate to resurrect old threads but I stumbled upon this at snopes today.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/advertisements/intel.asp