Posted by goldenface
Sony's racially charged PSP ad
Hi Guys, I would like your opinions on this ad which has appeared in the Netherlands promoting the new white PSP.
While Sony has been in the news before over their 'questionable' methods of advertising, i.e Graffiti painting public areas, does anyone think they have gone too far with this particular effort?
While I am probably doing exactly what Sony expected and posting this in on a message board for discussion, I still think this deserves it
For some reason, I don't think they would get away with this in the USA, especially in the South, but the Netherlands with their colonial past, for some reason seems ideal for Sony!!
Opinions please...
Posted by methylated_spirit
Unusual, to say the least! Are they running a similar one for black psp's?
Posted by goldenface
Well the black PSP hardly needs promoting does it? Its been around for a while.
Posted by Luke-the-magic-man
effective, I gota say its def interesting, I do see the racial thing going on there, but don't find it to bad really, its not as if the black person is on their knees or something, althoguht it does denote a white racial dominance but the fact a woman is doing it uses the sex appeal and turnes it more into a battle of the sexes
Posted by goldenface
@luke.
Interesting, but that black person is in fact a woman
I think its typical of Sony's 'disruptive advertising', it likes to be very close to overstepping the line when it comes to some of its marketing, especially with the PSP.
Posted by Esater
I really don't see the problem with the ad...
It just showing the introduction of the white psp (white women) to the black psp (black women). They represent PSPs rather than RACE.
It is LOGICAL to pick a black women and a white women because they easily represent the black and white colours of the PSPs.
Sure the white women might look a bit more aggressive BUT its because it's to make an impact with the white psps introduction into the market!
I can't believe why everything has to be seen as racists!
Look at a different version of the ad below, the black women is ON TOP of the white women...
Posted by kk.226
Women ontop of women? I really don't see why people are complaining, these are great!
Posted by scottt
Agreed, i am sure Sony would of researched and looked into the possible implications of the ad and would be assured of all races on a whole that it would be not offensive.
Of course some people will be offended but thats them
I think its quite a good ad, is bold which is good will make an impact
Posted by joebmc
Would it make any diffrence if it was the other way round?
Posted by luigithfc
yeah the ad is not bad but impletation can be taken the wrong way!!!
how comes netherlands have an english ad??
Posted by Xugaa
Yeah I think the advert is really great and definately effective and interesting to look at. Well done Sony on this one... any complaints are just stupid really, there's no problem with it at all.
Posted by brix25
I'd like Sony to try such a stunt in South Africa. I'm not easily offended, this ad hardly offends although it somehow questions power relations between races- in this case women.
Posted by below24
Its a good powerful ads, people may think what they want.
Race is a powerful tool when used correctly like it has here!
Posted by BobaFett
very good adv, do like it. provocative, but still accepteable.
Posted by goldenface
Apparently not!!!
Sony pulls 'racist' PSP ad
SONY has pulled a Dutch billboard advertising campaign for the new white version of its PlayStation Portable video game player and apologised to anyone offended by ad, which critics dubbed racist.
A billboard ad in the campaign - which Sony said was launched in the first week of June and created locally exclusively for the Dutch market - portrayed a white woman aggressively grabbing the face of a black woman and read "PlayStation Portable White is Coming."
Sony said in a statement that the Netherlands campaign intended to highlight the colour contrast between the existing black PSP and the new ceramic white PSP.
"We recognise that the subject matter of one specific image may have caused concern in some countries not directly affected by the advertising. As a result, we have now withdrawn the campaign," said the company, which also apologised to those offended by the ad.
Posted by fatreg
whats wrong with taking things close to the line?
and as someone pointed out i bet it would be ok if it was the other way...
people seem to forget that racism goes both ways..
how very blinkered of people.
fatreg
Posted by goldenface
I some people take things too seriously.
I mean, I can hardly see it causing a race-riot!