Is this Fox promo for "Prison Break" offensive?
The Fox series Prison Break ends its four-year run next week, and to promote the finale they're sending out press releases ... accompanied by bars of soap. Above you can see an example that was sent to The Advocate, along with the statement "we hope the enclosed bar of Prison Break soap helps lather up excitement for the two-hour series finale airing Friday, May 15." Well, if it's lather they wanted, it's lather they've got. GLAAD spokesman Rashad Robinson released this response about the tacky giveaway: "It’s unfortunate that Fox thinks a veiled reference to prison rape is an appropriate part of their marketing campaign for this show." What do you think about Fox's "gift"? Is it offensive? Funny? Just plain ... stupid? Take our poll and let us know! Submitted by on Thu, 2009-05-07 17:12. |
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hmm
i don't know if it's 'prison rape' that i would be offended by, but instead the notion that you're gonna have sex with men in general while in prison. make sense?
btw, i am surprised people are raped in prison. the thought baffles me.....prison seems like such a place that is not really....private...for such an act...or any act really.
Go to the site Stop Prison
You have to admit though...
While it is a "clever'" (I use the word loosely) campaign tactic, they obviously did it just to kick up some dust. They succeeded. I wouldn't have thought to put anything on soap (company logo, TV show, etc.).
It is at the bare minimum tacky because the show is set in prison, but I call it offensive because prison rape simply isn't funny. A soap campaign would have been much more suitable for things like the movie Fight Club. Great, now I wonder if in fact Fight Club had such a campaign. Thanks snicks for another question within the boundless ends of the universe.
Kitty
Straight men & prison rape
You give them too much credit for selectivity.
Prison rape morons
Finally!
Darrien - Finally, a post from you that I can completely agree with! I knew if I stayed here long enough it would happen! :)
Seriously, as I read the post and the comments I was getting all prepared to make a post separating the concepts of sex and rape. But I see you beat me to it. I've read SO many posts here that seem to equate prison rape with homosexuality. It's not the same thing at all. It's like what women have been insisting for ages - rape is a violent act, related to domination; it has nothing to do with sex. Similarly, prison rape is a violent act of domination, it's not a sexual act. When I was younger I didn't fully understand when women said that about rape, but now I understand it.
What?
I was the one who opened the PR package
Then the materials themselves go to great lengths instead to talk about "lathering up." I think they were trying to provoke, and then cover themselves, so no one could accuse them of anything.Check out my new fantasy website: TheTorchOnline.com. It's like AfterElton.com for fantasy geeks! And I Twitter
If you seriously want to
Pretty funny, huh?
It's obvious that no one watches the show.
Ah, Dude...
I don't get why you want to hear about prison rape experiences, anyway, or why that matters. I am not a woman, does that mean that should not speak up against people making a joke about women being rapped. I am also not a child, so I can't speak up against making a joke about selling children into sex slavery? What's wrong with you?.
The mind-forged manacles
afhickman
"Prison Break" is the title of the show. Why does it make me think of prison? Because the word is in the title! Prison rape is not a joke; it's the most egregious flaw in a irredeemably flawed system of "justice." If two men find love together in prison, it's beautiful. If one man is forced by another man to have sex with him in prison, this is a crime, and the blame rests with the system. I watched the first two seasons of "Prison Break" and don't remember being offended by it. But I'm disappointed, to say the least, by this advertising campaign.
"The mountain has wings."
I voted...
I voted 'Tacky, but not really offensive', but what I meant was 'Tacky but hilarious'. It certainly made me chuckle. I notice the poll offers four ways to look down your nose at the promotion, and one option to basically abstain - there's no 'I liked it' or 'I thought it was funny' option.
I'm actually far more offended that GLAAD can't tell the difference between homosexuality and prison rape. Shouldn't they be a bit better than half-witted about this stuff?
Yes, this might be a bit