Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Forcing the Dead to Eat Chocolate

You've got to feel sorry for dead celebs these days, because their image can be manipulated to sell seven shades of consumer pap.

For example would John Lennon really have sold out to this degree while alive to sell a Citroen while a) bemoaning the nostalgia for the 60s and 70s (in a clip from 1968, not to mention the fact he was dead by 1980) while letting (b) his voice be done by an impressionist who has obviously never heard John Lennon speak.

I blame Yoko for this faux pas.

And what possessed Charlize Theron to appear in an ad for Dior perfume where Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich pop up from the dead in full face makeup? Creepy, gruesome and just, well, in such bad taste. I mean don't these divas smell a bit rank after having been dug out of the ground years after their demise?

Poor old Audrey Hepburn is the latest product of post-death digital manipulation. It's hardly believable that chocolate ever passed the sacred portal of Hepburn's lips, since Audrey was as skinny as a matchstick. And if it had would it really have been a Galaxy bar? Ooh this is bad...evidently Hepburn was brought back from the dead, forced to ride a bus and eat Galaxy brand chocolate. I just can't imagine her doing this tacky commercial in real life so surely this is disrespectful?

Don't the dead have any rights? Or is this the definition of celebrity hell, having your image regurgitated and forced to do tasteless tricks until the end of time?

What's next I wonder? A commercial with Princess Diana advertising Weight Loss Pills or Anna Nicole Smith advertising Spanx? The mind boggles!

17 comments:

Honest Mum said...

It does make me feel very uncomfortable, especially as they are brands they wouldn't naturally fit if they were alive. I abhored Spec Savers use of Edith Piaf, it was in such bad taste. I am not sure why they are being allowed to do this!

Marla Martenson said...

I have to say that I think the Dior commercial is exquisite! A work of art. It doesn't bother me a bit to see the dead celebs. I think they would love it. We still love them and want to see them.

MommyHeadache said...

Marla....I just think the technology in the Dior ad is so clunky and unsophisticated in melding past and present footage that it turns me off. There would need to be a seamless stylistic link between the dead stars and Charlize Theron to make this the sort of tribute to dead stylish stars I think it is meant to me. I think it is really tacky the way it it done but I appreciate you think differently and that is fine!

noel bressler said...

Eek!! I have become too addicted to dvr, it has become ridiculously apparent that I never see commercials anymore because I haven't seen one of these!!! Don't their family members have to sign off on projects like these? It seems like someone does...so you gotta wonder...

Anyways, happily following along from the hop!

www.highheeledmama.com

Unknown said...

Hi there!
Just wanted to pop over and thank you for linking up with us ladies at the Thursday blog hop! Hope you are finding some fabulous new reads!
Thanks again!
Katie~
http://dysfunctionsjunction.com

BrendaC said...

Doing some blog hopping and dropped by to become your newest GFC follower. Hope to see you at my blog soon. Have a fantastic weekend. http://www.kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

LOL! Anna Nicole Smith, I used to love that show! New follower too.

-Maria @ keepingitstepford.com

Shauna Quintero said...

New follower from the TGif Bloghop!

I completely agree with you! That Dior commercial skeeves me out! I don't like this bringing people back to life through digital tricks business.

www.MommaCandy.com

Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye said...

It is rather crass

Michelloui said...

I can't believe the companies can get away with it, it certainly does sell the product to me.

kacie @ mama case said...

laughed when you said you blame yoko :) i mean, isn't she to blame for a lot?

www.mamacase.com

Unknown said...

I actually found you through a blog hop and am really glad I landing on this post.

Dead celebs and dead people in general should be remembered for their influence during their physical time on Earth. To try an blend them into what is pop culture today is inaccurate. Much of what music has become John Lennon would had been against.

The only living rock legends now are Billy Corgan and Neil Young.

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Humdrum Mum said...

I fear your ideas will be snapped up soon. -HMx

Catch My Words said...

I would think the advertisers would have to clear this with the estate and pay into it to use the dead celebrities. I wouldn't want someone using my image in an ad after I'm famous and dead.

http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Yes I assume family members are making money off of their dead relatives.

Stopped by from Weekend Social Mix Blog Hop.

http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Omgodness you are so right. You can't believe the trash some people think up and make money from.
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