creativity/machine

my computer is just like me (not)

Just in case I was too subtle last time about the race and gender politics of the personification of technology in the ‘Get a Mac’ ads, here are two new ones (one, two). I’m speechless. Thanks Anne.

There are about a bazillion spoofs of these ads, of course – in fact, they positively beg to be parodied (as in, on purpose). Has anyone seen any good/funny/clever videos that do a good job of taking on the cultural politics? I mean something other than the ubiquitous geeky hilarity of introducing a Linux character and/or having the computers be secretly gay and in love with each other? I am so not allowed to be trawling YouTube all day, so recommendations would be most welcome.

jeanburgess

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8 responses to “my computer is just like me (not)”

  2. […] Jean titles her post on this My computer is just like me (not): The new Mac ads are even worse than the old ones – so not only are the Windows and Mac users rather white men of two rather clichéed stereotypes, they compare the home videos they edited. And guess what, they’re women. The Mac user’s is pretty and well-dressed and described as “professional”, whereas the Windows user’s is a man dressed as a frumpy woman. This makes me want to switch to, oh I don’t know, Linux, I suppose. If you were in any doubt that men are the default and women the aberration (or, on occasion, the creation or possession of men as in this ad), you might want to note how men’s naked bodies are “human anatomy” while women’s naked bodies are “female anatomy” (via Martin). Filed under:General — Jill @ 17:10 [ ] […]

  5. god i am trawling youtube *every* day! i should stop myself really….
    but you are SO right about the ads….

    btw – did you get david’s news? job? swansea? we’re moving!!

  7. […] Jean titles her post on this My computer is just like me (not): The new Mac ads are even worse than the old ones – so not only are the Windows and Mac users rather white men of two rather clichéed stereotypes, they compare the home videos they edited. And guess what, they’re women. The Mac user’s is pretty and well-dressed and described as “professional”, whereas the Windows user’s is a man dressed as a frumpy woman. This makes me want to switch to, oh I don’t know, Linux, I suppose. If you were in any doubt that men are the default and women the aberration (or, on occasion, the creation or possession of men as in this ad), you might want to note how men’s naked bodies are “human anatomy” while women’s naked bodies are “female anatomy” (via Martin). (Give this post some Valence AKA Vote!)  Loading … BlinkList – del.icio.us – Digg it – Furl – ma.gnolia – RawSugar – Shadows – Simpy – Spurl – Yahoo MyWeb […]