smack my bike up…
April 9, 2008 by sparklematrix
I think it would be difficult to cram any more offence in to this advert, which looks like something a sixteen-year-old male would conjure up not realising that his highly unoriginal and done to death sexism is hardly innovative or clever. In addition, up here in my neck of the woods a “bike” is often a reference to a woman who has had many sexual partners, which just rounds up nicely with Smack my Bitch Up*. If fact I am just going to have to stop right there or I will be here all day just stating the freaking obvious.
What?
*The Prodigy reminds me of my work in a drugs rehab where they enjoyed extreme popularity. My clients reckoned that “smack my bitch up” was in reference to “smack my heroin up” (which was also challenged for its sexism)… Of course, when withdrawing from substance dependency folks will regularly perceive reference to drugs from a never-ending resource of every day objects and interactions. Therefore, I have never really found out.
Anyway, just in case I suffer a flood of trolls enlightening me as to the subtleties of The Prodigy’s lyrics.
It‘s all about context.
And what is a male who has had many sexual partners? Answer a slag!! When are we going to have totally full-frontal naked males shown in sexually degrading poses? Never because the penis is sacred unlike women’s bodies. Meaning penis has to hidden because men’s bodies must not be turned into sexualised commodities unlike women’s. Surely it can’t be misogyny at work again plus sexual double standards. No, it is patriarchy again.
You know Jennifer, I would just like us to have as much ‘privacy’ as males…I recognised this in my very early teens and long before I knew what feminism was.
Sorry to be facetious, but I thought this was going to be about the bloke who was done for having sex with his bike sparks…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/26/nsex126.xml
(the sex with pavements is even funnier….)
If I’d known I would have included it Polly!
Actually, this is not a new phenomena as an ex (biker lad) of mine said that there’d been a couple of these stories. One man had cut a hole into the seat and…yes well…(pics on net)
Blow-up dolls, bikes, flesh-lights hey! the worlds your sexayyy oyster…
Weird.
Oh but the original video is even worse BTW - after all the violence, sex and woman abuse it turns out the protagonist is - a woman!!! Laugh - I nearly did….
Gawd they’re inventive these video making types aren’t they.
It’s easy to be ‘inventive’ when you are in control.
Shades of Daly’s ‘token torturers’
Ya know, I used to work on the Honda assembly line.. this makes me glad I don’t anymore, and it makes me double glad that the Ohio motorcycle plant is closing down. They don’t deserve to sell motorcycles if that’s how they’re going to go about it.
Oh that story polly.
Bikes and Biscuits ladeez–the Revolution is upon us!
They’re not coming out of this looking very well adjusted—are they?
Hi A birch tree.
Gawd, we’ve just done a rewind to the 1970s.
Instead of that US airline commercial “come fly me”, it’s on two wheels and turned into “come ride me”.
Same shit.
Teh patriarchy.
Am I the only one to think that this video looks a bit like soft porn?
Regarding The Prodigy, I admit I used to listen to their music when I was younger (including that “Smack my b*tch up” tune) without even noticing the sexism that was in those lyrics. All I was noticing when I was listening to them were basically the beats and the vibes in the music.
It’s crazy how young women are trained by the patriarchy *not to notice* sexist things like that (i.e. not to recognize them as sexist).
Sorry, BTW, proper formulating my question I meant to write:
Am I the only one who thinks that this video looks a bit like soft porn?
Excuse me. I am tired…
And now I meant to write “properly formulating my question” instead.
Don’t mean to bug you. I am very tired.
Nice new header you’ve got, Sparkle*Matrix…
Hey no bugs Maggie
Yes it is soft porn and not so subtle either. At the end of the vid she raises her butt - he does a wheelie and then the word “thrust” appears.
Oh please!
Personally, if we have to suffer advertising - can we have something that doesn’t involve sexist yawn clichés?
Oh yeah, and the mid video “rear view”…
Is this geared at 14 year old hormonally dependent males?
I used to ride bikes before I passed my car drivers license - a Kawasaki and a Suzuki to be exact and some of my female friends still do ride them.
Hi Tulpacat… who has posted on here.
It is actually so bad it looks like a send up. I think the Prodigy track was designed for people who aren’t listening to the lyrics though Maggie. Just off their head on various substances (which you’ve got to be to cope with a load of loud “dance” music).
It’s so blatantly sexist I ALMOST thought it was a joke. But then again I’ve been really sheltering myself from mainstream media, so…….
I mean that’s just really a WTF/No Comment moment there.
I’ll remind myself to never buy a Honda.
Both the video and the prodigy lyrics are misogynistic in the end, anyway. I still believe that women (especially young ones) are trained by the patriarchy *not to notice* sexist things like that (i.e. not to recognize them as sexist), IMHO. But we could quote *so many other examples* coming from words and imagery in mainstream media, Polly (i.e. not only the prodigy lyrics).
“I’ve been really sheltering myself from mainstream media, so…….”
So have I, since I discovered radical feminism…
I dunno, I think that in order for something to be a joke or a send-up or to be able to credibly claim such, it has to be… you know… outrageously exaggerated, or if not that, than at least… like… critical of what it’s supposedly making fun of.
If we can’t tell the difference between irony and reality… um… yeah, I can’t think of a witty way to end that sentence.
I agree with A birch tree I am tired of people using the “it’s irony!” excuse for all media that’s misogynist/racist/etc. Irony has to be make it’s point clear, otherwise it totally defeats the purpose.
“They’re not coming out of this looking very well adjusted—are they?”
No but on one hand I’m kinda torn—I mean: if guys, like that news story, get the impression from this ad they should be attempting intercourse with the serrated hardware of a machine…
Shit ad still. Poo on a kabob.
I am *gobsmacked* by this ad.
Surely we have come further than this….surely….?????
You tube has led to an explosion in this kind of thing, because it’s advertising they could never get away with in mainstream media. The sexxayy women are to get young menz to watch. There have been a few examples of this being subverted - “sexxayy” vid actually telling the menz to f off. Maybe we should get hold of a video camera and make a few more.
“No but on one hand I’m kinda torn—I mean: if guys, like that news story, get the impression from this ad they should be attempting intercourse with the serrated hardware of a machine…”
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Meanwhile, while all you frothers are getting butthurt over a motorbike advert, there are women out in places like Saudi Arabia and Iran and Libya and so forth where women actually are objectified in a literal sense.
Under Saudi’s hardline interpretation of Islamic law, it is illegal for a woman to be uncovered in the presence of any men who aren’t married or related to her. They also cannot travel without a husband or male relative, they are forbidden to drive or vote, and are for all intents and purposes treated as a pair of ovaries with legs.
If that’s not objectification I don’t know what is.
Priorities, anyone?
Well aware Son.
Like here for instance.
Then try my Women and War tag there on the right. Sometimes it gets too fucking much to be highlighting the level of misogyny in this world day in and day out on this blog which I also happen to mop up IRL for my work…mkay?
http://sparklematrix.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/an-estimated-50000-prostitutes-some-as-young-as-13-are-among-the-12-million-iraqis-who-fled-to-syria-after-bush-invaded/
Moreover, YOU do not get to decide my ‘what’s worthy’ quota.
In addition, remember, ALL oppression including dehumanization, objectification, othering and so forth is connected.
So what are you doing about the plight of women in Saudi Arabia, Libya and Iran then Son of a Blizzard? If I come and chop your toe off and then go and stab someone, does that mean that chopping your toe off doesn’t matter? If your sister/mother/girlfriend (I’m assuming you’re male and all) was raped would you say to her - don’t worry, there are much worse things going on in Saudi Arabia?
Priorities…..Like I said, what are you doing about it? Other than criticising this blog? I am assuming that you devote your entire life to fighting this gross injustice and never take a minute to enjoy yourself in any way, shape or form…
First things first Mr. Blizzard: whatsa “frother”?
(Priorities people!)
And the priority for today lil twinkles is…
The art of frothing from a Trollism perspective. Discuss in 1,000 blog posts why ‘frothing’ as an insult is used by Trolls.
Ah, racism disguised as “caring for women’s rights.” How cute :/
My Egyptian ass can smell your misogynist racism from a mile away. Go to hell.
Yeah Lara, because those nasty “brown” men treat “their” women a whole lot worse than our “white” men treat us - so we have nothing to worry about, we should be worrying about what the “brown” men are doing. Gawd, this is becoming a theme on here. He should have tried reading my blog and not just a couple of posts.
Oh and Son of a wotsit (cheesy wotsit), I am assuming from your language that you are from the good ol US of A and heartily approve of their foreign policy. In that case can you please explain why Dubya chose to attack Iraq (a secular state where women had a great degree of freedom/independence pre the war which has bombed them back to the stone age) over Saudi Arabia. Or why they are now fighting the Taliban after years of arming them during the occupation of Afghanistan by the former USSR. Because they didn’t seem very bothered about women’s rights when the Taliban were ‘freedom fighters’.
Well you did say you were troll lite after all Sparks. See, Jesus does love you, Johnny’s probably been praying for you…
Wondered how long it would be before someone cried “racism” or “cultural imperialism” or the like. Six posts. That’s definitely above average.
Then again, since when did I bring race into all this? Gender apartheid’s gender apartheid regardless of where it takes place or by people of whatever ethnicity. Same, for that matter, with female genital mutilation. Crow about how bringing that up is culturally imperialist all you want; the fact remains that regardless of where in the world you’re from, if you can’t see the moral opprobrium over pinning down your young daughters and slicing their clitorides off with a rusty knife, I despair for you.
‘Twas you, Lara, who started carping about racism and making a big deal out of it with regard to this question.
Polly - You know what happens when you ass-u-me. I’m half French half English and was (and still am) opposed to the ongoing Iraq war. I’m also opposed to the fact that the British government is more than happy to turn a blind eye to the torture of its own citizens by the Saudis in case it gets them bent out of shape and they pull out of the multi-billion pound al-Yamamah arms deal. Which is also the reason why there was so much drama over the “Undercover Mosque” documentary on Channel Four back in January 2007, I suspect, but that’s by the by.
***deleted for silly Son of a Patriarch stuff***
Blizzard OUT!
In response to unpublished comment.
Tsk tsk Son of squally showers half brit and half French. Why go and spoil a half decent comment *snerk* with an insult at the end?
nå hvorfor tror du ikke og din dick rettferdig løpe frem nå.
Because I’m half from somewhere else too.
Oh no sparks are you one of the Vikings? (a lot of them round the north east) We have them in the Wirral you know - they found a boat recently buried under a car park.
(or is that some other scandinavian language cos I ain’t an expert?)
Yes I am a viking! well half a one anyways, my dad’s Norwegian.
And guess what - all of his family (including his sisters) are in the Navy. If fact his sisters are the highest ranking officers out of the lot of them. On ya go aunties.
Oh go on, I’ve posted SOP (note no biatch here) no: 35…with testeria deleted - natch
I am 1/5th Frother.
S.o.B is playing the Off Topic game with himself. He started the game unannounced, assumed everyone else was playing, then declared himself the winner. What a boy.
Son of a Donkey:
“Crow about how bringing that up is culturally imperialist all you want; the fact remains that regardless of where in the world you’re from, if you can’t see the moral opprobrium over…(insert Western misogynist offense here)”
That argument could be turned around on you sweetheart.
And ya ghrabetik to you too. (the insult is so nasty in Arabic I can’t translate it directly, but it is a much much worse version of “fuck your ass”).
“Gender apartheid’s gender apartheid regardless of where it takes place or by people of whatever ethnicity.”
Interesting that you are concerned over gender apartheid, when I think most of the problem nowadays is the fact that women are forced to be physically and mentally close to the likes of you (and men overall).
“I’m half French half English and was (and still am) opposed to the ongoing Iraq war.”
Ohhh, looky, a white liberal male that wants a doggie biscuit for being against the war in Iraq! Perhaps your French half is what accounts for your cultural arrogance :/ But I digress…
Oh, and we have female genital mutilation here in the W-W-W-WEST, it’s just done in a hospital, paid for by rich white ladies to have it done to themselves, and called “plastic surgery” (ala pornified!). Stop pissing on women’s backs and tell them it’s raining snookums.
Ohh, in regards to vikings, my dad is horrible at finding the right gifts for people, especially his own daughters. So he goes to Sweden on vacation for a few days and brings me back this little figurine of a Viking warrior woman, complete with ruddied cheeks, big hooked nose, crazy gray hair, and painted metal armor for her body and boobs! Her shield is intact but her battle axe is broken. Alas, she was fighting the patriarchy. Best present my dad ever got me.
I still have to name her. Suggestions, Sparks?
No I don’t know what happens when I ass-u-you son of a wotsit. You start using incomprehensible gibberish? WTF does ass-u-me mean?
Does this face look bothered?
If you are “half-english and half french” why are you speaking North American? The french language is the language of Proust and English the language of Shakespeare. Whatever your ethnic origins you seem to be, spiritually, if not actually(and I’d put money on actually) residing in the US of A.
And only talking about the oppression sufferered by women in countries where the people are brown is racist.
Oh and re “cultural imperialism” I think you’ll find the USA is the champion at that as well. It means a dominant culture imposing itself on less dominant cultures and is nothing to with the oppression of women. But FYI there is plenty of oppression of women going on in the west (and what is a clitoricle?). Try reading Sheila Jeffreys’ “Beauty and Misogyny”. But you only seem bothered about the stuff the brown people are doing.
Oh and also FYI I have been on more anti war marches than you’ve had sensible thoughts. Again what are you doing about all this stuff you’re so bothered about?
Ah yes Son - many men from the west enter a discussion about sexism as if it is the oppression Olympics. Changing the subject to the hardships of ‘others’ while you stand there speaking from a position of extreme privilege. Male, white and western.
There are no medals awarded in oppression and you do not get to advise that there be.
It is hilarious to suggest that the wimms on here no nothing regarding the global status of women. Then to insult us (edited) by misogynistic language, speaks volumes about how much you care about women. Men who use misogynist language are misogynists.
Lara - Frigga is a well-known Norse goddess of war and sexuality. Some modern sources say “marriage” but it’s not, it is - sexuality.
‘Oh and also FYI I have been on more anti war marches than you’ve had sensible thoughts.’ -
when are you going on your second then, poll?
and the bloody vikings can stop patting themselves on the back too - they oppressed my people for centuries. i am part viking, but i assume, not by choice of my ancestress.
and if you vikings are so bloody clever, why did you bury a boat under a carpark, smartarses? HA!
SW I’ve thought about and worked with this. My father’s forbearers oppressed my mother’s ancestors. Now, in a transpersonal sort of way this makes for a hell of a lot of internal ancestral conflict going on for me.
I think it’s quite imaginative and spookily perceptive burying a boat under a car park - they are all modes of transport.
i’ve thought about it too and have decided to blame jonny. in our different ways we both resolve the issue and move on.
tho not in our boat.
they must have got the bus home.
Ah yes Jonny (or brokenJonny as he named himself on menarebetterthanwotsits - now there’s a clue)
I wonder if he has twigged yet?
Well I was going to write hot dinners SW but then I thought better of it.
BTW I attribute the hardness of the Geordie people to the Viking ancestry and also the lack of warm clothing as North East England may have seemed quite clement to the Norse Men and Women. However the Vikings of the Wirral were of a different class, and preferred dinner parties to pillaging. Which accounted for them burying the boat under the car park. They were tidying up before the neighbours came round.
This really really makes me disappointed in Honda - their hybrid looked so nice and I was going to covet it in the way that a driver does when they see a car they can never afford. No more!
I am so flabbergasted by this advert that the only real response in my mind is a cross between the flustered blubberings of a heavily mustached person and the ‘phleh’ sound made by those little prevolution amphibian things in those Guiness adverts (you know what I mean right?).
What happened to ’steel horse’ motorbike metaphors? Was it all just too Freudian and threatening for them? Riding horses is a thing of the past, we ride women now.
Ugh…”thrust”… I’m surprised they didn’t have the woman fondling a fucking petrol dispenser! It is, I am just realising, the ultimate motor-related phallus.
Just found this over at the F-word.
[Update: Just got an email response from Honda about this, saying that “the commercial itself is not an official video released by Honda UK Marketing”.]
So I guess it’s still a way of getting advertising out there that would not normally be approved.
Sorry Honda - not good enough.
Flippin ‘eck that’s like the Dorito’s ad that wasn’t - oh no nothing to do with us guv. Bollocks. You think we ain’t never heard of ‘viral marketing’ chaps? What does ‘official’ mean anyway? Nothing that’s what - just ask Richard E Grant and his talking boil.
I have to say, pull the other one Honda.
The lighting, the visual FX, hardly some backroom amateur hack jobbie. Sure, it didn’t have the ‘official’ branding.
Thought you’d try out some misogynist advertising?
You forgot that females could perhaps make up a sizeable chunk of the marketshare?
I want ALL companies to do misogynist advertising, and more of it, so that women won’t buy their products. Hopefully these arseholes will go under.
I didn’t even know that this was called ‘viral marketing’ but oh boy it’s all making sense.
I despise capitalism and the patriarchy…
Next!
It is fairly well known (oh ok I know it) that companies use you tube to put out ‘viral marketing’ campaigns. The idea is that the ad gets circulated. Since they are generally aimed at young males these ads tend to be of the nature of that one above - we had another example a while back of the sexxayy necrophiliac road safety video which was put out by a health authority for gawd’s sake. There are actually now many ‘viral’ marketing companies out there exploiting this.
http://www.insideonlinevideo.com/2008/04/11/sex-tops-youtube-zeitgeist/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/22/the-secret-strategies-behind-many-viral-videos/
having a video posted on the net may or may not qualify technically as viarl marketing - i would class it more as traditional marketing but via the internet. most genuine virals pose as ‘that clip your mate just had to send you when they saw it on’ …. utube whatever.
sorry i’m hairsplitting - used to make virals and that is a proper video! (shite but proper). sure stormy will have a perspective - or did your time in prodn end pre virals? (that’s an honest question not a snippy remark!)
people now are spending a good proportion of the marketing budget on them - and not just the cost; i think there’s something about marketing depts. wanting to play with cameras when the advertising people used to have all the fun.
you can make a perfectly good viral for a few grand and disseminate it almost free. tv ad campaigns however…
Yeah but everything gets corrupted/appropriated by mainstream capitalism in the end SW (as HMHB must have said at one point). I think that now viral marketing is ‘professionalised’ companies now stick this stuff on youtube (as the links show) and they make them sexxayy so that youths will circulate them. So I think that is what ‘viral’ has mutated into. The health authority sexxayy necrophilia was meant to be ‘viral’ too. It now just means - stuff we can’t put out mainstream because it is too misgynist, methinks.
don’t get me wrong - it’s all equally corrupt. one version is merely shinier than another. i hate both equally. if it was a good thing, they wouldn’t have alerted us to its fundamental badness by using the word ‘marketing’.
Absolutely SW, but I just checked back to the sexxayy dying woman and that was definitely described as “viral”. So it seems the virus has mutated. Oh BTW, I just found you in spam on mine and have given you some valuable (free) tips on how to pass law exams. So pop over and join in the debate about the cocaine using rats.
gosh!!! now that’s an invite…
It now just means - stuff we can’t put out mainstream because it is too misgynist, methinks.
An accurate observation methinks.
SW, yes, got out pre-viral. A gazillion other industries since then. But surely the misogyny/objectification is so damn obvious even to the untrained eye?
it was more about the process and technicalities, as the capitalismisogyny has always struck me as ubiquitous.