June 27, 2005
Inadvertent truth in advertising II
This is a web ad for walmartfacts.com, a desperate PR ploy for the nation's largest anti-union operation. The ad is actually animated, beginning with the shot on the left, then zinging the frozen-in-time employee across the screen and displaying the web address. I'm guessing this girl is supposed to look happy and carefree in her Wal-Mart outfit, as if the company is saying to us, "Look! She gets minimum wage and loves it!"
But just look at those clenched fists (close up here). If we know anything about body language, it's that clenched fists mean anger, anxiety and opposition. Also, she's holding on really tight to that uniform, and clutching objects is another anxious gesture. She's like a POW being filmed by captors, trying to send subversive messages to the people back home. But what's she saying? Wal-Mart said that if I pose for this ad, they might start paying 10 percent of my health insurance, perhaps. Whatever the message, I'm sure it's not one you'll find at walmartfacts.com.
Posted by Jason Feifer at June 27, 2005 10:08 AM
Comments
People grab their shirt or trenchcoat like that when they're about to take it off really fast. She's so happy, she'll give Anything to work at Walmart.
Posted by Rob at June 27, 2005 01:11 PM
Talk about truth in advertising: When I first looked at this ad, I thought this vaguely latino-looking woman was in handcuffs. Like a demonstration of what living on Wal-Mart wages is like...
Posted by at June 27, 2005 02:56 PM
worked there for 2 weeks...never...again
unless they stop calling me 'the spanish girl at the Deli'
Posted by yari at June 27, 2005 07:34 PM
Post A Comment |