First, watch this video until the end.
This ad, designed by Zeitsprung Commercial in Germany got sent to me last night by ModBlog reader Broodje. For those that can’t watch the video at work, allow me to sum it up for you. A man dressed in a bear costume is walking around the streets to cheerful music giving out hugs to people as he strolls along. Then, the lighting darkens as the man in the costume pulls off the bear’s head to reveal his heavily modified face. The tagline of the ad appears as he roars at the camera and stalks away: ”You can’t see H.I.V. But you can prevent it”.
I’m not sure how you may react to this, but I’m on the same page as Broodje, in that we’re both more than a little upset by the implications that this PSA gives off. While the message itself is a good one, the end result may be giving a lot of people a bad impression of the modded community. To me this is saying that not only can you get H.I.V. from a hug, but that someone who is heavily modified is probably infected and it is best to stay away from them.
As for the actor in the bear costume, I have no idea if he knew what the PSA was for, or if it mattered to him how he would be portrayed in the final cut. The fact remains that as much as we try to show the world that modded people aren’t any different from the rest of the world, things like this come along and tap into some base fear that people have of the unknown, setting any progress that has been made back in the process.
I think what troubles me most about this, is that this type of thing is exactly the reason that Jessie had such a huge media circus around his arrest. The media is consistently associating heavily modified people with as many negative connotations as they can. Now we’ve come to a point that not only are heavily modified people scary because they’re “all violent”, but they “all have H.I.V. and should be avoided at all costs”.
What do you think? Am I reading too much into the ad, or is there really an undercurrent in the media that is directly attempting to demonize a group of people just because they choose to take control of their bodies.
UPDATE: It turns out that this video was part of the 2009 HIVisible campaign, and is starring none other than BME’s own IAM:Sicko. So it appears I was completely off base with my interpretation of the ad. Thanks to Bastian for filling me in and clarifying the message.
Comments
84 responses to “Being heavily modded is a disease?”
I highly enjoyed the bear suit. Then turns into a wikked modded guy. But not really seeing the HIV side of it.
Mabye i missed something.
I highly enjoyed the bear suit. Then turns into a wikked modded guy. But not really seeing the HIV side of it.
Mabye i missed something.
Personally, until we as a community are able to sue for our portrayal as evil sadistic creatures in the media, able to claim discrimination when we are denied jobs because of visiable modifications, and able to charge slander/libel when picked out by police officers for our modifications. I do not think the media should have the right to use us in any context.
I think it is unjust for us to have no legal standing, however a feminist can claim sexism because the requirements for a job is to difficult as man is physically more fit to do a job… Which are set purely for saftey reasons.
Personally, until we as a community are able to sue for our portrayal as evil sadistic creatures in the media, able to claim discrimination when we are denied jobs because of visiable modifications, and able to charge slander/libel when picked out by police officers for our modifications. I do not think the media should have the right to use us in any context.
I think it is unjust for us to have no legal standing, however a feminist can claim sexism because the requirements for a job is to difficult as man is physically more fit to do a job… Which are set purely for saftey reasons.
I don’t think the add is intended to imply that modified people have HIV, but it is saying a modified person can be used as a metaphor for a horrible disease. There was an add in the states just like this where a person was incredibly sick looking, greenish skin and pustules as far as I remember, and the add said if Hepatitis effected your face the way it effects your liver you would do something about it. Except in this case it made sense and was a diseased individual.. The bear suit business was done for a good reason and I don’t think it will in any way make people feel any worse towards the modified community, at least from anyone who isn’t already a dick, but it still is a modified person as a metaphor for HIV. It makes me think of an commercial from a few years back where a dad is very upset because some guy named “spike” comes to pick up his daughter for a date and he is pierced and tattooed and rounds it off with a mattress hanging out the back of his van. It puts out a similar message. I’m quite sure the intentions of this add were not to add any more negative stigma to modified people but it certainly doesn’t cast a positive or neutral light on us, intentionally or not. But hell, if it makes even a few people where a condom and not get HIV then whatever.
I don’t think the add is intended to imply that modified people have HIV, but it is saying a modified person can be used as a metaphor for a horrible disease. There was an add in the states just like this where a person was incredibly sick looking, greenish skin and pustules as far as I remember, and the add said if Hepatitis effected your face the way it effects your liver you would do something about it. Except in this case it made sense and was a diseased individual.. The bear suit business was done for a good reason and I don’t think it will in any way make people feel any worse towards the modified community, at least from anyone who isn’t already a dick, but it still is a modified person as a metaphor for HIV. It makes me think of an commercial from a few years back where a dad is very upset because some guy named “spike” comes to pick up his daughter for a date and he is pierced and tattooed and rounds it off with a mattress hanging out the back of his van. It puts out a similar message. I’m quite sure the intentions of this add were not to add any more negative stigma to modified people but it certainly doesn’t cast a positive or neutral light on us, intentionally or not. But hell, if it makes even a few people where a condom and not get HIV then whatever.
I second what Timothy said.
I second what Timothy said.
So they are saying Sicboy looks like a nob?
Rob, there’s loads of pics of him on this very site. I’d find them for you but I can only look at about 3 pictures in the galleries nowadays.
So they are saying Sicboy looks like a nob?
Rob, there’s loads of pics of him on this very site. I’d find them for you but I can only look at about 3 pictures in the galleries nowadays.
this add seemed like it was going to be very good and well thought out but after watching it with a friend, we both went from being happy to very sad. Rather than the intended happy to scared. IMO the add would have worked just as well if the person in the costume had devil makeup on, or something like that. Implying a bad thing within rather than a heavily modified person who clearly likes to be the center of attention with “scary” mods. This add really just rubbed me the wrong way.
this add seemed like it was going to be very good and well thought out but after watching it with a friend, we both went from being happy to very sad. Rather than the intended happy to scared. IMO the add would have worked just as well if the person in the costume had devil makeup on, or something like that. Implying a bad thing within rather than a heavily modified person who clearly likes to be the center of attention with “scary” mods. This add really just rubbed me the wrong way.
My two year old daughter got really excited and laughed hysterically when he pulled off the head. So obviously she wasn’t ‘scared’ at all. Awesome! I’m doing something right. I think.
I feel like we might be over-thinking it a bit (we’re from the community, obviously we fight to defend our choices). But I agree that it’s just another example of being made to look like ‘the bad guys’ and I’m surprised the actor actually chose to participate.
My two year old daughter got really excited and laughed hysterically when he pulled off the head. So obviously she wasn’t ‘scared’ at all. Awesome! I’m doing something right. I think.
I feel like we might be over-thinking it a bit (we’re from the community, obviously we fight to defend our choices). But I agree that it’s just another example of being made to look like ‘the bad guys’ and I’m surprised the actor actually chose to participate.
I didn’t read all the writing at the bottom (I’m a skimmer). I get it now.
I didn’t read all the writing at the bottom (I’m a skimmer). I get it now.
You can still get HIV if you use a condom … I like the ad, it was clever
You can still get HIV if you use a condom … I like the ad, it was clever
this makes me think of strange land
in the fact a bunch of over sensitive modded folk are all up in arms over our depiction by the media
this makes me think of strange land
in the fact a bunch of over sensitive modded folk are all up in arms over our depiction by the media
.23 I agree with you. I think that you’re very close to the point that was trying to be portrayed here.
.23 I agree with you. I think that you’re very close to the point that was trying to be portrayed here.
Um, seriously? I’m more offended by what you have to say. What exactly is so wrong about people who have a chronic disease?
“The fact remains that as much as we try to show the world that modded people aren’t any different from the rest of the world, things like this come along and tap into some base fear that people have of the unknown, setting any progress that has been made back in the process.”
I find it hard to fathom that you’re making this issue about you, when it’s obvious that you realise that people who are HIV positive and people living with AIDS face considerable oppression and stigma. You know who’s not any different from the rest of the world? People who have contracted HIV or AIDS.
Um, seriously? I’m more offended by what you have to say. What exactly is so wrong about people who have a chronic disease?
“The fact remains that as much as we try to show the world that modded people aren’t any different from the rest of the world, things like this come along and tap into some base fear that people have of the unknown, setting any progress that has been made back in the process.”
I find it hard to fathom that you’re making this issue about you, when it’s obvious that you realise that people who are HIV positive and people living with AIDS face considerable oppression and stigma. You know who’s not any different from the rest of the world? People who have contracted HIV or AIDS.
No you’re right I feel the same way-I’m completely offended it’s horrible that they need to make us modified people seem like we are diseased and bad people just because of how we look! One day some old lady that I’ve never seen or talked to before came up to me in a grocery store and said “you know those rings on your face will lead to diseases!” That made me so upset I wanted to scream! “My response was that just because you have piercings doesn’t mean they’re diseased, I take good care of my piercings which are all healed and I’m a very sanitary person! You shouldn’t be rude to people who you know nothing about and assume things so terrible!”
No you’re right I feel the same way-I’m completely offended it’s horrible that they need to make us modified people seem like we are diseased and bad people just because of how we look! One day some old lady that I’ve never seen or talked to before came up to me in a grocery store and said “you know those rings on your face will lead to diseases!” That made me so upset I wanted to scream! “My response was that just because you have piercings doesn’t mean they’re diseased, I take good care of my piercings which are all healed and I’m a very sanitary person! You shouldn’t be rude to people who you know nothing about and assume things so terrible!”
I second Charon. Well said.
I second Charon. Well said.
nah I think the ad is ok
nah I think the ad is ok
I agree with what Charon has to say. There will always be people that associate negative things with body modification. And we don’t want people under the wrong impression, right? Well what about the people that do have AIDs and HIV? They are sometimes treated like lepers. I really doubt the infected individuals enjoy the negative stigmas associated with AIDs. The same way that we don’t like the negative stigmas associated with body modification. Yes, I realize they are two ENTIRELY different things, but there are some similarities. People with AIDs are not disgusting, and they don’t deserve to be treated like they’re lepers and need to be quarantined. They’re people too. Normal, functioning human beings. We hate when people are uninformed and ignorant, right? We hate when people are quick to jump to conclusions and say that we’re “violent” or whatever. I’ve heard it all, as I’m sure you have too. Well people that have AIDs or HIV are probably irritated with the ignorant people that refuse to inform themselves because they’re afraid. I really don’t know where I’m going with this. Basically, we are trying to defend ourselves as a community and some of us are having negative responses to this ad and acting like we can’t believe we’ve been associated with something as awful and deadly as AIDs. Just stop and think about those who have the disease. The same way we wish for others to educate themselves in body modification, they wish for us and everyone else to educate ourselves on the disease.
I agree with what Charon has to say. There will always be people that associate negative things with body modification. And we don’t want people under the wrong impression, right? Well what about the people that do have AIDs and HIV? They are sometimes treated like lepers. I really doubt the infected individuals enjoy the negative stigmas associated with AIDs. The same way that we don’t like the negative stigmas associated with body modification. Yes, I realize they are two ENTIRELY different things, but there are some similarities. People with AIDs are not disgusting, and they don’t deserve to be treated like they’re lepers and need to be quarantined. They’re people too. Normal, functioning human beings. We hate when people are uninformed and ignorant, right? We hate when people are quick to jump to conclusions and say that we’re “violent” or whatever. I’ve heard it all, as I’m sure you have too. Well people that have AIDs or HIV are probably irritated with the ignorant people that refuse to inform themselves because they’re afraid. I really don’t know where I’m going with this. Basically, we are trying to defend ourselves as a community and some of us are having negative responses to this ad and acting like we can’t believe we’ve been associated with something as awful and deadly as AIDs. Just stop and think about those who have the disease. The same way we wish for others to educate themselves in body modification, they wish for us and everyone else to educate ourselves on the disease.
Let’s be frank, he looks scary to a lot of people and he makes a scary face. That being said, it says something bad about modded people.
It would have been fine if it had been a person wearing a scary mask under. Wolfman? Perhaps a ghost to illustrate the death part?
Let’s be frank, he looks scary to a lot of people and he makes a scary face. That being said, it says something bad about modded people.
It would have been fine if it had been a person wearing a scary mask under. Wolfman? Perhaps a ghost to illustrate the death part?