Men Get It!

I'm not too sure about other television stations, but I know that Spike runs this ad all the time. It starts out with a father and his young son throwing a ball in the back yard. The shot fades once to show a somewhat older boy doing the same thing, and then again to an older teenage boy. We then see the father and his older son in the bathroom, seemingly getting ready for their day. The father pulls out his Aqua Velva aftershave and applies it, then he passes it to his all too enthusiastic son. If I remember correctly, the son then blurts out some cheesy line like "Cool!". The commercial informs us that "some things never change over time," and ends with "Aqua Velva ... men get it."

My issue is, what is this commercial saying? And why do I get so irritated every time I watch it? It's a man and his son happily playing catch, and then them applying grossly overpriced aftershave. There shouldn't be something wrong with it, but it really bugs me.

First of all, why are they playing catch? Do fathers and sons even do that anymore? Are the busy moms and dads of our generation actually able to set aside time to interact with their children? If so, this is news to me. The only thing I can figure is that the commercial is bringing us back to a simpler time when this sort of thing was commonplace. I'm also assuming that the commercial is implying that this should remain commonplace as well. The phrase "some things never change over time" is a major source of confusion for me. So basically, fathers and sons should play catch, and then apply Aqua Velva aftershave... forever.

Point is: things DO change over time. The paternal role is definitely much different than it was no more than twenty years ago. The idea that parents are supposed to act as role models and guides for their children is slowly becoming a "nice idea" rather than a "necessary job." Perhaps getting Aqua Velva aftershave will allow you to feel a little more like you support how things have been in the past. However, no matter how much rank blue liquid you splash on your face in the morning, things are changing.

Prom Pants in the Press

Oh prom...
Some of us think of it as the best night of our high school lives, some of us just try to forget.
One thing that eternally lives in our memory is the stress of looking your best for the occasion. All the shirts, ties, lace and satin end up being strewn about the dance floor, jumbled together in a mess reminiscent of discarded Christmas wrapping paper. There are the conservative girls with traditional dresses, and then the ... other girls with as much skin showing as possible. The boys are all in suits, chromatically ranging from ebony to ivory. The problem is that some schools have actually made this clothing required based on gender.

Lebanon High School in Indiana recently denied a lesbian girl's request to wear a suit to prom. Their dress code for the occasion requires her to wear a dress to the dance. In her opinion, it is extremely discriminatory. She has actually taken legal action against the school board because of the rule, and says that wearing the suit is a part of her "sexual identity" and therefore should be allowed.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) supports her case however. They are actually claiming, and have evidence to prove, that the dress code is unconstitutional. It is, according to them, "creating a disparity in the treatment of male and female students." Clearly they are willing to make a point of their stance on the issue, and I would be very surprised if the unnamed girl does not get her request granted.

The United States (and the world for that matter) is a different place now than it was fifteen years ago. Individuality in many avenues is now openly encouraged and accepted. My question is if the government is going to keep up with the changes, or if they are even willing to.

I'm a little glad it's been reduced to reruns...

In all honesty, I really didn't even know that much about the man show until I actually saw it recently. Needless to say, by the first commercial break I was significantly disgusted. I mean, it's not even necessarily what was being displayed, but how it was being presented. For instance, lets take a gander at the theme song...

Grab a beer and drop your pants.

Send your wife and kids to France.

It's the Man Show!

Quit your job and light a fart.

Yank your favorite private part.

It's the Man Show!

It's a place where men can come together.

Look at the cans on this chick named Heather.

Juggy girls on trampolines.

Time to loosen those blue jeans.

It's the . . . Man Show!

I personally find a couple things bothersome about the words, but I suppose that the majority of America did not. I mean, the show was drawn out for five seasons. And honestly, from what I gather, the basis of the entire half hour is to arouse men and entertain prepubescent boys. It's ridiculous. The show completely embraces the extremely demeaning male stereotype that all men are fat bumbling beer-drinking idiots. Every skit performed, every joke made, every prize given away - all of it - pertains to this idea of men and what is "appealing" to them.

Granted there are television stations devoted to the sexes, for instance We and Spike, but The Man Show takes the cake for most outwardly stereotypical in my opinion. Just look at the logo. An overweight man with a blank, stupid look on his face. I know how this makes me feel, but don't take my word for it. I mean, let the half-naked girls bouncing on a trampoline at the end of the show convince you.