Microsoft in Photoshop racism row!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

This made me and almost simultaneously!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8221896.stm

[Animavore]

I was more like and

[Gawdzilla Sama]

This made me and almost simultaneously!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8221896.stm

Gee, advertising people lie to us. I am dismayed.

[AshtonBlack]

To quote Irate, from RDF: "Fucktards"

[klr]

Interesting. If someone had done the reverse - i.e., altered a photo (or replaced it) to introduce racial variety where there was none (or "not enough"), what might the reaction have been?

[AshtonBlack]

Interesting. If someone had done the reverse - i.e., altered a photo (or replaced it) to introduce racial variety where there was none (or "not enough"), what might the reaction have been?

Personally, the same. Fucking idiots.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

What gets me is that some dickhead thought no-one would find out - in this day and age. Wankers!

[klr]

Interesting. If someone had done the reverse - i.e., altered a photo (or replaced it) to introduce racial variety where there was none (or "not enough"), what might the reaction have been?

Personally, the same. Fucking idiots.

But this is done all the time, in the sense that the same basic ad targeted at different audiences is going to be tailored to best appeal to each group (at least as the seller/advertiser sees it).

What gets me is that some dickhead thought no-one would find out - in this day and age. Wankers!

Well, that's the thing. It was done in half-assed manner that made it very likely that someone would notice.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

But this is done all the time, in the sense that the same basic ad targeted at different audiences is going to be tailored to best appeal to each group (at least as the seller/advertiser sees it).

The Japanese are very good at editing out "Gaijin" faces and replacing them with "locals". No body complains.

[Kristie]

If they thought a white dude would be better for the ad in certain locations, they should've taken two pictures instead of doing a shitty job of photoshopping the first one.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If they thought a white dude would be better for the ad in certain locations, they should've taken two pictures instead of doing a shitty job of photoshopping the first one.

Cheaper to shop a head than hire another model.

[Kristie]

If they thought a white dude would be better for the ad in certain locations, they should've taken two pictures instead of doing a shitty job of photoshopping the first one.

Cheaper to shop a head than hire another model.

I'm sure they can afford it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If they thought a white dude would be better for the ad in certain locations, they should've taken two pictures instead of doing a shitty job of photoshopping the first one.

Cheaper to shop a head than hire another model.

I'm sure they can afford it.

Still cheaper. And the bean-counters loooove cheaper.

[klr]

Some more thoughts. Note how the original image strives to be as diverse as possible, in relation to age, gender and race:


Interestingly, there's no place for a white Caucasian male.

Anyway, the age of the African-American man in the middle (along with his suit) is doubtless meant to convey that he's in charge. The Asian guy is clearly the techie of the group. The woman is the friendly spokesperson/go-between. So in a way, the first photo confirms to a quite a few stereotypes, whilst also trying to be "progressive". Being seen to be progressive might well get MS brownie points in the US, but in other places it is still very risky. MS (or any company) might well argue that it's not it's business to push the envelope in these matters, not at a risk to it's own business.

I automatically deconstruct just about any advertising image I see in this way.

[klr]

Just in case anyone thinks I'm over-analysing here, or just talking through my hat. The positioning of the three actors, plus their body language, is also designed to help convey to a potential customer the sort of image they would expect. I've been in a hatful of meetings and presentations like this over the years, and I can take in every little detail in that photo at a glance.