Content of controversial ads intended to amuse, not offend

Friday, February 19, 1999

Content of controversial ads intended to amuse, not offend

POSTERS: Commission has right to display art as part of movie
promotion

By Christine Buckhout and Henry Lopez

This letter is being written in response to both the article
"Commission’s ads cause controversy" (News, Feb. 4) and Jeremy J.
Trimble’s response "Ad’s artwork unprofessional" (Viewpoint, Feb.
9), which criticized the artistic content of Henry Lopez’s ads,
which appeared in the Daily Bruin on Feb. 8, 10 and 11.

We would like to start off by explaining the nature of and
reasons for our ads. Both ads were intended to intrigue people,
grab their attention, and perhaps humor them. Regarding the weekly
info ad which featured two dolls on a bed in a sexual position, we
wanted the inordinate themes and the titles of the films,
"Happiness" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse," to be represented with
one picture and a tagline "There’s plenty of happiness in this
dollhouse." We were not mocking homosexual relationships or
implying that women should be used as sexual toys, but rather, we
intended to portray a playful and curious image.

In regards to the infamous film ad that showed the star of the
film with the words "Rape me" on her forehead, we wanted to portray
one of the most remembered and intriguing moments in the film.

The girl is initially threatened with rape, but we soon find out
that the boy was using "rape" in another sense. In fact, as the
movie progresses, we see that the word "rape" means more, such as
violation and seizure of one’s dignity and self-worth.

We realize that not everyone who saw the ad would have also seen
the film, but we had hoped that the image would have intrigued them
and would make them wonder what this film would be like.

Trimble had criticized the artistic content of these ads, in
particular the film ad, saying that it took no talent or creativity
to simply scan an image using Photoshop and superimpose the words
"Rape me" on it. But people believe art means many different
things. Some consider art to be beautiful, funny and gratifying,
but it can also be ugly, tragic and horrifying. Art is emotional
and provocative; that does not mean that art must be portrayed in a
positive sense to always be good – or at least be accepted.

Since the movies shown that week celebrated the dark humor of
Todd Solondz, we were simply trying to reflect his themes, ideas
and expressions in our work.

Dark humor is the exaggeration of serious subjects into such
hyperbole that they are rendered humorous. Solondz expresses
provocative subjects such as pedophilia, sex, obsessive stalking
and rape in this dark style. The audience finds humor in their
outrageous and absurd portrayal.

Dark humor is often offensive and is not enjoyed by everyone,
but it is a form of expression. We also have the right to freely
express our ideas and views, even if they are not accepted and
adored by all.

Comments, feedback, problems?

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