Over the weekend a member of our church emailed me about a gentleman who is petitioning our local mall to ask its Abercrombie and Fitch store to remove an inappropriate picture from the front of its store. Since getting that email several local news stations have picked up the story and have aired further coverage on it, to include others’ view of the ad. To be clear, I have never been a fan of Abercrombie. I like their clothing (the kind that actually covers bodies in a stylish fashion, not the kind that appear to be suffering from an apparent fabric-shortage), but struggle supporting what they endorse and stand for, so I never shop there.
So... I am writing this entry for a few reasons: (1) Clarify why I support the petition, (2) to discuss where I think the petition is lacking, (3) and to call on Christians to take this a step further.
Why I Support the Petition:
First, I appreciate that the petition is addressed to the Triangle Town Centre Mall. I do not petition Abercrombie (as I’ve already stated – they are who they are and the only thing that speaks to them is $$... sales are up, so nudity and sexually suggestive ads and catalogues will be too), but I do petition the mall to enforce its own code of conduct. Patrons and models in window ads ought to meet the same criteria for appropriateness. If any ad (regardless of store) does not meet their criteria for decency (as established by their posted codes of conduct) then the mall ought to enforce its policy. Regardling their claim that the ad is "legal" - of course it is legal. It's private property, they have the "right" to post almost anything they want. The issue is not whether or not it's "legal" but whether or not it's appropriate.
Second, I think all people ought to work to protect innocence (or in America’s case, reinstate it) and sexuality. Some opponents of the petition state that people shouldn’t protest sexuality – I agree wholeheartedly. However, this ad isn’t “sexuality,” it is voyeurism and it objectifies sexuality (instead of celebrating it in its right place and relationship: marriage).
Third, I appreciate that the petition is simple in its request: move the picture inside the store and put a more appropriate one in its place (such as one that has, oh I don’t know, a picture of their clothing in it – I digress). It is a very smart and reasonable request that doesn’t try to regulate or legislate the store’s morality (or lack thereof).
Fourth, it is a well organized campaign that, for the most part, keeps the main thing the main thing: making the mall a family-friendly place.
Where I Think the Petition's Reasoning Falls Short
I think my main issue with the petition is a fairly minor one that deals more with the petitioner’s argument. I believe the originator of the petition and complaint, Mr. Jimmy Stopper (I love the irony of his last name with this issue), makes a hasty generalization in his appeal to the public for support by claiming (in CAPITAL LETTERS) that “every child is FORCED to look at [the picture]”. I agree that the picture (as are several pictures/ads in the mall from time to time) is inappropriate and ought not to be available to the eyes of the general public. However, to claim that anyone is “forced” to look at it is entirely inaccurate and an irresponsible use of wording. All that sort of claim does is seek to appeal to the emotion which inevitably evokes an emotional response from all sides that rarely meets in the middle for dialogue.
Call on Christians to Take It a Step Further
I am not here to encourage readers to sign the petition themselves (that is a personal call). There are bigger issues at stake here that I want to address that have nothing to do with picketing, boycotting or petitioning: namely the worship of the One, True God with our whole hearts, minds, souls and strengths. Matter of fact, if worshipping and following Him were happening, there’d be little to no need for any sort of protesting actions. So my call is to Christians of all ages (in particular those who typically consume culture blindly, arguing, “they’re just clothes – I don’t support what they stand for”) to CONTEND FOR THE FAITH with your lives.
Live…
1. …like GOD matters more to you than anything else.
2. …like He is the Creator and gives us the responsibility to not only be (responsible) consumers/participants of culture, but to also be creators and influencers of culture!
3. …like we have a choice in who and/or what we worship by choosing to walk the “narrow path” that leads to Life.
4. ...lives of integrity (in public or private, with our choices of entertainment and clothing, in our relationships, etc.).
For more info about the petition/advertisement…
1. …like GOD matters more to you than anything else.
2. …like He is the Creator and gives us the responsibility to not only be (responsible) consumers/participants of culture, but to also be creators and influencers of culture!
3. …like we have a choice in who and/or what we worship by choosing to walk the “narrow path” that leads to Life.
4. ...lives of integrity (in public or private, with our choices of entertainment and clothing, in our relationships, etc.).
For more info about the petition/advertisement…
The Petition’s Page (Move the Picture):
http://www.movethepicture.com/index.php
One local news station’s coverage of the petition:
http://www.abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6303025
http://www.movethepicture.com/index.php
One local news station’s coverage of the petition:
http://www.abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6303025
And that's what "protesting sexuality?" is all about Charlie Brown...
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6 comments:
I have to say, I liked this entry because I completley agree that some of Abercrombie's ads are very suggestive, and best left...you know, not life sized in a family-friendly mall. I dislike passing abercrombie in the mall mainly because of the overbearing scent of cologne...but now that it is mentioned, consistantly passing the ads gets very annoying as well. I usually don't look because I'm too busy burying my nose in my shirt to block of the smell, but I digress that the eyes of young children do dart in that direction and it arises many awkward questions for the parents.
I don't find asking questions a bad thing, but there is a time and an age for the discussion of such things to come. I myself am still unwilling to talk to my younger siblings about the reproduction process or even human anatomy because they are only six and four. Many parents may also feel uncomfortable with how this is revealed to them so young, when they aren't ready to answer the child's endless questions
Ok so I clicked on the petition page to see what all of this was about and wanted to see this picture fully. So I clicked on it and the page asks me if I'm 18 or older. Here's my problem with that: this guy is treating the pic like its some pornographic thing that well, you get my point. Anyway, I go to the mall and pay Abercrombie and Fitch no mind. In fact I don't even look at the stuff surrounding the store. This makes me wonder how many kids are actually paying attention to that or even looking. Probably not many, because there's more than likely something else catching their eye that's not the picture. Children aren't forced to look at Abercrombie and Fitch's ads, and if they are, then there's something wrong with that. Find ways to go to where you want to go in the mall without going past that store if your kids are with you. Maybe if kids do happen to look at the picture they think, "ew that's gross, I'm never going in that store," so that problem's solved. The store and the mall aren't going to take down a picture, because a few people don't like it, especially if the people are adults, because Abercrombie and Fitch is geared toward teens and they probably don't give a crap about what's on the outside of their "favorite store." Haha. I crack myself up. But yeah. Sex sells. It's always going to be like that. Protesting a mall...yeah, see how well that works out. People are not going to stop going to the mall...if they didn't stop after that whole fight thing broke out, they're not going to stop because of a picture. Christians should step up. Speaking of which, if Christian teens stopped shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister for that matter, those stores would probably begin to go out of business. Haha. I think that's true. We have lost sight of what God sent us here to do....Worship Him. Everything seems to be controversial these days. It's soooo hardddddd to be a Christian teen. Ugh. Thanks for another great blog entry. Keep them coming!!
Yes It's Me... first, i loved the name! ;-) lol indeed it is you! second, i agree entirely. it's amazing how many christians are frequent visitors/shoppers of a company (Abercrombie and Hollister) that stands for everything that their life of worship is supposedly against. Matter of fact, I bet if we tracked it Christian teens would account for a major portion of their sales (I have nothing to support this claim, but thinking through the MASS amount of Hollister or Abercrombie shirts and such I see in churches, camps, etc. I don't think it is a claim without warrant). It's less about living for self and more about living for God - "following Christ."
I think you made the point better than me, that the argument is a little ridiculous in that no one is "forced" to look at the pic (or any other one for that matter). But as ridiculous as that claim is, his intention, effort and argument is appreciated.
Good word, thanks for the encouragement and comments! Good dialogue!
I have a question. The guy that wants to protest this ad so much, why doesn't he protest the "life size" ads at Victoria's Secret in the same mall? His observation was the man's pants were way too far down. Well the women in Victoria's Secret ads are in their underwear (if you can even call it that!)Maybe it's because the ads are actually in the store at Vicoria's vs. being out in the mall at Abercrombie? I don't know. I haven't been there in a while.
I agree that VS pushes the line as well (I absolutely refuse to watch their specials and commercials on television, but that's another conversation), but I believe in this case there are two major distinctions between Abercrombie and VS:
1. Victoria's Secrect at least displays their product in the pictures/displays (thus most complaints have to do with the particular product being displayed publicly and not necessarily the ad). Abercrombie ads are less about their product and more about pushing the envelope (such as the pic in question - are they trying to sell pants?).
2. VS typically displays their product alone on a woman. Abercrombie (when it shows its products) often pushes other themes as well - such as nudity, sexuality, etc. Thus the focus of their ads is not "buy our stuff" but "our stuff is edgy".
Though Wiki's aren't the most reliable research tools, this one provides a good starting point to their controversy (many have protested their products and advertising schemes): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abercrombie_&_Fitch_Co.#Controversy_and_criticism
Also, I think Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, etc. psyche teens out in a way that makes teens think that if they buy clothes or whatever from those stores then the teen will be able to be like the people in the ads whether it be "sexy", good- looking, etc. and be able to get the guy or girl that they want.
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