Emma Barber
Civic Artifact Outline
RCL 137
9/18/17
Intro
Within the last year there has been a trend of companies releasing ads and statements that are politically motivated. Now the purpose of the Super Bowl is the commericals… companies pay millions of dollars for seconds of air time. I am not a fan of pro football or tv but I distinctly recall looking up from what I was doing and watching all 30 seconds of this ad wondering what it was for. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Airbnb’s services, Airbnb is an online marketplace and hospitality service, enabling people to lease or rent short-term lodging including vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays, hostel beds, or hotel rooms.
*Play ad
Now they say there are two things to never discuss at the dinner table; Politics and religion. But it is important to recognize the trend of political statements being made by companies and corporations– This has powerful consequences of imposing rhetoric onto just about any viewer. This is unprecedented because companies that sell a product or service try hard to stay neutral and unbiased so that they don’t lose a portion of their consumer base. Now more than ever do we seem them speaking out publically and politically.
Ceos of
etsy
Facebook
Google
Linked In
Lyft
Netflix
Nike
Starbucks
- Have all made statements that rebuke president’s actions
What is the ad?
This ad is in response to his Muslim Ban
During Super Bowl
Largest audience possible
Titled We Accept – there is no product or service theyre selling. It is simply an ad designed to call attention to the common value of acceptance and make the viewer think about what was just displayed on TV. No specific audience it is open to anyone and everyone who will let this touch them or make them think.
Dissect the commercial itself
Crisp images
- Splits faces down the middle of very different people
- connects them and make them one
- displays acceptance/ unity
- highlights different sexualities, races, ethnicities, religions etc. and brings them together.
The text
“We believe in the simple idea that no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love, or who you worship, you deserve to belong.”
It uses words like WE and Belong RACE RELIGION ETC to be all inclusive
Calling on people to open their homes and their minds
Response was incredible
provide free housing to refugees and those recently barred from entering the US
goal-provide short-term housing over the next five years for 100,000 people
(refugees, disaster survivors, and relief workers
contribute $4 million over four years to the International Rescue Committee
So What?
This ad created a dialogue as well as a call to action that was well received by many
calls on people of all ethnicities in all different communities
reaches many commonplaces and people all over the world.
It connects to our own personal values and beliefs and draws on emotion to connect people all across the world
Civic world values to reject this ban and the ideas/fears thrown around by the trump admin – essentially civic duty to have open ears/mind/heart
Conclusion
Airbnb has made a commitment as well as a pretty big statement. They seized an opportunity to tell everyone that they are not in support of discrimination and want to foster a community of acceptance through their service. This is a powerful artifact because it starts a dialogue for individuals and can be a catalase for being more accepting of others. It spreads the notion that the fear and discrimination the admin is leading by is not shared by everyone and that it is possible for us as individuals to positively embrace beliefs that are shared by many and to resist the negative rhetoric that is thrown out there. As a company, they are doing more than just selling their service and gaining customers. They hold a strong policy of respect and inclusion and are using their advertisement to engage with the public.