Author Topic: Gay Icon Immortalized  (Read 22667 times)

Offline Kerry

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Gay Icon Immortalized
« on: August 11, 2009, 01:41:54 am »
Gay Icon Immortalized


by Marie Sansom
Inner West Courier, Sydney


4 August 2009

Gay Olympic gold medal winning diver, Matthew Mitcham, has been immortalized in an exhibition at the LipanjePuntin Artecomtemporanea Gallery in Rome.  The exhibition, curated by Mitcham’s friend Jonathan Turner, is titled “Matt Dive Gold.” Mitcham is the Australian 2008 Olympic champion in the 10m platform, having received the highest single-dive score in Olympic history.

The exhibition includes photographs, paintings, sculpture and video by 20 artists from Europe, the USA, Australia and the Middle East.


Mr Turner said the portraits showed what a multifaceted person his friend is.

“He is pensive, funny, inquisitive. He is a bit of an actor in any case,“ Mr Turner said. “Diving commentators always say his diving style is incredibly elegant and he accomplishes the most difficult twists and turns with ease. The innate elegance is reflected in many of the works.”

 

Sydney-based artist, William Yang, produced six portraits of the diver and scrawled his own impressions of Mitcham over his work during the photoshoots.

New York artist , Matt Marello, filmed Mitcham performing a madcap nervous dance before his final Olympic dive, music video director Floria Sigismondi shot underwater footage of Mitcham and Francesca Tulli sculpted him in bronze.


Mr Turner said the show wasn’t about hero worship.  “The basic idea was fun: to create an instant art icon from a sporting figurehead. In a way, he was seen as a contemporary  muse, bridging the very separate worlds of sport and art.”


Mitcham, who is currently in Rome for the World Diving Championships, told a media outlet he was more nervous about the exhibition than his diving. “I can be very outgoing but most of the time I am very shy in public,” Mitcham said. “It will be very bizarre to see all the artworks but I have enjoyed working with some of the artists.”

It is hoped the exhibition will move to Beijing and then Sydney, Mitcham’s home town, after it closes in Rome on September 30.


Matthew Mitcham with partner, Lachlan Fletcher

Why, you may ask, did this article about an art exhibition in Rome, appear in my local newspaper, the Inner West Courier? Well, because Matthew Mitcham is a resident of the Inner West district of Sydney, covered by the Inner West Courier. I live at Annandale and Matthew lives only about a mile or so away from me at Balmain - Kerry
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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2009, 01:52:08 am »
Awww! I remember Matthew! He is adorable. And he's an excellent athlete. :-*

You are lucky he lives so close to you Kerry. Maybe you will see him out and about sometime! :D

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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2009, 01:52:22 am »
THANK YOU for posting!!!

Matt and his competition were highlights of watching the Olympics.  What a sweetie and a hottie!!

Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2009, 02:27:28 am »

Awww! I remember Matthew! He is adorable. And he's an excellent athlete. :-*

You are lucky he lives so close to you Kerry. Maybe you will see him out and about sometime! :D


Matthew sure is adorable, David.   :)

I'm so thrilled about this present exhibition in Rome. It's a great honour for Matthew.  :D

I was over in Balmain earlier today and though I did not see Matthew and Lachlan out and about (they are in Rome just now, where Matthew is competing in the World Diving Championships), I did notice that there's an Ennis Street there!   :o  This is a very gay area!  ;)   ;D

This is one of my favourite pics of Matthew:


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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2009, 02:34:54 am »
THANK YOU for posting!!!

Matt and his competition were highlights of watching the Olympics.  What a sweetie and a hottie!!

Ain't that the truth!  :D


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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2009, 02:40:15 am »

Matthew Mitcham
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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2009, 02:40:48 am »
Ye gods!!

I love divers.  

Yep, the tux pic is getting saved to my computer.

Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2009, 02:41:13 am »

Matthew Mitcham
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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2009, 02:48:49 am »
OK, he's going to get his own folder.  ;D

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2009, 02:53:47 am »
Matthew sure is adorable, David.   :)

I'm so thrilled about this present exhibition in Rome. It's a great honour for Matthew.  :D

I was over in Balmain earlier today and though I did not see Matthew and Lachlan out and about (they are in Rome just now, where Matthew is competing in the World Diving Championships), I did notice that there's an Ennis Street there!   :o  This is a very gay area!  ;)   ;D

This is one of my favourite pics of Matthew:




There is an Ennis Street near Matthew? Wow! :o

That's really cool Kerry! 8)

I don't have anyone famous lving close to me. The closest person to me would probably be Jake Lloyd. He's the boy who played Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars The Phantom Menace. Cute kid. He is now attending college up in Chicago, but his parents still live in Carmel, Ind. Carmel is a suburb of Indianapolis up on the north side.

Anyway, YAY for Matt! He's a talented athlete, very cute and I remember cheering for him during the Olympics. I was so happy to see him win his medals. He deserved it! :D

 

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Offline Kelda

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2009, 03:39:55 am »
I cant see the photos but this was the guy that there was a bit of contrversay over becasue the US media didn't pan in on his gay boyfriend but did on all the medal winners significant others?
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Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2009, 06:45:44 am »
Very cool pics and story, Kerry!  Thanks for sharing!


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2009, 06:47:27 am »
I cant see the photos but this was the guy that there was a bit of contrversay over becasue the US media didn't pan in on his gay boyfriend but did on all the medal winners significant others?

I believe that's true.  I don't remember the exact story....but I think it was that, or either when the network did their "fluff" piece on him  (where they discuss his pesonal life) they never mentioned his partner, but when they discussed other atheletes, they included spouses.


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2009, 08:43:30 am »
OK, he's going to get his own folder.  ;D

Some more pics for your MM folder . . . .


Matthew Mitcham
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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2009, 08:46:53 am »

Matthew Mitcham
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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2009, 08:47:59 am »

Matthew Mitcham
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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2009, 09:06:37 am »
I believe that's true.  I don't remember the exact story....but I think it was that, or either when the network did their "fluff" piece on him  (where they discuss his pesonal life) they never mentioned his partner, but when they discussed other atheletes, they included spouses.

Yes, that is correct. And speaking as an Australian, I am ashamed that Matthew has had a great deal of trouble attracting sponsors (endorsements). Australia is a sports-mad country. We are particularly proud of our Olympians, whom we usually venerate higher than all our other sportspeople (with the exception of the Australian Cricket Team perhaps). And yet, initially, Matthew was unable to attract any major endorsements, as witnessed by this Advocate banner headline. Can't imagine why. The Australian telecommunication facility, Telstra, has since stepped-up to the mark and is now sponsoring Matthew. Better late than never, I guess.

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Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #17 on: August 11, 2009, 09:13:40 am »
I cant see the photos but this was the guy that there was a bit of contrversay over becasue the US media didn't pan in on his gay boyfriend but did on all the medal winners significant others?


Here's the story, Kelda.



NBC censored gay Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham
By Staff Writer, Outside News Agency • August 26, 2008 - 0:28


US television network NBC censored the sexuality of Olympic gold medal diver, Matthew Mitcham it has been claimed.

After pulling off a last minute victory against the Chinese in the 10m dive, Mr Mitcham, while hugging his mother and his partner, he told reporters: "I want to thank absolutely everyone who helped; my partner Lachlan and my mum [Vivienne] here to support me and watch me get gold, because it was so important to have those two people here with me.

"I did not think I had a chance to get the gold and to actually get that was mind-blowing! I was crying thinking I had silver. And to get gold! I was a blubbering mess."

Despite intensive coverage by NBC of other Olympic athletes' families, Mr Mitcham's partner received virtually no attention during the network's coverage.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8800.html


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #18 on: August 11, 2009, 09:16:59 am »
Wow, his abs are like the Great Sand Dunes!! I just want to run up and down them!!

We all need to do some catch-up work on publicizing his win and his wonderful life and partner!
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #19 on: August 11, 2009, 09:30:10 am »

Here's the story, Kelda.

NBC censored gay Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham
By Staff Writer, Outside News Agency • August 26, 2008 - 0:28

US television network NBC censored the sexuality of Olympic gold medal diver, Matthew Mitcham it has been claimed.

After pulling off a last minute victory against the Chinese in the 10m dive, Mr Mitcham, while hugging his mother and his partner, he told reporters: "I want to thank absolutely everyone who helped; my partner Lachlan and my mum [Vivienne] here to support me and watch me get gold, because it was so important to have those two people here with me.

"I did not think I had a chance to get the gold and to actually get that was mind-blowing! I was crying thinking I had silver. And to get gold! I was a blubbering mess."

Despite intensive coverage by NBC of other Olympic athletes' families, Mr Mitcham's partner received virtually no attention during the network's coverage.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8800.html



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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #20 on: August 11, 2009, 11:48:19 am »
I think the excuse the network finally came up with for not covering the personal stuff on Matt was because he wasn't an American.  >:(  They only did extra coverage on Americans.  I don't recall if that was ever discovered to be true or not.

Thanks for the extra pics, Kerry!!  :)
« Last Edit: August 11, 2009, 02:14:06 pm by delalluvia »

Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #21 on: August 11, 2009, 12:55:37 pm »
Personally, my thoughts on this issue are mixed. Clearly Mitcham wants to be out. He wants his relationship to be publicly known. I'm cool with all of that. If NBC made a conscious decision to not include his sexual minority status, that is one thing. It could either be outright homophobia on the part of the producers of the broadcast, or it could have been a simple business decision made based on the demographics of their viewers.

When it comes to Mitcham's partner, there is a bit of a sticky situation. While other athlete's wives get coverage, typically girlfriends do not. So perhaps their unmarried status played a part in the decision not to cover Lachlan. We also have to consider what Mitcham might or might not have disclosed to the producers. Did he make it clear to them that he and Lachlan are in a committed, long-term relation ship? Or did he only mention Lachlan casually to them, which might leave them thinking that Lachlan is no more than "flavor of the month" type thing?

Who knows for sure?
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Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #22 on: August 11, 2009, 12:56:45 pm »
I think the excuse the network finally came up with for not covering the personal stuff on Matt was that because he wasn't an American.  >:(  They only did extra coverage on Americans.  I don't recall if that was ever discovered to be true or not.

Well that would make sense being that NBC is an American network.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #23 on: August 11, 2009, 01:09:25 pm »
"I want to thank absolutely everyone who helped; my partner Lachlan and my mum [Vivienne] here to support me and watch me get gold, because it was so important to have those two people here with me.
I did not think I had a chance to get the gold and to actually get that was mind-blowing! I was crying thinking I had silver. And to get gold! I was a blubbering mess."


Now that's the kind of thing that makes a fan out of me — humility and a human side.  I love that.




*THUD*    :P

Offline Kelda

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #24 on: August 11, 2009, 01:33:47 pm »
look at that 25 pack! wow!!
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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #25 on: August 11, 2009, 01:46:30 pm »
Yes, that is correct. And speaking as an Australian, I am ashamed that Matthew has had a great deal of trouble attracting sponsors (endorsements). Australia is a sports-mad country. We are particularly proud of our Olympians, whom we usually venerate higher than all our other sportspeople (with the exception of the Australian Cricket Team perhaps). And yet, initially, Matthew was unable to attract any major endorsements, as witnessed by this Advocate banner headline. Can't imagine why. The Australian telecommunication facility, Telstra, has since stepped-up to the mark and is now sponsoring Matthew. Better late than never, I guess.

This is actually not an unusual situation, Kerry, endorsements are all about image.  That's why high class WASP-looking silver medal winners can get more endorsements than less high-class looking and/or ethnic-looking gold medal winners do.  Ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi - Olympic gold medal winner, two time World Champion and USA champion - also had difficulty getting endorsements in America and she was an American.  And why?  She didn't look like an "American".  >:(

I don't know what Australia is like as far as homophobia or marketing but it seems you guys are in the same boat as we are.

EDITED TO ADD:  {from wikipedia}

Though Yamaguchi won the gold medal, she would be overshadowed in publicity and endorsements by Nancy Kerrigan...Yamaguchi never expressed any dissatisfaction with her lack of endorsements as she had one of the most successful professional skating careers since Sonja Henie, performing with such shows as Champions on Ice and Stars on Ice for over ten years. Yamaguchi received endorsements deals from Wendy's and DuraSoft Colors contact lenses, but not high-profile, multimillion-dollar deals with corporate giants like Campbells, Disney or Pepsi. Some suspected that her Asian heritage may have put her at a disadvantage. Bill Imada, whose firm advises companies on marketing to Asian Americans observes that for marketers "People like Kristi Yamaguchi don't represent, at least with marketers, the wholesome all-American image".

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #26 on: August 11, 2009, 02:03:16 pm »
While other athlete's wives get coverage, typically girlfriends do not. So perhaps their unmarried status played a part in the decision not to cover Lachlan. We also have to consider what Mitcham might or might not have disclosed to the producers. Did he make it clear to them that he and Lachlan are in a committed, long-term relation ship? Or did he only mention Lachlan casually to them, which might leave them thinking that Lachlan is no more than "flavor of the month" type thing?

The difference being that Mitcham and Lachlan can't get married.  He did refer to Lachlan as his partner, and not boyfriend.


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #27 on: August 11, 2009, 02:22:16 pm »
This is actually not an unusual situation, Kerry, endorsements are all about image.  That's why high class WASP-looking silver medal winners can get more endorsements than less high-class looking and/or ethnic-looking gold medal winners do.  Ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi - Olympic gold medal winner, two time World Champion and USA champion - also had difficulty getting endorsements in America as well and she was an American.  And why?  She didn't look like an "American".  >:(

I don't know what Australia is like as far as homophobia or marketing but it seems you guys are in the same boat as we are.

You hit the nail on the head. One of the things I learned about marketing when I was working as a model is that not every look is desirable for pitching every product to every demographic. And in the case of celebrity endorsements, the celebrity's reputation is a huge part of the product pitch. Its one thing to have an Olympic gold medal athlete pitching your product, but its a whole different ball game to have a sexual minority pitching your product. Ellen Degeneres is a good example. Yes, she is openly lesbian, and people who view her AMEX commercials know that. But at the same time, she also carries the benefit of being a well-respected talk show host with a proven track record of attracting a cross-over viewer base. Mitcham has no such appeal. Moreover, it makes good business sense for a credit card company to market directly to sexual minorities because statistically we have more expendable income than hetero families because we are less likely to have kids.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

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Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #28 on: August 11, 2009, 02:27:42 pm »
The difference being that Mitcham and Lachlan can't get married.  He did refer to Lachlan as his partner, and not boyfriend.

Right. But what does "partner" mean to the producers?

If it were me, I would have made it clear that David and I have been together for 21 years, and that he is the most important person in my life. If given the opportunity I would tell them some things about our past, like how we're worked together at 3 different companies, or how much my grandmother likes him after finally meeting him at a family reunion. That's the kind of thing that get the attention of the producers.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #29 on: August 11, 2009, 05:27:40 pm »
Ah, the marketing creeps, the ones who are only in it for the money.

What else would they be in it for?   ;D 

Offline Clyde-B

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #30 on: August 11, 2009, 05:42:44 pm »
Quote
"People like Kristi Yamaguchi don't represent, at least with marketers, the wholesome all-American image".

The thing that makes this statement so ironic is that advertisers are the ones that determine what to show the American public, and to a great extent that defines what the "wholesome all-American image" is.

In other words, what they are actually saying is that she doesn't fit their idea of the "wholesome all-American image," so they aren't going to incorporate her into it.

You notice it didn't interfere with Kristi Yamaguchi winning the 2008 Dancing with the Stars competition.

Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #31 on: August 11, 2009, 05:44:57 pm »
The money people do have their finger on the pulse of our fears and prejudices, and they play to those prejudices and fears rather than helping us get past them because for them it’s all about the money. 

As someone who is one of those money sucking whores, I can tell you that it not our job to help people get past their prejudices. The job of marketing professionals is to measure what is already there, and find a way for companies to earn money from it. Its part of the capitalist process. There are other people out there whose job it is to guide America morally.

I also want to point out that there are numerous organizations that do help guide America's morality, and they frequently use our money sucking talents too. It doesn't matter whether a company is selling pizza, or racial tolerance, if you want the public to buy it, come to us. We'll find your audience for you, and we'll tell them your story the best way possible.

It was thanks to us money sucking whores that shows with real sexual minorities--as opposed to cardboard cutouts--are making it to airwaves these days. "Brother's & Sisters" is such a hit in part because of the diversity of the characters in the cast. There is an audience for diversity, and we know how to find them, and get them to watch. Then we money sucking whores will turn right around and help the companies that advertise on such shows take that audience's money.

I love it!! I think capitalism is GREAT!! And I love the role I play in it.

ETA: Just like Ellen Degeneres, there are indeed companies and products that Yamaguchi and Mitcham would be perfect for. Their agents should be out there finding them.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline Clyde-B

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #32 on: August 11, 2009, 05:55:54 pm »
Advertisers tout to the heavens their abilities to persuade the public to buy products, but when confronted with the notion that they themselves actually create or destroy prejudices with that same advertising they are mystified as to how that could possibly be!

Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #33 on: August 11, 2009, 06:07:48 pm »
The thing that makes this statement so ironic is that advertisers are the ones that determine what to show the American public, and to a great extent that defines what the "wholesome all-American image" is.

In other words, what they are actually saying is that she doesn't fit their idea of the "wholesome all-American image," so they aren't going to incorporate her into it.

Before we go too far down this road, let me explain the role market research plays in terms of what gets on the air and what doesn't.

Let's say a network is considering whether or not to put a show on the air. What they do is look over the script, and figure out who the likely audience for that show will be. Once they produce the pilot, they pull together a focus group made up of people from that likely audience, and some people who are not from that likely audience. If the target members in the focus group like the pilot, that's good. If the show has any appeal at all to those outside the target even better. If nobody likes it, it doesn't air. During the follow up that is usually done after testing the pilot, members in the focus group typically get to talk about the details of the show: "character A was too mush of a dickhead," "character B wasn't funny." Then the network assess the feedback it got, makes changes to the pilot, and the whole things starts all over again. At some point, a go/no-go decision is made. Then of course, once the show is on the air, then the Nielsen ratings guide the choices made by the network/producers.

So the marketers do not create, or define anything. All they do is measure. The people who say what America likes/doesn't like are the regular, everyday folks in the focus groups, and the regular everyday people who contribute to the Nielsen ratings. And in case you're not aware, Nielsen is very good at making sure that their families represent a cross section of America. Literally EVERY group is represented. Why? So they can measure accurately, and report back to the networks and the marketing pros exactly who is watching what.
 
You notice it didn't interfere with Kristi Yamaguchi winning the 2008 Dancing with the Stars competition.

That's a good point. Maybe she was not the "wholesome all-American" for some advertiser back whenever, but she certainly didn't have that problem with DWTS audience. They loved her.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

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Offline LauraGigs

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #34 on: August 11, 2009, 06:19:43 pm »
One argument about the Kerrigan/Yamaguchi thing is that Kerrigan overcome even greater obstacles than the other skating contestants because of having had to recover from having had her knee brutally clubbed (a great American "triumph over adversity" story).  More to the point, she was already a household-name celeb because of the knee-clubbing.

Quote
Advertisers tout to the heavens their abilities to persuade the public to buy products, but when confronted with the notion that they themselves actually create or destroy prejudices with that same advertising they are mystified as to how that could possibly be!

People in the advertising industry are are often individually pretty progressive, but they in turn are at the mercy of their clients. And CEOs of old-school, family-owned companies are notoriously conservative and don't dare do anything the slightest bit imaginative, or new.

Ah, the marketing creeps, the ones who are only in it for the money.  The money sucking whores are the ones who make sure that every crappy 1970's TV show gets made into an even more crappy feature film.  They are the ones who make sure that every halfway successful film is made over and repackaged again and again.  They are the ones who would have advised against putting money into Brokeback Mountain... 

And Gary, I swear, submit your writings to HuffingtonPost or something.  Please!

Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #35 on: August 11, 2009, 06:23:10 pm »
One argument about the Kerrigan/Yamaguchi thing is that Kerrigan overcome even greater obstacles than the other skating contestants because of having had to recover from having had her knee brutally clubbed (a great American "triumph over adversity" story).  More to the point, she was already a household-name celeb because of the knee-clubbing.

I should have included more of the Wikipedia article.  The fact that Nancy Kerrigan got more endorsements than Yamaguchi was before the knee-clubbing incident.

Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #36 on: August 11, 2009, 06:28:19 pm »
Milo does have a point.

There are Kentucky Fried Chickens and McDonalds' from here to the Great Wall of China because many people want the same stuff they get at home.  Many people are not interested in trying something new everywhere they go.  Some people are traveling just to get from one place to another, not to experience local flavor.

Jeez, how many CSI TV shows are there?  People like the same format of storytelling.  People like movie sequels because they feel at home with the same characters.

Yes, change and diversity and experimentation is good for everyone.  But there is a market and a demand for what is familiar and comfortable as well.

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #37 on: August 11, 2009, 06:29:51 pm »

Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #38 on: August 11, 2009, 06:36:37 pm »
People in the advertising industry are are often individually pretty progressive, but they in turn are at the mercy of their clients. And CEOs of old-school, family-owned companies are notoriously conservative and don't dare do anything the slightest bit imaginative, or new.

Excellent point. When I was at my last ad agency, we were working on a print campaign for a major cosmetics company who was about to launch a set of new sunblocks. We presented the president with the photos of about a dozen children of different ethnic backgrounds. We needed him to pick 3 (one for each of the products). He picked the two blond kids, and said we needed to come up with a third blond kid. So we did as we were told. The Creative Director for the agency was so mad you could have fried an egg on his bald head. His design called for one blonde kid, a latin kid with dark hair, and a redhead.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #39 on: August 11, 2009, 06:39:15 pm »
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #40 on: August 11, 2009, 06:45:07 pm »
*sigh*

Sex sells.

Has for the last several millennia.  Nothing much is going to change that.

Offline milomorris

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #41 on: August 11, 2009, 06:48:20 pm »
*sigh*

Sex sells.

Has for the last several millennia.  Nothing much is going to change that.

Of course. And we in the business actually take a pretty dim view of companies that can't think of any other way to sell their products. Sometimes the products are so that bad that they cannot compete with similar products from the competition. 
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline Luvlylittlewing

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #42 on: August 11, 2009, 07:05:56 pm »
Laura is certainly right, my friend.  Gary, I love your fiction, but your social commentary/editorial style writings are amazing...and you're only getting better!

Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #43 on: August 11, 2009, 07:35:23 pm »

More pics of Matthew . . . .

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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #44 on: August 11, 2009, 07:36:13 pm »
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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #45 on: August 11, 2009, 07:39:01 pm »
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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #46 on: August 11, 2009, 09:16:26 pm »

Why didn't he want to be the next Greg Louganis?

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #47 on: August 11, 2009, 09:37:25 pm »
You notice it didn't interfere with Kristi Yamaguchi winning the 2008 Dancing with the Stars competition.

That's a good point. Maybe she was not the "wholesome all-American" for some advertiser back whenever, but she certainly didn't have that problem with DWTS audience. They loved her.

Well, in 2008 Kristi may have not had a problem, but when she won gold, it was a different story.

I'm a huge figure skating fan, and saw a show where Dorothy Hamil, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Nancy Kerrigan were interviewed.  Kristi revealed that she received no endorsement deals at first.  She was not the typical image of an American skating princess.  On top of that, she is Japanese, and Americans had marked the 50th annivesary of the attack on Pearl Harbor the year prior.

It wasn't until skating as a pro for a year or two that she started to get endorsements.


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #48 on: August 11, 2009, 11:49:29 pm »
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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #49 on: August 12, 2009, 11:37:19 pm »
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Offline Kerry

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #50 on: August 12, 2009, 11:37:50 pm »
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Offline Kelda

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Re: Gay Icon Immortalized
« Reply #51 on: August 18, 2009, 04:09:07 am »
yum!
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