Wednesday, January 13, 2016

That Australian Life - Lamb and Operation Boomerang

There is something irreverent about Australian humour. It really does show a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken (or meant to be taken) seriously. It consequently outrages those who do take the particular matter seriously.

Each year, the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation commissions ads promoting consumption of Australian lamb. For a number of years they have tried to make the ads quirky and irreverent. This year is no different.

The ad features SBS newsreader and social media personality Lee Lin Chin as she masterminds a plan to bring Australians home for Australia Day so they can eat lamb. One particular scene has already drawn dozens of complaints. It shows a team of special agents breaking into a New York apartment and using a blow torch on a table when the occupant protests that he is vegan..The Hobart Mercury gathered some of the complaints. Even after just a few days, it is the Corporation's most successful ad to date.

The ad follows. I leave it to you to make up your mind.

 

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Vegans seem to feel free to criticise others' food choices. I'm not sure I see the issue unless it's one of those "freedom of speech for me, but not for you". I snickered a lot during that add. And Lee Lin Chin's take on Dr Evil was hilarious.

I swear, some people obviously need a sense of humour transplant.

Anonymous said...

Pretty juvenile, but maybe that's the aim? Reminds me of a Graham Kennedy-era skit. Anyway, thankfully I don't know any Polish people, otherwise I'd be really cringing - oh, wait..

kvd

Jim Belshaw said...

mmm. I'm a bit midway between you. I did laugh, but it was indeed a very old fashioned. Don't know what AC would think with the Warsaw start.

Rummuser said...

I am a vegetarian but found the ad over the top as it were.

Anonymous said...

Just spent a very enjoyable (and instructive!) couple of hours back-reading Unknown's blog to the start. Thorough recommend for anyone interested in Timor Leste!

Would be very interested if any outcome from the 'Bleg post' dated 24 March 2009? (And personally I can't see why provision of condoms is considered a male-related issue anyway; it's the women who wear the outcome, as it were...)

kvd

2 tanners said...

Yeah, sorry about the 'anonymous', I keep forgetting to press 'name'.

No, there was no answer to the bleg. The proponent managed to interest a cigarette company in Vietnam, but I don't know where it went from there or what the relative health outcomes were.

I take your point about wearing the outcome, but the man's issue is related to wearing the product. Also, the average age is rising, but more importantly, so is life expectancy, even after deducting the improvements to the still horrific under-5 mortality figures. The cigarette solution looks like it was only of interim value.

Cheers 2t

Anonymous said...

Hi tanners. Yes, ah thought it were you, but didn't wish to be impolitic by making the connection. Again, thanks for the great read.

kvd

My Observations said...

What can I say, Warsaw has ugly parts as well as beautiful ones. Ugly were needed in the ad. About Australian humour I would say that often it is not very subtle but sometimes very funny. I liked the comment "well done - NEVER". One must know rules of good cooking no matter what country or nationality.

Jim Belshaw said...

Good morning, AC. I have to agree that Australian humour is sometimes not subtle! I also smiled at the reference to well done - never.