Store removes 'slave mannequin'

[n2doc]

An Oxford branch of Sainsbury’s has caused controversy on Twitter after advertising what appeared to be ‘slave fashion’ in connection with the DVD release of Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave.

Twitter user and Eurosport web editor Reda Maher (@Reda_Eurosport) said: "There's so much wrong with this I don't know where to start. What were Sainsbury's thinking!?"

Placed at the front of the store, the advertisement featured a stand of 12 Years a Slave DVDs and a mannequin wearing clothes identical to those worn in the film by Solomon Northup, the protagonist. The outfit even comes with a twig in the pocket.

The mannequin wore a tag round its neck with a price tag on it, though it did not appear as if the clothes themselves were actually for sale.

Somerville student Andrew McLean commented: "the clothing of a slave on a mannequin suggests an image to be bought and emulated as fashion.

more
http://www.cherwell.org/news/oxford/2014/05/19/sainsburys-in-cowley-removes-slave-mannequin

[pepperbear]

1. not only that, but the clothes were probably produced using slave labor.

[gollygee]

2. I suppose someone probably thought the display was boring

and thought the mannequin would draw attention to it. It looks like it's a case of being tone deaf, and not anything intentional.

[Nye Bevan]

3. I'm not seeing any evil intent.

True racists would not be selling, let alone advertising, the most powerful and disturbing anti-slavery movie ever made. When our local high school put on a production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" there was a swastika on the advertising poster, but I don't think that means that the kid who drew the poster was a Nazi.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

4. New meaning to "a slave to fashion."

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I have yoga pants that look like that!