.
Anybody seen the new Levi's Commercial? The voice over is from a Walt Whitman poem, but I find the content odd. Has Levi's gone Patriotic?
.
The text,
.
COME my tan-faced children,
Follow well in order, get your weapons ready,
Have you your pistols? have you your sharp-edged axes?
Pioneers! O pioneers!
For we cannot tarry here,
We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger,
We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
O you youths, Western youths,
So impatient, full of action, full of manly pride and friendship,
Plain I see you Western youths, see you tramping with the foremost,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
Have the elder races halted?
Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the
seas?
We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
All the past we leave behind,
We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,
Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
.
Watch the commercial,
.
I'm stymied, it's damned near All-American in content. I especially like the "gunshots" for punctuation.
.
.
Schteveo is a Wrangler's kinda guy
33 comments:
I hope you didn't care off Pussy Galore and give us Bella Abzug or Tula in her place.
speaking of patriotism- click me
srk,
I'm not sewer if they're is a typo in that cemment, or uf I hoff a toomar.
scare, not care
You guys sound like you've been drinking!
So that's a jeans commercial? It sounds more like a Marxist rally.
OK Spider, how is THAT poem about commies? I know Whitman was a meat smoking socialist, but not everything he wrote was communist in nature.
This poem is about American Pioneers, spreading across the country after the Civil War.
It reminded me of Sally Kellerman reciting the Dylan Thomas poem "Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night" in Back To School.
"We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,
Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,"
That doesn't sound like a Socialist Workers Party rally?
No, I don't immediately think of socialism reading that. ESPECIALLY knowing of the poem, and of the writers intentions of writing it.
It was about moving west, manifest destiny, and all that All-American crap. AND the Levi's folks don't use that verse either.
I go along with those who believe it has a "Guthrie" ring to it.
But what do I know. I didn't vote for Obama.
Am I the only one who noticed that there are two men kissing?? Watch again. :28 - :29
But that's still not communism, it's perversion.
Maybe Levi's is going for some of Whitman's own "kind" as customers? He was known to be light in the loafers. I guess Levi's doesn't care if the profits are gay or straight.
Why would Levi's do something patriotic when they shipped most jobs out of the country? Unless they are planning on colonizing those countries?
Other than Spider, what a bunch of crap comments. I read both the apparently drunk, fat-fingered typist's and the homophobe Schteveo - some freakin' arrogant clown who says he knows what Walt Whitman meant when he wrote what is clearly socialist-themed phrases. Poetry relies on carefully weighted words that deliver what you read into it, no matter how many poorly taught AP English classes you take that proffer a Westward expansion explanation. Anonymous, it's not "gently", it's "gentle" into that good night. Jesus, guys read what the hell is being posted and edit yourselves. Walt Whitman is the one laughing in his grave at all the knuckleheads trying to both characterize and analyze his words. And Schteveo, you homo-hating jerk, I hope you truly do "hoff a toomer".
To the person that said Levi's doesn't care if it's profits are gay or straight, the Levi's company has been a long time supporter of lgbtqi rights.
I like the poem and the commercial. Regardless of what Whitman meant in his poem, I think the commercial uses it effectively to target a younger generation of people who think of themselves as courageous and daring. They like that they freely accept others despite differences in politics, self-expression, and opinion. I didn't see the commercial as especially "pro-American" or "socialist" either for that matter. I saw it as pro-youth. It's saying “go out and grab your life. The older generation is tired-out so now the younger one must make the new discoveries and accept the dangers associated with new adventures”.
Listen Lighthouse, I AM an AP teacher. Don't blame us. WE teach it right. These idiots obviously NEVER took AP or these could string together more than three words without an error in grammar or syntax. They could also understand symbolism. "Light in the loafers?" Are you people kidding? When were you born? 1935? Get a grip and realize that there are all types of people in THE UNITED States.
Yes, stirring Socialist speech... I have nothing against it and actually am inspired by it more often than not (socialism, not nec. Walt Whitman). But the Levi's ad... eh. methinks not.
The military stuff gives me the creeps, but otherwise I like the commercial because it's pitching Levis as rugged, unrestrictive, all-American western wear (which is why I wear them) not as butt-hugging, Spandex designer wear (ugh). And it's cool that the ad uses Great Literature (I'm a teacher) and even reads it well.
You people are just sad. Walt Whitman was an amazing poet. His views were not socialist, and anyone who says that sounds like one of those insane people who believe that President Obama is turning the United States into a socialist nation. Also anyone who says that AP classes are taught poorly are either not advanced enough in their education to get into them, or needs to find a better school.
What bugs me about the commercial is that it equates the rugged pioneer spirit with buying some pants. Let's get drunk and run around campus... Pioneers! O Pioneers! Call our Moms and have them send us
Money from our granpa's trust fund. He worked hard so I don't have to. Crossing mountains, killing natives, for my sushi, nicely plated.
You want the whole reference?
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/history/baker/w3630/edit/pioneers.html
Levi's is very Patriotic! Also LGBT freindly and demand Equal rights! They are listed as the most non-discrminatory Brand in the nation.
For the many that need a Walt Whitman review here is a link so you don't have to do too much reading and maybe you can make your own opinions of Whitman besides being a gay socialist. . .there is much more to it than that
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/whitman/
I would imagine Levis is being patriotic, but the poem is about the Native Americans fighting for what is theirs. That is who the tan faced children with their sharp edge axes from the sinewy races are. The poem is asking if we the impatient youths full of pride and friendship gonna be ready to take up the fight that our elders have grown to wearied and old to continue. It is a very touching poem.
schteveo i disagree with your comment about the poem referring to american pioneers after the civil war. it is about the true pioneers of this america and that is the native americans. every part of the poem points to that.
Anonymous, your interpretation about the poem is well put. I applaude you.
Some rather arcane comments here.
I found the spots refreshing and inspirational.
Walt Whitman a "communist"?
Would you rather he say "go shopping at Wal-Mart?"
BTW, I thought it was a snare drum, not gunshots.
Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I'd figured I'd ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring
a blog article or vice-versa? My website addresses a lot of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you are interested feel free to send
me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!
My page; acoustic guitar a chord
There's definately a lot to learn about this topic. I like all of the points you made.
My blog post: miscrits of
What's up, after reading this awesome post i am too delighted to share my knowledge here with colleagues.
Here is my blog post - Adult video games
I consider something truly interesting about your blog so I saved to fav.
Also visit my web site Link clicker
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article!
It is the little changes that make the most significant changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Also visit my homepage: Earn money simply for your opinions
After looking at a handful of the blog articles on
your site, I really appreciate your way of blogging. I book marked
it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back in the near
future. Please visit my web site as well and tell me your opinion.
Also visit my homepage - Watch TV Shows
Post a Comment