Comments on: The Girl Effect

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:23:28 +0000

I’m no grammar snob myself, but that has bothered me recently too. I always think back to the song, “If I were an oscar meyer weiner…” when I hear “was” -j

By: Victor

Victor — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:48:14 +0000

What if this WERE a world that knew how to use subjunctive mood properly? (if there WAS is soooo wrong) I can’t believe things like this can be printed. It cheapens the whole piece and I don’t understand this phenomenon that has swept the English speaking world.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:49:24 +0000

I was thinking the same thing. Why did they have to go in an put a capitalist slant on it. Oh, right, Nike. I forgot.

We’re not going to equate you with the girl Nike.

By: wiremu

wiremu — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:59:51 +0000

yeah, those evil wemon…

By: richard grant

richard grant — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:19:41 +0000

if she sells enough cows she might be able to afford some nike products. kids, it’s capitalism masked as humanity, nice graphics though and thats all we care about.

By: Ed Brown

Ed Brown — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:56:52 +0000

It is a nice spot (geddit), i noticed a few visual tricks that were clever – I say clever, the whole thing’s so minimal it’s practically non-existent.

BUT

The opening few sentences talk about the whole world – promising the ‘Girl’ effect as the solution to the whole world’s problems (note how the word WAR was highlighted). Then the piece goes on to discuss very specifically the problems facing Third World Africa, not the whole world. That would exclude South-East Asia, where an army of children work harder than me for about 2000% less than my day rate.

I have to swallow the bitter pill that motion graphics is the realm of huge corporate identity, and these clients fund the very best in our industry, but I cannot ignore hypocrisy like this.

Do NIKE want to downplay their use of Third World labour so much that now they’re patronising me about how to help the girls they’re fucking over?

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:27:04 +0000

If you want to make a valid point… proper spelling and proper grammar usually help.

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:28:08 +0000

Whilst it was nicely put together, I don’t think it wasn’t as effective as it could have been. I couldn’t help thinking as I watched it ‘Are they saying that girls are better than boys? On what basis do they believe girls buy cows and the boys don’t?’

If you go and read the background info, then the video becomes a lot clearer and makes sense – but to someone who watches it ‘cold’, the message isn’t crisp.

As a comparison, I thought the Sarah McLachlan music video, ‘World On Fire’ was very effective.

By: ann kruetzkamp

ann kruetzkamp — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 03:56:59 +0000

This piece is absolutely beautiful. I have a pretty short attention span so if someone askes me to read something in motion graphics and there’s no voiceover that I can use as a mental crutch I tent to loose interest. However, this piece held me captive from beginning to end. So many times as designers we tend to just throw it all in there- 3d stoke and all, yet, this was elegant and interesting. Though the message is a little far reaching and lofty I think it’s an idea that the world could use right now. Certainly couldn’t hurt to give it a try. Thank you for posting it!

By: mesiu

mesiu — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:55:07 +0000

i can’t see why it should be ok to change history by the exploitation of cows. why doesn’t she sell her own milk? i’m being serious.