I've always thought it was weird and creepy that food mascots tell you to eat the food that they are representing. Animated chickens tell you to eat chicken, Charlie The Tuna wants you to buy Starkist Tuna, and that annoying talking Mini-Wheats guy helps you with your spelling and wants you to eat him and his friends. Gah.
Suicide Food is a blog that keeps track of all these mascots, and the world of that sort of advertising in general. The site describes itself as "any depiction of animals that act as though they wish to be consumed. Suicide Food actively participates in or celebrates its own demise. Suicide Food identifies with the oppressor. Suicide Food is a bellwether of our decadent society. Suicide Food says, "Hey! Come on! Eating meat is without any ethical ramifications! See, Mr. Greenjeans? The animals aren't complaining! So what's your problem?" Suicide Food is not funny."
I disagree that it's not funny. I especially find that talking piece of gum with the Scottish accent funny as hell. Not that the character is funny (he would also fall into the "annoying" realm), but just the fact that most food products that urge you to eat them want it to be over quickly. Chewing on a talking piece of gum for an hour just seems like masochism or torture to me. Really strange.
(And may I say that the pic above is rather disturbing? It's like Ron Jeremy started his own hot dog company.)
Second Helping of Slashfood - June 19
Competitive-Eating Contest to Pit Humans Against Elephants
The Backyard Boom - The Hungry Bride
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-08-2007 @ 8:49AM
Sam said...
Does this remind anyone else of the Douglas Adams novel "Restaurant at the End of the Universe"? In it there was
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5-09-2007 @ 12:52AM
Dmnkly said...
It should be noted that if the dog pictured is a Chicago dog, dousing himself with ketchup is, in fact, an act of self-preservation.
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5-09-2007 @ 1:24PM
mcw2 said...
That is what I love about the Chick-Fil-A billboards: they have cows encouraging people to eat more chicken. It's brilliant!
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5-09-2007 @ 2:28PM
traci said...
OMG, after reading many of the Suicide posts I couldn't stop laughing. I love the pigs jumping into the meat grinder.
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