In Black Swan, director Darren Aronofsky depicted beguiling lesbian sex. In Requiem for a Dream he showed the depravity of drug whoredom. Now he combines both flavors into a single PSA for The Meth Project , a drug prevention program, with a young twink turning into a creepy motel hooker thanks to methamphetamine.
Aronofsky’s three other Meth Project ads will skeeve you out as well—in a good “don’t do meth” sort of way.
Marie Cohn
How much am I gonna get for this?
Answer: five bucks.
the crustybastard
C’mon, Daniel. Aronofsky’s not saying meth will make you gay, he’s saying meth will make you its bitch.
It’s a sound point.
But even if the message is read as ZOMGZ! TEH METH WIL TURN U INTO TEH GHEY!, and that’s sufficient to cause even a dumbass homophobe from reconsidering meth, I’m actually okay with that.
Meth is some nasty shit.
FreddyMertz
I think a better PSA would have been what meth actually can do to you…make you look very old and no teeth. I met a women, who I thought was 60 something, she was actually 41 and a former meth addict. Now I know some of you will take offense to this by saying not all gay men are that vain and that’s just stereotyping..really?! I’ll be the first to admit, yes I am that vain.
Spike
Seriously, does anyone who uses drugs/alcohol to the extreme ever think about the consequences? Of course not, that’s why they are doing it to the extreme. So showing the consequences is pointless.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
I think the article is correct–the ad implies that if you use meth, creepy old gay men will use you for sex.
When I see an ad of a young girl in a hotel room with some fat ugly het male, then I’ll believe the ad isn’t using anti-gay bias.
MethSux
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: actually, The Meth Project already did an ad with a young girl having to give it up in a hotel room to a nasty old guy (they’ve got it on their website).
Regardless of gay or straight, crustybastard said it best, “meth will make you it’s bitch”.
That could be a tagline!
Cinesnatch
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: “When I see an ad of a young girl …” So it’s okay to perpetuate stereotypes about overweight straight men who aren’t very attractive? Or they somehow a fairer target? Looks like sexuality are genetic. Politically correct tiptoeing neuters art and campaigns such as this that drive home important points. Will this reinforce negative gay stereotypes in the minds of some people who watch this? Certainly. Did they intend to? Probably not. But, your suggestion to go back to the drawing board and single out a “less vulnerable” demographic doesn’t fly. People with half a brain can discern for themselves what the message is. A lot of media is already geared to the lowest common denominator of critical thinking. Your suggestion puts us just further down the hill. I’m with the Crusty Bastard on this one.
Jonathonz
It’s a totally true scenario. I’ve seen it dozens of times. It’s called being “uninhibited” and it is indescribably damaging.
tallest
Meth will turn me into a creepy gay prostitute? That’s all I ever really wanted.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
@Cinesnatch:
So it’s okay to perpetuate stereotypes about overweight straight men who aren’t very attractive? Or they somehow a fairer target?
They’re the ones who usually pay for straight sex. So it’s not a stereotype.
Looks like sexuality are genetic.
I have no idea what you mean by this.
Politically correct tiptoeing neuters art and campaigns such as this that drive home important points.
Art be damned, if it uses homophobia as it’s centerpiece. If an “artist” wants to be un-PC, howabout an ad showing a white girl being bought, and paid for by a black man? Considering the rampant drug use down South, I’m sure an ad like that would make daddies bust their asses to keep their little white daughters off drugs.
Will this reinforce negative gay stereotypes in the minds of some people who watch this? Certainly. Did they intend to? Probably not.
How do you know? That’s a massive assumption on your part, considering the fact that most Americans already view gay men as predators, and child molesters. You certainly appear willing to add another layer to the already bulging anti-gay view that Americans hold, in the name of your precious art.
But, your suggestion to go back to the drawing board and single out a “less vulnerable” demographic doesn’t fly.
In your opinion. Whatever that’s worth.
People with half a brain can discern for themselves what the message is.
Ah, yes. The artistes amongst us can see the ravages that drug use imparts upon our most vulnerable citizens of society. Unfortunately the great majority of non-Ivory tower dwelling Americans, will see some dirty queer using that poor boy for sex.
A lot of media is already geared to the lowest common denominator of critical thinking.
And you really think this ad rises above that? Seriously? This is not a base presentation of drug abuse–you’ll have to let another man fuck you in the ass for money?
Your suggestion puts us just further down the hill.
Americans have set the standard, I’m merely following suit.
I’m with the Crusty Bastard on this one.
Then only one of you is thinking.
Cinesnatch
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Please refer to Comment #6 from MethSux.
Drew
Yeah I agree this ad is homophobic.
Victor
I dunno. I thought he was kinda cute. Meth use. Schmeth use. Nobody’s a saint. (Insert important statement of understanding acknowledging the deleterious effects of crystal.)
yaph
Montana meth project ads don’t stop kids from trying meth. It’s all a massive waste of money and an excuse for Aronofsky to practice his brand of shock cinema.
Mk_Ultra_Again
Wasn’t there another anti -drug ad posted on here a while back that featuring two (supposedly straight) guys kissing is a car, then afterwards they were disgusted and the message was “weed makes you gay” or something like that. The whole “gay is bad and drugs will make you gay” has been played to death and yes, it is homophobic. Why not show a gay person getting wasted, then being the victim of an creepy heterosexual?
Mr. Enemabag Jones
@Cinesnatch:
Howabout an ad showing a drug user getting the shit beat out of him by his dealer for being late on a payment? I think that happens a lot more than turning tricks.
Brian
@Mk_Ultra_Again: I remember that one. However the message of that one wasn’t weed making you gay. It was about making stupid choices as the two guys were brothers in the ad.
Cinesnatch
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: So, when you said,
“When I see an ad of a young girl in a hotel room with some fat ugly het male, then I’ll believe the ad isn’t using anti-gay bias” in Comment #5 and MethSux responded,
“The Meth Project already did an ad with a young girl having to give it up in a hotel room to a nasty old guy (they’ve got it on their website)” in Comment #6 …
… you weren’t didn’t mean it.
Correct? Because it doesn’t sound like you did.
Cinesnatch
… you didn’t mean it. No “weren’t.” Sorry.
Jerry Sandusky
Gee, I never thought of using meth money as boy bait. Thanks, PSA!
Adrian
they ended the commercial too early. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE WAS GOING TO GET PAID? Will it be enough to feed his meth addiction? What I gather from this ad is that Meth will teach you to be self-employed. much needed in this economy
Lefty
More tedious shite from Darren Aronofsky.
Stephen
Meh, why do we assume the kid isn’t gay? Homophobic? No. Accurate portrayal of turning to prostitution to support a meth habit? Absolutely.
Nick
@Mk_Ultra_Again:
I think you mean this MTV Canada ad spot against driving while high: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIMWmiQrP5U
It’s not homophobic, but does try to mislead you into believing it is first. Then it delivers the twist.
It’s actually quite clever. I work in advertising, and it’s oft used as an example of one of the best PSA ad campaigns. It is the holy grail of ad writing. To be able to condense a complicated message to the 90’s stoned teenager into 30 seconds with only minimal dialogue. No complicated statistics, no complicated set up.
V
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Actually, http://methproject.org/ads/tv/boyfriend.html