Is there sense in censorship?

As a content creator, media maker and maven, I'm always intrigued by the various ways folks are using media to set standards, raise bars and shatter all ceilings...be they glass, plaster, sheet rock, brick or concrete.  One medium that I LOVE is commercials.  I can recite many of them word for word, and when I see a great one, I look it up online and figure out what I love about it. Is it the concept, the shots, the lighting, the acting, the way it makes me feel, the sentiment...? Usually it's ALL of that stuff.  And as a media maker, commercials teach me a lot about conveying a lot of information, emotion, sentiment and product in a concise and impactful way.  

Last week I saw this article via TMZ and while I was not surprised, I was disappointed. It seems that Lane Bryant has gotten the shaft on it's new commercial ad for their #ThisBody campaign.  The ad features ladies that are curvy, full-figured and amazing as they rock sexy looks, work out and even breast feed (extra cool points for that moment). It's all interesting given we live in a world and time where we CLAIM that we are looking to become more accepting of our varied differences.  One would think that this would not be the case given that fact. From sexual preferences and predilections, to race and gender, there are activists out there pushing to allow all to be inclusive. Media is now such that there are blogs, tumblers and so on for every group and category.  And over the last few years, plus size acceptance and full-figured empowerment has become huge (no pun intended).  As a matter of fact, EBONY and Sports Illustrated stepped it all the way up by featuring plus size ladies on their covers this quarter; causing a frenzy!  

While there will always be trolls and thumb thugs looking to use the anonymity of the interwebs to hide behind their putrid hate and ugliness, to see main stream networks say no to something so overtly cool is disturbing to me.  Especially when overall, the world is seemingly opening up it's third eye and seeing the beauty in what was once never considered cause for wide-spread beauty celebration.  

As an indie content creator and someone looking to continue to include and empower, I want to promote this awesome campaign by Lane Bryant.  And the fact that several mainstream networks have been rejecting the ad, saying it crosses the line - when mind you there are cheeks and nips EVERYWHERE on TV these days - is laughable and even more of a reason that I take the stand with them. Not due to affiliation, but due to the fact that the ad is cool and represents a demographic that is sexy and saucy and can rock lingerie just like anyone else; provoking sexual stimulation and desire on sight. 

Tell me Shining Starrs...as content creators and consumers, do you like your media with a dose of double standard?  Do you agree with censureship just because it's not the status quo or the norm?  I mean, we make amazing media to share, to evoke conversation, open minds, entertain, entice, promote consumption and so on, right? So what gives?!!!

I want to hear from you?  What are your thoughts on this, and also, what less than standard, but not less than awesome subject or ideal do you want to put out there? Whether it's a spec, a commercial, a film, music, art...whatever.  Let's chat about it!!!!

Yours in deep curiosity...

~ Miss O  

#CultureCurious