The ownership of corporations under parent companies concentrates profits and profit motives, often in ways that undermine the progressive or conservative causes that the subsidiary companies purport to promote. Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream is famous for its progressive and countercultural flavors and activities.
A tribute to the countercultural bands, Phish and The Grateful Dead:
A pacifist message:
The Barack Obama inspired flavor, Yes Pecan:
Alas, in 2000 Ben and Jerry’s was bought by Unilever, the company that brings us (pseudofeminist) Dove, (misogynistic) Axe, and (racist) Fair and Lovely products (examples here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here).
Oh, to bring the irony full circle, Unilever owns Slimfast too.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
Hat tip to Jezebel.
Comments 10
Cara — January 30, 2009
NOOOOOOO. WHY GOD WHY????
T B — January 30, 2009
From a previous post here -
An IKEA Obamanation -
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/files/2009/01/245_ikea1.jpg
T B — January 30, 2009
The web site -
http://www.embracechange09.com/
Anon — January 30, 2009
Interesting. The org I work for boycotted B&J years ago for political reasons over one issue (that I won't get into here - very complicated). I wonder if they know about this. Ironically, it might make them lift the boycott.
MW — January 30, 2009
I didn't know that. This is very distressing!
Anonymous — January 30, 2009
OMG I TOTALLY GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY PUT A P INSTEAD OF A W HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH SOOOOOOOOO FUNNY
zoelouise — January 30, 2009
Phish and the Grateful Dead countercultural? Please, they never stood for anything but "listen to us and pretend you are part of something as you drive around the country in your Volvo".
Jarry Garcia is laughing his big ass off in his grave.
Ryan — January 30, 2009
I always feel like I'm being duped when I drink "Fat Tire" Beer. The Beer's brewer "New Belgium" claims to support building bike paths and getting more people to ride bikes. Which are issues I hold near and dear...but then I see the big "Fat Tire" trucks driving around and I wonder what the carbon foot print of each beer is, and if I'd be helping the environment more by buying local beer. But i can't stop myself from drinking fat tire because it has a bike on it. And the label talks about supporting bike charities! Damn you corporate america!
Village Idiot — February 9, 2009
zoelouise: I can't stand the Dead's music, or Phish for that matter, but even I recognize that there was a hell of a lot more going on in that scene (at least with the Dead) than the simplistic dismissal you gave it. Try exploring your world a little more before pretending to know what you're talking about; all is not as it seems and your statements merely betray your ignorance.
Ryan: One factor about Fat Tire ale you forgot to mention is that it's really, really tasty beer. I don't care what they put on their label; until I get good at homebrewing I'll still be buying them (and they're not even sold in my state!). I don't think I could afford it if they delivered it by bicycle, and at least those trucks aren't delivering the sickly sweet mix of toxic and damaging chemicals known as "soft drinks." I guess alcohol is toxic and damaging too, but you overlook hypocritical corporate marketing so I guess I can overlook my hypocritical chemical chauvinism. Cheers...
The Commodification of Rebellion » Sociological Images — January 26, 2010
[...] safety pin shirt, goth punk Barbie, “pre-stressed” guitars, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. 1 Comment Tags: cars, commodification, marketing, resistance “Shall the [...]