Quite logically after yesterday's post (which triggered many more comments than the Maria Callas' post, God knows why!) I thought I would show you the 2006 Paris anti Aids campaign (Paris protège l'amour = Paris protects love). It looks like a quiet sunset on the Conciergerie, except that if you look more closely the moon is... a condom. Sorry the photo is not very good.
Bonjour Eric,
ReplyDeletevous souvenez-vous de la campagne publicitaire de Benetton au cours de laquelle un préservatif géant avait recouvert un obélisque parisien ?
Glad you pointed that small but important fact out to us Eric. That's a nice ad!
ReplyDeleteIt's a very good campaign. It's a pity that people here is quite conservative for some subjects. Many chileans get scandalized with our anti-AIDS campaign but not with everyday violence you see on TV...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a brilliant ad though! Who thinks up these things...lol...
ReplyDeleteHaxo, you're kidding right? If not, that is brilliant considering the last post.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised when first moving to France, speaking no French, and asking for my Chinese food without preservatives. Preservatifs = Condoms in French! You can imagine the look on their face!
Michael! LOL! Now that would be a new kind of Chinese take out container indeed!
ReplyDeleteEric you crack me up, too, with your line about God knows why the Maria Callas post triggered less comments than yesterday's. Was it the photo, or Michael's "Paris Hilton" google tag lines?! I think it was your excellent candid photo. Thanks for brightening my day! And thanks for featuring this ad. I hope Paris and the world can avoid and irradicate the horrible effects of this tragic epidemic.
very clever ad, indeed!
ReplyDeleteI like this follow up photo. It only makes sense..
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
And apparently Paris also MAKES love, LOL! Great ad Eric! And I guess by the end of the bikeride, that moon will be FULL! ~wink~ ;-)
ReplyDeleteSorry, couldn't resist, it's the funny "bone" in me! LOL!
And you guys all crack me up! :-)
Michael: I accompanied a French guy buddy of mine once, because he wanted to buy condo property here in California. Only he told the real estate agent that he wanted to buy a "condom" (logical abbreviation for condominium?) She did look at him a little funy for a couple of seconds, and then moved right along with the deal and pretended she didn't hear. You should have seen the look on his face later on when we explained the difference between condo and condom. :)
ReplyDeleteIn any event, I like the idea that Paris advertises for safe sex. In San Francisco, in some bars, you can find condoms readily available in a little fish bowl in a corner, on the counter, for everyone to use.
Haxo, since I work a lot with Swiss people, I'll have to keep that in mind just in case! As the theme goes, "better to be SAFE than sorry!"
ReplyDeleteP.S. Haxo...I'm sure you've heard that a condom is also called a "French Letter" although I don't know where the term comes from.
ReplyDeleteHere we go guys! Mystery solved...leave it to me, mom of four boys to give the definition of a French Letter, LOL! And actually, my 90yo father was in WWII and talked about them...letters, talking about letters, that he would get from..oh, NEVERMIND! Here, read!;-)
ReplyDeleteEnglish seventeenth century tourists, travelling through France on their pilgrimage to the center of ancient culture that was Rome, came across the town of Condom in southwestern France. It is said that there they made contact with ingenious French shepherds who were making prophylactics from sheep gut. A trade then ensued, whereby the English gentry would eagerly await their letters from France - French Letters - with a fresh supply of condoms.
Eric you've sure stirred things up around here...great for "blog traffic!" LOL! ;-)
in French class, we would always get confused with the word for condom in french: "un préservatif" and preservative, or jam in english.....
ReplyDeletewe always made the french teacher blush....
Yes, thanks ame and Haxo. I never knew that. I did a little research and found this as well:
ReplyDeleteCondoms were reportedly used by the Egyptians in 1350 B.C. They were most likely made of animal bladders or intestines.
In the 16th century, condoms were made of linen. A ribbon sewn into the open end drew the condom snugly around the penis.
In 1844, Charles Goodyear obtained the first patent on a crepe rubber condom.
Oh my, I find the ad to be very clever, and a very positive, proactive campaign, but still the details are making me a little bit squeamish. But it is MUCH more interesting than the internet traffic school I'm not too successfully trying to concentrate on.
ReplyDeleteChristina...."internet traffic school"...did you get caught speeding or something and have to take this class to keep points off your license?
ReplyDeleteOh, well basically yes--since I haven't attended traffic school in the past 18 months, I get to put my time in now, so my ticket won't go on my driving record :). (Sorry this comment has nothing to do with condoms). Good night Paris!
ReplyDeleteIn USA, they are called "love gloves."
ReplyDeleteIn the UK, condoms are called French letters (or were in my youth). Is it true, Eric, that they are (or were) called "redingotes anglaises" in France. Isn't it interesting that our silly historic animosity carries over to slang for something indesirable—think "French leave" and "filer à l'anglaise" for another example).
ReplyDeleteThat was "undesirable" of course! I and U are too close on the QWERTY keyboard.
ReplyDeleteParis the country of love !
ReplyDelete:)