The Pepsi Commercial

           Commercials, tv shows, movies, media in general has been one of the most useful outlets to express displeasure, political out cry and to begin a movement. Yesterday Pepsi released a commercial trying to bridge the gap between police and the general public, taking advantage of the Black Lives Movement protests that have occurred over the past several years. The commercial has caused a controversial uproar bringing the good and the bad in human beings.             This is where I feel like Pepsi differs. In the commercial, Pepsi did a very good job at including diverse populations and races. They had different characters expressing themselves in different ways. My favorite part was not the fact the Kendal Jenner was present and modeling, but rather how she ripped her blonde wig and wiped off her lipstick before joining in the protest that was occurring outside in the streets. So often when we think of white girls, we think blondes who are dressed up and in makeup, doing lucrative work like modeling and then Pepsi has a real life model rip off all those stereotypes before joining in on the movement.  In addition, I want to know why it was Kendal Jenner who handed the white cop a Pepsi, why not have someone of color or a different race? By not sticking to the original story, Pepsi down plays the problems of our society and all the issues we face today.If they were going to do a commercial like this one, then I feel like they should have reviewed all the facts. It just seems that they are trying to make light of a situation that is so serious, especially the part when the muslim woman takes a photo of Jenner and hugs someone else.Did you know that a photographer, Leshia Evans, captured a very similar photo of a 28 year old nurse being detained by police officers in a Black Lives Matter Movement in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

           Media and large companies have had a history of taking social movements and capitalizing on them. For example, many of us love SNL, but have you ever taken a moment to realize that they too are taking political and social follies, turning them into comedy and capitalizing on them. Instead of helping a movement, creating understanding and awareness, large companies have an outstanding record of using them to benefit.
             The Pepsi commercial is the perfect example. Here they take a protest, a social movement, turn it into a commercial and use it to highlight their product, though Pepsi did so very eloquently. Why this commercial has me asking questions I have never thought about, such as How often do companies do this, Are we seeing these commercials and linking them to the actual movements, despite the unrealistic image painted in the commercial? 
       Maybe instead of having these large companies down play real life problems, we should hold them responsible for not speaking out the truth and make them understand that portraying these serious events in a playful manner is not ok. But then again, who wants realism attached to their product?