Bad Adz #5 — Notes from the frontlines of cultural co-optation, courtesy of advertising's rogue inside-man, perpetual outsider King Adz.

A cultural high-tide mark has been set. Just like in 1969 when Hunter S. Thompson witnessed the death of the American Dream when the police attacked the students protesting against Vietnam in Chicago, I, too, have just experienced that moment. In the name of research I walked on the wild side and watched the ‘adult’ version of an ad for Pepe Jeans starring uber-model Cara Delevingne with support from a couple of dishy males, would you believe. What I saw was the monumental fusion of the perfume ad with the pointless internet video to produce the most heinous bastard off-spring ever. Banality squared with pretentiousness with a liberal dose of pointlessness mixed in for good measure.

The whole nightmare was filmed in the fountains in front of Somerset house – how street can you get? I know a lot of kids are going to be identifying with that location, that is after they’ve fought their way through the 30-something media scum hogging the café tables and free WiFi for their pointless ‘meetings’. The visual atrocity kicks off with the cast frolicking under the title ‘Made for Mischief’. Cara then kisses a statue. The male fodder jog together through fountains in unison. They all get wet. She puts some sunglasses on the statue (revolutionary), then leans back on one of the blokes as they ride a horse – also a statue – and then does this totally weird rodeo gesture. I’m confused already. The cultural nuances are being laid thick and fast and I just couldn’t keep up decoding them. I had to rewind. One of the chaps then slaps a moody 5-panel cap on the aforementioned statue and the place goes wild. My god this is amazing – such creative use of a statue; such great casting of a globally famous model; a total blast and such a great ROI (return on investment). Then it all cranks up a notch as she shows a bit of side-boob with tat (I did say this was the adult version), messes with the boys in the water – pretending to phone someone up on her fake Vans – and then blows the camera a kiss.

It gets dark, and I don’t mean in the narrative sense. Just when I thought I’d seen it all, it happens: they throw in a skateboard. Why-oh-why the fuck did you have to do that? Cara tries to skate but ends up doing some kind of demented river-dance instead, and almost gets away with it because she is ‘well-fit’. I said almost. At least they didn’t make her do a windmill. The three of them end up in the water and get naked and stuff and then it’s on, I’m like, whoa – adult version, indeed. It’s amazing the level of sex you can get away with in an ad for crap jeans that no one has ever given a toss about as they never bothered to embed themselves in any kind of youth or sub-culture. Okay, so one of the claims I just made above is false, but you’ll just have to watch the ad to find out which one. I’m a cultural sadist. Watching this kind of absolute dross gets to you in the end. I bet it cost way more than £50 to make, which is £50 too much.

Latest on Huck

“I refuse to accept child poverty is a normal part of our society”: Apsana Begum MP on voting to scrap the cap
Activism

“I refuse to accept child poverty is a normal part of our society”: Apsana Begum MP on voting to scrap the cap

After seeking to “enhance” the King’s Speech by voting for the scrapping of the controversial two child benefit cap, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse lost the Labour Whip.

Written by: Apsana Begum

Is skateboarding really a subculture anymore?
Outdoors

Is skateboarding really a subculture anymore?

With skate’s inclusion in the Olympics, Kyle Beachy asks what it means for the culture around the sport, and whether it’s possible to institutionalise an artform.

Written by: Kyle Beachy

Autism cannot be cured — stop trying
Activism

Autism cannot be cured — stop trying

A questionable study into the ‘reversal’ of autism does nothing but reinforce damaging stereotypes and harm, argues autistic author Jodie Hare.

Written by: Jodie Hare

Bristol Photo Festival returns for second edition
Photography

Bristol Photo Festival returns for second edition

After the success of it’s inaugural run, the festival returns this autumn with exhibitions, education and community programmes exploring a world in constant motion through still image.

Written by: Ben Smoke

Documenting the life of a New York gang leader paralysed by gun violence
Photography

Documenting the life of a New York gang leader paralysed by gun violence

New photobook ‘Say Less’ is a complex yet humanising look into a life wrecked by gun violence and organised crime.

Written by: Isaac Muk

The woman who defined 80s Hip Hop photography
Photography

The woman who defined 80s Hip Hop photography

A new exhibition brings together Janette Beckman’s visionary and boundary pushing images of an era of cultural change and moral panic.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Sign up to our newsletter

Issue 80: The Ziwe issue

Buy it now