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Sunday, 4 November 2012

The Power Of Offensive T-shirts

By Tameka Ware


Like an dear, valued friend, a T-shirt can evoke feelings of comfort and happiness. If the slogan or design is funny, you will laugh and make others break into a smile too. It may even make them think. This is usually the idea behind wearing offensive t-shirts.

A slogan that may offend will get tongues wagging. People will talk about it and hopefully they will think about the message that you're trying to send. After all, often it isn't really the message that's potentially distasteful, but rather people's reaction to it. This is especially the case with slogans that have to do with basic human rights.

Provocative slogans and designs come in many varieties. The intent is usually to make people sit up and take notice. This is especially the case with political religious or societal issues. For example, a slogan that has to do with gay rights will probably upset a great number of people, but may also get some of them to think about whether they can justify their attitudes towards gays and lesbians.

Political slogans are especially popular during the run-up to an election. Instead of wearing a tee with 'Vote for So-and-so' printed on it, you can wear one that makes fun of the opposition. This will make it clear who you're voting or at least definitely not voting for. It can be a much more effective way of getting the message across because instead of telling people what they should do, it uses humor and originality to tell people why they should do it.

Many tees designed to shock and offend do so by mentioning bodily functions. Most people will react to these with a mixture of horror and disgust. However, some may start wondering why it is that perfectly natural functions like menstruation, breaking wind or excretion should be swept under the carpet when everyone does it.

A design or slogan that wasn't intending to, can be offensive. A little girl wearing a tee with a slogan that talks of how sexy she is may seem cute. However, to many people it may send the message that girls should be socialized from an early age that their looks and sex appeal define them as human beings, rather than what goes on in their heart or brain. A prepubescent girl even mentioning the word 'sexy' can also be downright creepy.

The way that you wear your tee can also add additional meaning to the message in the slogan. For example, a slogan that tries to reinforce an anti-Semitic stereotype can backfire completely when worn by someone who is Jewish. The wearer will make the slogan completely meaningless and will at the same time show that he or she is above pettiness.

When you decide to design or wear offensive T-shirts, you should carefully consider the message. There is a fine line between being provocative and being downright hurtful. That slogan that makes fun of rape, for instance, may sound clever to you but it won't to the statistical average of one in four women who has been raped.




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