2008 Woodie Awards
Logo questions arise
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: News
Questions of the new SIUE Cougar logo's origins are being raised by some faculty members, who cite concerns of alcohol awareness and objectification of women.
Their concerns lie with the St. Louis-based graphic design company 4 Alarm Studio, who re-designed the Cougar logo. The company previously made advertisements for alcoholic products including Bacardi rum and Grey Goose vodka, and displays the ads on their Web site for self-promotion.
Mass communications professor Elza Ibroscheva came across the ads when she was looking for other work done by the logo's designer.
"I looked at the company first out of curiosity, because the logo is quite attractive," Ibrocheva said. "I always want to find out who the up and coming artists in the area are. As soon as I looked them up, I was perplexed."
Many of 4 Alarm's ads displayed on the Web site prominently feature women, in many instances pictured in ways that some found objectionable. Some women are scantily clad in bikinis to promote alcoholic products, bearing cleavage and midsections, sometimes in provocative poses.
"I was really struck by just the shocking presence of the stereotypes that we in some way try to educate to be careful about," Ibroscheva said.
Ibroscheva instructs the mass communication critical theory course, and discusses issues between advertising, objectification of women and stereotyping.
One of the 4 Alarm advertisements Ibroscheva found disturbing featured a little person dressed as a jester as part of a Mardi Gras promotion.
"I looked at the ad and said, sure, it's supposed to be funny," she said. "Is that the best thing that they could have come up with?"
Mass communications professor Kimberly Voss, who instructs the issues in feminism course in the Women's Studies program, was also concerned with the university's decision to pick 4 Alarm.
"We are telling our students that they shouldn't be doing this, why are we awarding alumni that do it?" Voss said. "I think it's definitely problematic."
Their concerns lie with the St. Louis-based graphic design company 4 Alarm Studio, who re-designed the Cougar logo. The company previously made advertisements for alcoholic products including Bacardi rum and Grey Goose vodka, and displays the ads on their Web site for self-promotion.
Mass communications professor Elza Ibroscheva came across the ads when she was looking for other work done by the logo's designer.
"I looked at the company first out of curiosity, because the logo is quite attractive," Ibrocheva said. "I always want to find out who the up and coming artists in the area are. As soon as I looked them up, I was perplexed."
Many of 4 Alarm's ads displayed on the Web site prominently feature women, in many instances pictured in ways that some found objectionable. Some women are scantily clad in bikinis to promote alcoholic products, bearing cleavage and midsections, sometimes in provocative poses.
"I was really struck by just the shocking presence of the stereotypes that we in some way try to educate to be careful about," Ibroscheva said.
Ibroscheva instructs the mass communication critical theory course, and discusses issues between advertising, objectification of women and stereotyping.
One of the 4 Alarm advertisements Ibroscheva found disturbing featured a little person dressed as a jester as part of a Mardi Gras promotion.
"I looked at the ad and said, sure, it's supposed to be funny," she said. "Is that the best thing that they could have come up with?"
Mass communications professor Kimberly Voss, who instructs the issues in feminism course in the Women's Studies program, was also concerned with the university's decision to pick 4 Alarm.
"We are telling our students that they shouldn't be doing this, why are we awarding alumni that do it?" Voss said. "I think it's definitely problematic."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Alum
posted 10/19/07 @ 11:00 AM CST
I think some people need to get a life...
Mass Comm Alum
posted 10/19/07 @ 11:55 AM CST
Agreed. It's a logo. There is nothing gratuitous or improper about the new logo. The only thing anyone should be complaining about is why SIUE refuses to look within their own pool of talented students for this kind of work. (Continued…)
Preston
posted 10/19/07 @ 12:57 PM CST
I second that. What a waste of $10,000. Students wouldn't even expect that kind of money for coming up with a logo. What a great opportunity it would be; what a great thing to have in a portfolio. (Continued…)
Erik
posted 10/19/07 @ 3:28 PM CST
It looks better than our $30,000 sock puppet of a saluki.
Frances12BDB
Frances
posted 10/20/07 @ 6:31 AM CST
Given that two of the people complaining about the 'objectification of women' frequently wear skirts up to their butt crack line and expose a collective 8 inches of boob daily, uh. (Continued…)
MC Alum
posted 10/22/07 @ 7:33 AM CST
Frances! You have a great point!
ROSS
posted 10/23/07 @ 7:28 PM CST
ONLY THOSE TWO PATHETIC WANNA BE TEACHERS CAN MAKE SOMTHING GREAT FOR THE SCHOOL AND TURN IT IN TO A SCANDAL. WEREN'T THESE THE TWO TEACHERS THAT MADE A STINK ABOUT HAROLD AND KUMAR POSTERS? I BELEIVE ONE OF THESE TEACHERS WEARS A SHIRT SO LOW EVERYONE GETS A SHOT. (Continued…)
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