Censorship puts the limits to audiovisual content: creativity or bad taste?

In recent days, it seems that the issue of censorship in the world of art and visual communication are the order of the day.Instagram censored without prior notice the poster of parallel mothers, the poster of the next Pedro Almodóvar movie, in which a nipple appears with a drop of milk, as a human eye.Although from Facebook they have apologized to its author, Javier Jaén, and they have published it again on the social network, a debate has been opened about this "new censorship" that seems to stick on the world of culture.The same has happened shortly after with the promotional poster of the new tour of the artist Zahara, which Vox has decided to censor in Toledo for considering it "an extreme offense to the Virgin".

They are not the first audiovisual works that have suffered the punishment of censorship.Throughout history, there have been many posters whose use has been prohibited, for various reasons.In many cases, the authors of the works have been helpless and had to withdraw them;while the luckiest managed to publish their works, although with some modifications that would withdraw the offensive elements of the same.We offer you 12 examples of prohibited posters, and the excuses given for the cessation of its public use.

Promotional poster of ‘parallel mothers’ (2021)

The film poster still not released by Pedro Almodóvar, parallel mothers, has raised an unexpected controversy.The film poster, which will be released in Cinemas on September 10 after inaugurating the next edition of the Venice Festival, raised all kinds of comments after its presentation;In a vibrant red bottom, a nipple appears with a drop of milk.The work, by the illustrator Javier Jaén, was even censored by Instagram by considering it "erotic or pornographic";And although the social network has retracted, its author laments by Instagram's decision to withdraw it."I thought that this nipple with a drop of milk was probably the first image I saw in my life and now it turns out that it is wrong and is dangerous.What if it hadn't been Almodóvar?What if you had been you on the beach or the movie of another filmmaker? ”.

The 'homophobic' advertisement of snickers

"Handle and unfortunate".These are just some of the qualifiers that the video of the last snickers chocolate campaign received on social networks, which was forced to apologize after the publication of the video, which many described as ‘homophobic’.In the promotional video, of just 20 seconds, two friends sitting on a terrace are shown in front of the beach, one of whom is Aless Gibaja, a well -known 'Spanish member of the LGBTQ+ community.When the waiter details the order, he asks "with vitamins A, B and C, hugging, kisses and caresses 'Around the world'" before the bewildered look of the other man.Quickly, the waiter responds by giving Gibaja an ice cream bar snickers.After receiving the product, the client's attitude seems to become that of a bearded man, who in a deep voice claims to feel "better"."It is shameful and unfortunate that at this point there are companies that continue to perpetuate stereotypes and promote homophobia and plumophobia," said the LGTB State Federation.After criticism, snickers eliminated the original video and apologized for the ‘misunderstanding’.

The 'Sexual' poster of ‘Diario de A Ninfómana’ (2008)

Spain has examples of material that failed to overcome censorship, but one wants to think that such decisions date back to ancient times, typical of the dictatorship of Francoism.It seems that no, since in the present, despite freedoms, it continues to censor for varied reasons.The Diario de A Ninfómana poster (2008) is a good example of an image considered "too explicit" to look in public.Thus, the withdrawal of the promotional poster in several cities was decided for two reasons: the first, because the word ‘nymphomaniac’ was written in a vibrant red;Second, because the image, explicit sexual hint, was not considered adequate to show in public, especially considering that the film was not recommended for children under 13 years.

The 'sexual horror' of the promotional poster of 'The last exorcism' (2010)

Terror films usually have rather explicit and terrifying promotional posters, because that is what this type of content is about to advertise.Eli Roth, the master of modern terror, is known left over for his films, loaded with gore elements and absolute horror, so it is not surprising that his posters follow that same creative line.The promotional poster of the last exorcism showed a young woman possessed by the demon, covered with blood, on a gloomy black and white background.A normal horror poster, except because the warning standards authority (ASA), the British association that controls the media and advertising content of the United Kingdom, received multiple complaints from users who alluded to the location of blood could suggest sexual abuse andhurt children's sensitivity.These complaints led to the cessation of use of the promotional poster in various media and cinemas.

The 'sexism' of the announcement of Aprilia

Aprilia surprised her followers with this announcement, in which a female butt and male hands armed with a meter, who took action was shown.In the announcement of motorcycles of the Italian motor giant, the buttocks of a woman appear who are being measured with a man's tape and the slogan "range of the reef: now several sizes less", in allusion to a price drop applied by the maker.This announcement was censored and admonished by the Facua consumer organization for breach of article 3 of the General Advertising Law, which prohibits the violation of dignity, values and rights of people.

El ‘niño mono’ de H&M

No one could have told Liam Mango, a child of only 5 years, that his debut as a model was going to be loaded with controversy. El pequeño era una de las estrellas de la campaña de moda infantil de H&M, pero su imagen saltó a los medios por otro motivo: una campaña cargada de connotaciones racistas.In one of the images, the little Liam, in the black race, wore a sweatshirt in which "the most guay of the jungle" was read ".The criticism did not wait, claiming that it was racism and the textile brand was forced to withdraw the campaign.

Eastpak 'hunting'

The famous luggage brand opted for a risky bet for the promotion of its backpacks in the French market.In the chosen image, a woman appeared armed with a bloody knife, posing with a mural with animal hunting triumphs hanging behind her, among which is one of the brand's backpacks.On the ground, the alleged owner of the article, who lies apparently lifeless.The extensive legislation that exists in the Gallic country about advertising caused the Association des Professionnels Pour Une Publicité Responsible (BVP), decided to probihir the announcement, calling it "violent".

Puma's 'denigrant' announcement

In 2003, there was an unusual situation: a poster caused the anger of the advertising brand itself, which censored a promotional image and prohibited its distribution.It happened with an advertisement that an external agency would have supposedly prepared for the new footwear and accessories of the Puma brand.Somehow, the poster would have managed to avoid the filters and control of the marketing team of the popular sports firm, which allowed its publication.Obviously, his visible sexual hint raised the controversy, and he proceeded to an investigation that discovered that it was false advertising, carried out by an agency behind the back of the sports firm, which had nothing to do with the order.The poster was denounced by the brand itself against the creators of the false campaign, referring to the obvious "denigration of women" in the image, which was withdrawn.

The 'sexism' in unequal

What better than declaring the sexual freedom of women that generating controversy?That should have thought from the unequal fashion firm back in 2014, after reaching the conclusion that sex could help them sell clothing and accessories.And not in any way: in this controversial image of the promotional spot, of the campaign you decide, a woman appears trying a dress of the firm.So far, all normal, except because she gets a cushion inside the dress, pretending to have pregnant gut.Subsequently, he is seen thinking, and appears by clicking with a pin the condoms contained in a package, apparently ‘deciding’ to remain pregnant without the consent of his partner.Obviously, the campaign was the focus of criticism, and had to be immediately withdrawn.

The 'Children's Suicide' of El Corte Inglés

Rarely an advertisement has raised such controversy in our country.At the end of summer 2020, El Corte Inglés launched its usual campaign back to school, destined for its customers.However, the promotion chosen by the creative team left a lot to be desired: among others, a promotional poster in which a chair and legs of a child, apparently suspended in the air appeared.What initially intended to make an innocent reference to typical school shoes, became an allegory to child suicide, claiming that it could imply the hanging of the child in question.From the group, they censored and withdrew the announcement.

La Academia de la Advertising y su 'tradicional' felicitación a la RAE

Anyone could have expected a little more of the professionals of the Academy of Advertising, but as in everything in this life, mistakes are made.On this occasion, the Academy of Advertising wanted to congratulate the Royal Spanish Academy of Language (RAE) on the occasion of the celebration of its third centenary with a campaign carried out by the Shackleton agency.However, they did not do it too successful, because they advertised a spot that intended to emulate the typical announcement for cleaning products and housewives of decades ago, with a slogan regarding the dictionary of the Spanish language: “Clean, fixed and gives splendor".From the feminist sector, a clearly sexist and misogynist content was considered, which once denigrated and humiliated the woman.

The 'Special Moms' of El Corte Inglés

It seems that the last years have not been good for El Corte Inglés, because the controversy of the 2020 school was not the first leg of the business group.In 2019, criticism raised for their campaign on the occasion of Mother's Day, at which time the company published an advertisement that many crossing out ‘macho’ and in which you could read: “97% delivered.3% selfishness.0% complaints.100% mother ”;text that many criticized for being clearly sexist.