Cultural Sensitivity in Multimodal Text (Forum & Discussion)

 I want you to cite an advertisement that lacks cultural sensitivity then give your notion about this issue. 
H&M condemns racism after `monkey' ad sparks protests

Hennes & Mauritz or known as H&M

went into went on a damage-control mode over the weekend on January 2018 after a controversial
advertisement sparked protests in South Africa. The Swedish clothes retailer closed its South
African shops after some outlets were trashed in an anti-racism protest against an online ad by H&M
featuring a black child modeling a hoodie with the text “coolest monkey in the jungle.” The H&M
Company was aware of the said event that’s why they temporarily closed several of their shops in South
Africa to ensure the safety of the staffs and employees. The H&M was also forced to apologize  for the
image after it caused a social-media storm and prompted a Canadian artist The Weeknd to end their
collaboration with the Stockholm-based company. H&M, even stated that they agreed with those who
were upset by the image, pulled the garment in question from its stores. Over the weekend, the company
took further steps to reject all forms of racial slander.

As I have read the news about the advertisement, I believe that the hoodie doesn’t really pertain
to the South Africans as they only want to advertise their garments. Buts I also believe that the caption or
the design of the hoodie is quite inappropriate as the model is a black South African child. Also, as we all
know most of the South Africans are black and other South Africans still lives in the forest that’s why the
H&M hoodie appears as an insult to them. Another thing is that people are believed to be originated from
apes and monkeys are family of apes.

Reference:

Bloomberg (2018). H&M condemns racism after `monkey' ad sparks protests. Retrieved from

https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/apparel-fashion/apparel/hm-condemns-racism-after-
monkey-ad-sparks-protests/62509164