Plastic Assets won the Huffington Post's Contagious Festival in April, 2006 by a landslide. Our "stacked deck" included young women in bikinis and a seemingly believable scenario: a credit card giving away breast implants.
"Invest in your Breasts", the slogan for Plastic Assets, speaks to the widespread message sent to young women that the size of our breasts will improve our standard of life. We made this website to challenge this cultural phenonmenon and to educate our audience on the potential health dangers of breast implants.
We worked with author, Shari Graydon, to create dialogue about the nature of advertising targeted at young women, loan companies lending money for plastic surgery, and the growing number of teenagers with breast implants.
Here are some of the emails we received before we revealed the hoax:
EMAIL:
Email from March 19, 2006:
Dear Plastic Assets,
PLEASE tell me this is a joke, and not some corporate ploy to encourage young women to contribute to their own oppression.
Adrienne
Email from March 26, 2006
Is this some sick, mysoginistic joke? Free breast implants with a credit card? Encouraging twelve year olds to get plastic breasts?
You people are sick
Kayla, a woman with beautiful, natural size B breasts which are perfectly large enough for me.
Email from March 19, 2006:
Dear Plastic Assets,
Hello! I am very intrigued by this card offer. I am going to be starting school in July and would love a new set of perky twins. I have had a baby(I am only 20) and my breasts just aren't the same. My question is, what's the catch? This just seems so crazy...too good to be true! I hope to hear back soon!
Kristina
Email from April 2, 2006
Is this credit card just for your first breast surgery? Or can it be used for tummy tucks instead!
Thanks!
-Cathy
Email from April 8, 2006
Hi,
I was just wondering if this card works in other countries. Also, how do I know that the doctor doing the surgery is qualified? It had better not be a botched job. I'm really picky about stuff like that. If you could answer my quesitons that would be great.
Stephanie
Email from March 29 , 2006
Hi, Your server seems to be busy every time I apply. Would it be possible to apply by mail or phone?
Also, I'm an unemployed student but receive $2000 a month form my parents. I have perfect credit. What are the odds of me being approved?
Sincerely, Kara
Email from April 4, 2006
Awesome idea. Way to get the word out. I heard about the site on the radio and was trying to figure out if it was real or not; even the radio hosts didn't know!
Cancer runs high in our family (all kinds, breast, ovarian, skin) and my grandmother had breast cancer and had to have a masectomy...
-Marcy
Email from April 6, 2006
Whew! I'm so glad that you are taking on this mission and I will happily send this along to my female friends.
-Elicia