Open Collections Program - Student Dialogue

Open Collections Program > Women Working > Teachers > One Kitchen or Fifty > "Campbell's Soups"

Some Students Discuss an Advertisement for "Campbell's Soups"

MARGOT: Well, the—the first paragraph of the ad says that the—the soup, um—makes it so much easier to plan the meals, so, um, I thought that she was probably writing a meal plan, or creating a menu, and—and it—seems to assert that Campbell’s makes it easier to do that.
LIDYA: Even for a kid.
MARGOT: Even for a kid.
TONI: Can you read the, um, poem again?
JAMISON: It’s a limerick.
Margot reads the poem.
LIDYA: Or maybe she’s, like, preparing to be a house, like—I don’t know if there’s something—I can’t think of what—
CARRIE: It really made us think that this was a depiction of the woman in some way.
ELIZABETH: Mmm. Mmm.
CARRIE: Although it is—is a dimple-legged child. You know, there wasn’t anything that talked about children.

This exchange was part of the longer discussion below.

CARRIE: And—Marcia said—I’m not sure I’ll say this right, but—maybe some putting in order of time of this—the beater being the hands-on—although there’s some text that it’s getting them—they’re going to save time—so there’s something before that. And then this being food prepared out of the home, and this, food prepared out of the home brought into the home. And the little text next to that figure is, “I’m the best little planner I know, just bubbling with hustle and go, with Campbell’s for dinner, my table’s a winner, why, even our neighbors say so.” Oh, it rhymes. Laughter.

CARRIE: But that figure has dimpled legs. Laughter. You know, this isn’t—if [with the Tivolia Beater]—the child could do it—you know, this is—the pre—you know, the preschooler. This is really something.
OTHERS: Hm.
MARGOT: We were a little disturbed by that.
CARRIE: And just two other words—food words—um, let’s see—the word “dainty”—“bringing dainty delicious health-giving food”—and then “daintily spiced”—daintily.
LIDYA: But how do you—I’m not sure if I understand. How do you understand the picture again? What is she planning—why is she a good planner?
MARGOT: Well, the—the first paragraph of the ad says that the—the soup, um—makes it so much easier to plan the meals, so, um, I thought that she was probably writing a meal plan, or creating a menu, and—and it—seems to assert that Campbell’s makes it easier to do that.
LIDYA: Even for a kid.
MARGOT: Even for a kid.
TONI: Can you read the, um, poem again?
JAMISON: It’s a limerick.
Margot reads the poem.
LIDYA: Or maybe she’s, like, preparing to be a house, like—I don’t know if there’s something—I can’t think of what—
CARRIE: It really made us think that this was a depiction of the woman in some way.
ELIZABETH: Mmm. Mmm.
CARRIE: Although it is—is a dimple-legged child. You know, there wasn’t anything that talked about children.