Just a quick mention about the most recent Virgin ads - the ones which advertise the new cheap text package with a strap line about keeping thumbs busy.
They feature someone playing a black rap superstar. How do I know it's rap when we don't hear his music? We have lots of clues to read though - evidence by his clothes and his entourage. He's also clearly new BIG money. Not used to the trappings of 5 star luxury so we are invited to laugh at him getting it wrong.
Reminds me of two things - old racist cartoons about carpetbaggers and the wierd new obsession amongst middle-class white people around "bling". They watch one documentary by black people about one aspect of London black culture and suddenly they are experts on "bling", daring enough to refer to it in ads aimed at mostly white people....