#spoof ads

I love seeing Peter's face so much that I wish he could have been in this ad! As it is, I don't mind that it was just someone's clever spoof of the original & legitimate Claude Rains spread here:

Claude's bringing all the rest of his friends with him, after all...

...Peter could have squeezed in anywhere, or bumped out one of the other gents. :D

This first ad shows us Joe Camel of Camel cigarettes undergoing cancer treatment. This spoof ad works because viewers should recognize Joe Camel not only as a mascot for Camel cigarettes, but as an advocate for how cool and laid back smoking makes you seem. His characteristic black sunglasses, which emphasize Joe’s suave, cool persona, are off his face, and he is now staring at them as if he recognizes the emptiness of the lie they stand for. Viewers unfamiliar with the Joe Camel ads would still be familiar with the concept of black sunglasses as a symbolic representation of chillness, and the idea of cool, as this is persistent in American culture all the way back to the 60′s. Viewers also know that chemo therapy makes you lose your hair, so they emphasize the baldness of Joe’s head and ad veins to it to make him look extra sick. Additionally, most viewers know about the surgeon general’s warning/symbol on packs of cigarettes which inform you of the dangers of smoking. The artists use this warning to play on the dangers of smoking by using something non medical like “wasted potential” as an adverse effect. 

The symbol of the golden arches represents McDonald’s while the French fry crown represents one of the most popular menu items at McDonald’s. McDonald’s has been a symbol of poor health, and malicious marketing to children for many years, and so the idea of putting this symbol and this food on a baby is a commentary on how McDonald’s continued targeting of youths has contributed to a youth obesity an health crisis in America, and is now doing so the world over.  

Viewers will recognize the Absolut bottle, and if they don’t they will likely notice it is a vodka bottle from the text. Viewers know that liquor bottles usually stand upright, so they will recognize that this one is deflated or not erect. Savvy onlookers will understand the concept of whiskey-dick or men being unable to get off or maintain erections when they drink too much, and long term alcohol abuse can permanently impact a man’s potency. Viewer’s shouls also know that Absolut ads usually say Absolut _____ usually with something exciting and awesome filling the blank as in Absolut Adventure, to highlight the wild and fun time that the user of the product will have. Here, the artists use the Absolut tagline to highlight one of the negative consequences of heavy drinking, to contrast the fun careless side of it that absolut chooses to present in it’s ads. 

Spoof Ads Mock ‘Share a Coke,’ Helps Save Lives in the Process

Coca-Cola’s latest marketing campaign seems to feed off many young people’s narcissistic need to be recognized by corporations, which is in and of itself troublesome. Add to that the very real health — and even deadly — consequences that come with drinking Coke (and any other soda), and you have a campaign begging for a response.

In the spirit of Adbusters, these spoof ads, and others like them, are challenging Coca-Cola’s targeting of teens, and forcing all of us to question our own food choices.

With globalization, modern diseases like diabetes and obesity have become a big problem for Mexicans (on both sides) of the border.

Fortunately, the antidote lies within: traditional food and culture. The Decolonize Your Diet movement is strong and growing everyday. For the sake of your health and that of our community’s, we recommend you check it out!

Meme war spotted in The Hague, Netherlands

Spoof Ads