Do you ever notice that curious thing that happens when you really think about a word? You may sit there thinking what a strange collection of sounds and noises to mean something so specific, so nuanced. There's so much meaning from seemingly so little. Isn't language fascinating? How do we make complex associations from what are effectively refined grunts? Maybe our brains are magical. Then poof. The meaning …
The World’s First Storytelling Machine? No, It’s Just A Car.
Here's a new commercial from Kia that relies on hyperbole. You could say that hyperbole comes with the territory. That it's expected, especially in automotive advertising. Yet, hyperbole does nothing to help build brand value. Because it's a lie. The truth is we've been telling stories since campfires were invented. https://youtu.be/VQW4kEh44Xs I had a highly annoying boss once. Thankfully, he said one …
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Bubba Wallace Is Chasing Checkered Flags In An All New No. 23 Car
NASCAR is back, if not back to normal. A rain-delayed Daytona 500 was held on Sunday with 30,000 fans in attendance. Going into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, one driver's story keeps rising to the top. Bubba Wallace, the 27-year-old driver behind the wheel of a new No. 23 car that is owned by fellow Cup driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. https://youtu.be/wI_QIPRkBBs Jordan called …
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Smart Kids Can See (and Smooth) That Wrinkle In Your Brow
Kids see the world differently. Kids are naturally optimistic. Right now, adults could use some child-like enthusiasm, and KiwiCo's new commercial delivers it. https://youtu.be/Fajxyic4750 When a child actor is asked to speak to adult themes, the outcomes are typically terrible. Not this time. The young girl at the center of this spot makes the spot work. She's also a rocket launcher. Expand Horizons via …
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When It Comes to Cultural Insensitivity, Valpo Ain’t Playin’
The culture war is being won by people who value culture, history, and knowledge. Valparaiso University, a 3,100-student Lutheran school located in northwest Indiana, announced that it is dropping the team name Crusaders, the school mascot, and all logos associated with the term. https://youtu.be/oGHrmYXNHJ0 The decision comes after a decades-long debate that had intensified recently because groups such as the …
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The Soul of New Orleans Is At Risk, Along with Its Blues, Jazz, and Funk
When the COVID-19 pandemic rolled across the globe, it silenced live music everywhere. Perhaps nowhere was that silence more deafening than New Orleans. This unprecedented crisis has led to the indefinite cancellation of gigs, event postponements, and venue closures around the world. It has left many Louisiana musicians and others who work in the music industry facing a total or near-total loss of income for the …
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Panda Express Invites Americans to Celebrate the Lunar New Year
Many brands want to portray an American togetherness. Many brands fail at this attempt because they do not connect their product to the idea. Thankfully, we're not looking at another failure today. Instead, we have a quick-serve restaurant brand authentically connecting to its heritage and successfully sharing it. This week, in celebration of Lunar New Year beginning on Friday, February 12, Panda Express (the …
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On Super Bowl Sunday, Jeep Drives Into a Joe Biden Commercial
Non-lyrical tones presented over white Christian iconography in the middle of a cold Kansas winter. Now, that'll bring Americans together. https://youtu.be/D2XYH-IEvhI The spot is contrived and doesn't even attempt to place Jeep in the solution. “It’s a bit downbeat, it’s very quiet, it’s a prayer,” said Olivier Francois, global chief marketing officer at Stellantis NV, parent company of the Jeep and …
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Interview with Suset Laboy Pérez, Co-Owner of Lalaboy PR
Suset Laboy Pérez is a public relations professional in Brooklyn. Her job is to share her clients' stories. This interview is about her story. She grew up in Puerto Rico. She has a doctorate in Latin American Studies. She runs Lalaboy PR with her sister, Maria. She also runs A Little Awareness, a coaching program that helps others beat the hustle. Are you ready to hear from an intelligent woman with a wealth of …
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Interview with Rob Schwartz, CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day NY
Rob Schwartz of TBWA\Chiat\Day NY is one of my favorite people in the ad business today. To qualify for this kind of praise, you have to be smart and kind. Rob is both, and like all of my favorite people, he doesn't bullshit. He's down to earth and he makes time for people—qualities not always found in the CEO of a New York City ad agency. Rob is also a long time reader of Adpulp.com and one of our most generous …
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