"Setting the bar even higher on cluelessness " Topic

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Since some get upset when nothing but a link is posted….
It's the Kendall Jenner (one of the Kardassian clan) and Pepsi commercial.
I had heard about it and decided to see what the fuss was.

Who thought this was a good idea?

You should watch Stephen Colbert's analysis……brilliantly hilarious….

Lamer by far than "I'd like to teach the world to sing."
That had set a pretty high bar, but it was just blown away.
Lamer by far than any supergroup waiting about famine or Christmas.

Haven't seen it, but apparently Pepsi officials are already apologizing, and saying it wasn't well thought out.

Getting into bed with the Kardashian, and/or Jenner clan is certainly fraught with severe peril, so tread lightly.

it was more embarassing than anything else.

That's because they probably did it in-house to save $$

Kardasians should remain what they have always been--third-rate villains in second-rate Trek.

But the ad was not as bad as the music. "We are the Movement. We are the Chosen. You're going to know who we are?" Would anyone care to imagine that song with video by Leni Riefenstahl? Or Sergei Eisenstein? (I recommend "Olympia" and "October" respectively.)

Oh? It's different this time? It always is.

That's because they probably did it in-house to save $$

Having worked in the ad-bizz for some years, this is the whole problem. If they had a good agency, that agency would have told them that this was lame and tone-deaf. Because they used their in-house creative team, there was no outside opinion canvassed -- with the results you see. That said: link Another internally-produced promo, it seems.

It seems like many in the media, etc. from NY & LA, the East & Left Coasts, etc., Really just don't get it. But drivel like the Kardassians, and many other reality type shows, etc., really are not representative of the average "American", AFAIK.

BUT … that being said, as long as the shows, magazines, etc. make $$$$. Because enough people are watching/buying, they will keep airing them. As the only reason businesses are in business like Pepsi is to many $$$$. That is the way capitalism works.

Meanwhile like we see with this commercial, again like many in the media, don't really get it. But when it comes to making a profit[which is fine, we are Capitalist after all] they may have to learn the "hard" way.

As "interesting" as many of the media perceive some one like Kendall, because of Bruce/Catlin/the Kardassians, etc. are That really is not "main stream" America. As far as I can tell. And in the USA everybody should be able to do as they would like to. Just so it does not harm anyone else. Then that is infringing on someone else's rights, etc.

However, I remember how many in media said how brave Bruce/Catlin was doing what he/she did. I guess I must have a different idea of what "brave" is. But She did what she want to do. And really didn't harm anyone else[AFAIK ?]. Kendall in this case is more like "collateral damage".

However, bottom line, this sort of thing makes the media $$$$. So that really is the "bottom line" … IMO … of course.

So Kendall, better luck next time, you go girl ! However this commercial was as noted, not very well thought out. And Pepsi had to relearn. As a big Hollywood movie director/producer[I forget his name ] in the past said. Something like, "If you want to send a message, write a letter."

Is the issue really that the ad is tone deaf/tasteless/insensitive, or is the issue that we, the population, may possibly be assigning a bit too much gravitas, searching for a bit too much social commentary, in a soda commercial?

V/R,
Jack

"But She did what she want to do. And really didn't harm anyone else[AFAIK ?]".

Excepting the person that died in the auto accident, but that's being dealt with by the lawyers, so…….

You don't have to search for social commentary in this add; they smack you upside the head with it.

Mako – Well yeah … but that was not because of he becoming a she, AFAIK(?) … I would think/pretty sure that that would not impair your driving abilities …

Probably would still be a "story", if Bruce was still Bruce because Bruce is famous for more than "changing".

(Ahem!)For those who may have missed it,another example--if of a different kind:

TMP link

Good one von S … someone really missed the "implications" of that one !

we are Capitalist after all

Where did you get that idea?

ochoin, I try to keep things from degenerating into politics, but you shouldn't feed me straight lines like that.

I don't give a crap about the commercial, but from what I've heard Pepsi pulled the ad because BLM thought it was to pro police. Pepsi can go to the hot place, it'll never be in my house again.

I agree, CorroPredo. As a police officer who buried five colleagues last summer who were murdered while protecting a BLM march, Pepsi may indeed be sent to the pit of Hades and take BLM with them.

Any brand that associates itself with social commentary is doomed to alienate or offend or both.

Like that lame '84 Lumber commercial they played during the last Superbowl. What was the need for that commentary? You sell #@%^$$@ lumber. I don't need to know your opinion on any social issue. Besides what makes the social issue they picked any more important or relevant than any other current issue. I emailed them that as a veteran I was offended that they didn't make an '84 Lumber commercial that dealt with the horrible way Vets were being cared for by the Veterans Administration. Where was they outrage and commentary on that issue. Of course I never received a reply.

I like the idea that she has offended her 78 million fans on Twitter. That's 77.5 million low level journalists & rebloggers, her ever increasing family network, the wannabees and some fans.

Our culture descends into the toilet bowl of shallowness and illusion again.

@CorroPredo +1
@Choctaw +1
I really can't say anything else about how ridiculous our culture has become for fear I'd puke on my key board.

Any brand that associates itself with social commentary is doomed to alienate or offend or both.

Like that lame '84 Lumber commercial they played during the last Superbowl. What was the need for that commentary? You sell #@%^$$@ lumber. I don't need to know your opinion on any social issue. Besides what makes the social issue they picked any more important or relevant than any other current issue. I emailed them that as a veteran I was offended that they didn't make an '84 Lumber commercial that dealt with the horrible way Vets were being cared for by the Veterans Administration. Where was they outrage and commentary on that issue. Of course I never received a reply.

Maybe there's more to it than the social commentary, like say $$$$ – 84 Lumber may be saving labor costs, which they can either pass on to you the builder or pocket. They, like many other businesses see their source of cheap labor drying up, just cynically sayn'.

Curious though did you write to Anheuser-Busch?

That commercial is trying so hard to be so "relevant", "now" and "Gen-Z" that it is about to give itself a stroke.

It's like if I went to a high school with my boxers showing and hat on sideways, and asked each and every kid I saw, "I'm cool, right?"

> It seems like many in the media, etc. from NY & LA, the East & Left Coasts, etc., Really just don't get it.

You forgot to mention those in the interior not getting it either.

There are so many Kardashians/Jenners that I can't keep them straight…

Just ignore the whole lot – that is my policy, goes Duck people, and pawn stores, and junk pickers, and…

You forgot to mention those in the interior not getting it either.

I can only insult so many, then I might get DH'd !

"we are Capitalist after all"

Where did you get that idea?

Well I know most in the USA are … or try to be …

Just ignore the whole lot – that is my policy, goes Duck people, and pawn stores, and junk pickers, and…

The History Channel should change it's name to the "Mostly Reality TV" Channel …

Duck people. I saw a bunch of bearded men on posters at Wal-Mart, but no Bilbo. Someone told me later they had a TV show?

I pulled the plug on the TV when they cancelled Farscape. Doesn't sound as though I've missed much.

Well I know most in the USA are … or try to be …

Maybe not.

If the ad in question was trying to sell Pepsi to Young Adults (& let's be clear: selling sugary carbonated water is ALL it's about) maybe it isn't so off target.

That chart is a condemnation of our politically-driven educational system; clearly the Dept. of Education needs to be scrapped. It is plainly obvious that the 18-29 yr. olds are oblivious to the destruction caused by socialism (read Nazis and Communists) throughout the 20th century, and that ignorance is the fault of their educators.

…or, Snowshoe, the Young 'uns see the flaws in the current system & want something better.

Either way, I'm guessing that Pepsi commercial will be far better received in the future.

BTW seeing Socialism as either Communism or Nazism is, shall we say, a little, in need of education?

Yea, Ochoin, with all due respect, I've heard that before. Sure there are minor nuances in the definitions, but in reality they all lead to the same end-point; state control over the economy and of people's rights to live out their lives.
Even though the on-line definition of the Nazi form of government is some far right nonsense, it was after all the "National Socialist…" party. And lets not forget the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Capitalism on the other hand has seen the greatest improvement in the largest number people's lives in the shortest amount of time in human history.

I've heard that before

Because it's true. Your understanding of economics seems to be rather facile.You ever hear of Social Democrats?

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Capitalism on the other hand has seen the greatest improvement in the largest number people's lives in the shortest amount of time in human history.

Tell that to 43 million Americans.

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However, I like to end discussions on a note of agreement. You blast the American education system for educating people poorly & it seems I must concur.

No matter what one may say. The USA is a Capitalist society as it's base. Now one can argue that it has some things in it's fabric that is not "pure Capitalism".

But bottom line [IMO] :

*you get a job …

*go to work …

*buy things with the money you earned while at work …

*the company you bought the things from pays it's employees ….

*in turn the company and it's employees buy things, etc., …

And generally that is the way the cycle works … generally …

The USA is not perfect … in many ways … But I'm pretty sure I'd rather live here than anywhere else. But that is just me …

@ Ralph

Thanks for your input. I'm not sure it adds anything to my understanding of economics.

I can say the same about your input as well … as I see things in a very different light than you in almost all cases …

Well that's a pity Ralph. Never too old to learn, they reckon.

Well tell that to Pepsi … they loss $$$$ on that commercial … I'd imagine …

I only lost time posting on this topic … it would seem …

@ Ralph

Sam Goldwyn.

You asked who said, "If you have a message, call western union."

However, I wouldn't necessarily rate him as overly percipient as he also reportedly said, "The next time I send a damn fool for something, I go myself."

Ya'll are aware that corporations don't have feelings, opinions and beliefs right?

Speaking of clueless. You are aware that in socialism the government takes on the role of the big evil corporation. China Inc. and all.

I'll go with free people running corporations and the government providing oversight.

It might help if we had definitions of capitalism and socialism that people could agree on, let alone the myriad of mixed economies, state capitalism and social democracy out there.

"The thing I like is good and the thing you like is bad" is about as good as these debates ever get.

Of course, adherents of both sides always stumble when they try to explain why their particular promised world turns out to be rather horrible in reality, when untempered by rationality, whether its Stalinist purges or Indian famines.

Weasel,
Corporations are made up of, and run by people who have all the attributes (feelings, opinions and beliefs)of anyone else. An example might be Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks who set policies in line with his personal agenda and beliefs. So when he announced his plan to hire 10,000 refugees, that fell in line with his personal worldview and politics. Likewise when Pepsi ran the add that sparked this discussion. They certainly have the right to do that and as consumers we have the right to either support or reject their services/products.
Ain't Capitalism great!

Weasel,
To your most recent post: all systems of government are imperfect because they are devised and run by people. But I stand by my belief that Capitalism has done more for humanity than any other system devised by mankind. As an example, what other country on the planet, in all of history has responded to disasters and calamities in the way the people of the USA have, even when the victims plight has had nothing to do with our national interest? All totalitarian systems (which to varying degrees, includes socialism in its many forms) either begin as corrupted entities or develop into corrupted entities ("All power corrupts…").
You will never have Utopia in this world, but the system envisioned by our founders is as close as we are going to get.

You're conflating government and economics.

Sam Goldwyn.

You asked who said, "If you have a message, call western union."

However, I wouldn't necessarily rate him as overly percipient as he also reportedly said, "The next time I send a damn fool for something, I go myself."

Yes, that was his name. Now I remember, thanks. And more accurately what he said. Regardless, he was generally a very successful businessman. At one time. And his name is in the well known MGM. So again … I'm a bottom line kind'a guy.

No. It is our form of limited government (at least up until recent history) that has allowed individuals to create the greatest economic engine ever.
The two go hand in hand; one is not possible without the other.

Ya'll are aware that corporations don't have feelings, opinions and beliefs right?

Yes but their shareholders do. I know … I'm one of them … in a number of Corps.