posted by sheely on Monday, February 2nd, 2009 at 10:08pm
One of the videos that made it into our Super Bowl ad roundup was the Conan O’Brien ad for Bud Light, in which his agent/manager/ambiguous guy in a suit convinces him to make an embarrassing Bud Light Ad by assuring him that it will “only be seen in Sweden”.
The message of this spot seems to be “Drink Bud Light because it is a beer for awesome-non-Eurotrash-American Dudes!” In the world of the commercial, the only way that the effete Swedes could be convinced to drink Bud Light is with fire, mesh tops, and cheesy techno. But does anyone really still hold this view of Europeans?
posted by Matthew Belinkie on Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 at 2:55pm
A Republican friend of mine (yes, I have them) recently called my attention to Sarah Palin’s favorite nickname for her supporters. “Honestly,” this friend complained, “does anyone want to be a ‘Joe Six-pack?’ Does anyone hear her say that and think, ‘Yes! That’s me!’”
It’s one thing to say you represent the common man. It’s another thing to define the common man as “someone who likes beer.” That’s stereotyping the group you’re supposed to understand, and it’s not even a positive stereotype. When you think about it, “Joe Six-pack” seems like an insult, akin to “Redneck.”
But hey, there are armies of consultants out there helping these candidates choose their words, so maybe the McCain folks believe “Joe Six-pack” plays. Maybe it’s like the red state n-word. Joe Six-packs can totally call each other that, as a statement of solidarity. But if Obama ever referred to a McCain supporter as a Joe Six-pack, he’d be branded a horrible elitist.
On the other hand, maybe what Palin means is that her supporters are totally ripped.
Then I got to thinking, if Palin can call her supporters Joe Six-packs, then maybe Obama should come up with a nickname for his supporters too. A nickname that plays off the most condescending stereotypes about them. Some suggestions:
Charles Chardonnay
Marky Marxist
Bob Banana Republic
Lawrence Latte
Peter Prius
Mike Mad Men Fan
I will be sorely disappointed if you guys don’t fill the comments section with better ones.
