Budweiser will be debuting an advertisement that tells the story of the German immigrant who made the harrowing journey to America and invented Anheuser-Busch. While the ad's intent was simply to encourage people to pursue their dreams through hard work and perseverance, it also reflects the recent immigration ban and the possible effects that could result from it. If Adolphus Busch had not been able to come to America, we would not have his products. The commercial is inspiring for supporters of the ACLU who want to do away with the immigration ban because so much of what we have comes from immigrants, and you never know what more they are capable of.
Audi's "Daughter" commercial challenges gender inequality. A dad watches as his daughter competes against boys in a down-hill cart race (and wins) and hopes that he can one day tell her that she has just as much value as those boys. This is Audi's acknowledgement of equal pay for equal work, an issue that has come to the forefront in America, and was addressed at the recent Women's March in Washington, DC.
Kia takes a humorous approach to tackling environmentalism in this ad, featuring issues such as saving the whales, trees, icecaps, and rhinos. These are all important environmental issues that have come to light recently as a result of global-warming, poaching, and a variety of other factors. While Kia is ultimately promoting its eco-hybrid Kia Niro, it also serves as a reminder of the other sustainability issues we are facing today.
These are just some of the ways in which advertisements on the day of the big game will reflect the current state of society. Companies seem to agree that taking a stance on important issues such as these and telling a tale through them is a solid way to set them apart from competitors and build rapport with consumers. Do you agree?
This was a very interesting article. It definitely reinforces the idea that advertising and society influence each other. As for promoting products to liberal-minded individuals, I think this is a great idea for companies; anyone who agrees with the values in these commercials is more likely to want to support these brands. However, conservatives who might not agree with climate change, immigration, or equal pay may be turned off to these brands after watching their commercials. Morally, I think making ads like this is the right thing to do. But it must be kept in mind that taking stances on social issues is a definite way to shorten your consumer base, thus possibly influencing your sales in a negative way.
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