In a lengthy analysis of a recent Pepperidge Farm print ad for the company’s Milano cookie, Beyond Madison Avenue in which such details as “soul mates” versus “soulmates” are examined, the writer points to another take on the ad, from 360Nu.com, which…wait for it…calls the ad racist. Yes. A racist cookie ad.
It seems there may need to be a WTF category added to Adrants to house all these idiocies. However, before immediately tossing this off as yet another case of Chronic Overthink, the 360Nu writer offers interesting commentary on marketing, advertising and packaging as they relate to the reflection, creation, perpetuation or racial stereotypes.
Using two examples, angel food cake with white frosting over black cake and Devil Dogs with black …stuff over the white, a corollary is made between the white over black as positive and the black over white as negative (devil).
Whether or not you decide to file this away in your own personal WTF category, you should at least read the piece firts. Then you can label the writer a crack pot or an insightful genius.
