« Intergalactic! | Home | Sanitized Advertising Not For Your Protection »
Baffling Marketing Messages
By Julie | March 22, 2008
I live not far from a used car dealership that is an outpost in one of those dealer mega-empires. This one is a bargain lot - you know, we’ll advance you your tax refund for a down payment, etc.
They regularly put giant inflatable things out front to advertise ’sales.’ There’s always a sale. We sometimes give directions on where to turn with the inflatables: “Turn left at the giant inflatable clown, before you pass the giant inflatable space alien across the street.”
This week is a MONSTER OF A SALE. The featured inflatable is a giant pink gorilla wearing polka-dot boxer shorts, lipstick, and nail polish. However, this pink, cosmeticked gorilla is wearing no shirt.
I am now baffled as to the gender messaging of this gorilla. It is just a topless girl gorilla (who is wearing boxer shorts)? Is it a cross-dressing male gorilla, and thus the toplessness? Am I just overexamining the subtext here? (probably)
Topics: advertising, automotive, business management, dumb techniques, found objects, marketing, meta-post, minneapolis, zrong |
