by Karen Topakian
“We (slight pause) are a nation divided.” declares an authoritative male voice, while the television screen fills with black and white images of swarms of people confronting each other in the street.
“That’s what they tell us, right?” the voice continues as sirens punctuate the muffled sounds coming from a large agitated crowd.
“This chasm between us.” (Black and white images of a large demonstration. A power fist rises from the crowd.)
I watch this ad feeling hopeful as I see everyday people marching for peace and justice. It’s obviously an ad, but for what?
“But what they don’t tell you.” (The image turns to color, a street protest with a sign saying Free Hugs.)
This swell of humanity striving for a better world fills me with inspiration. It emboldens me to work harder to create a more just and equitable world. What’s it advertising or is it a PSA for the ACLU, Amnesty International…?
“What doesn’t make the news is this.” (An African-American male approaches an African American police officer then hugging him.)
“We carry each other forward.” (Two young baseball players carry a third off the field. Soldiers carry one of their own off the battlefield)
No matter who we are or what we believe.” (A first responder heroically rescues someone high above dangerous flooded waters. A rainbow peace flag held aloft in a throng of protesters.)
“Or where we come from.” (A black and white image of immigrants standing on the shore looking out at the sea.)
“We’ve had the privilege of carrying a century of humanity.” (A sea of men and women fill an enormous urban intersection.)
I stop wondering for a moment about the product, because I’m swept up in pride at the American tradition of unity, generosity and helping those in need. Now I’m hopeful that we Americans, can come together, rise above our differences to make this country and world a better place.
“Lovers.” (A black and white image of a block long convertible with a Marilyn Monroe-type women standing next to it.)
“Fighters.” (Mohammed Ali polishes the hood of a big car.)
“Leaders.” (President Eisenhower stands tall in a convertible processing down a parade route. Probably at his inauguration.)
“But maybe what we carry isn’t people. It’s an idea.”
OMG, they’re advertising a car! Not just any car but a Cadillac.
CADILLAC!!!!
The gas guzzling behemoth that contributes to global climate change with its low gas mileage (22 city/31 highway).
Cadillac, whose parent company General Motors, historically achieved greatness when the EPA named it one of the top 100 corporate polluters.
Cad-il-lac! A status symbol. A car for the elite, not for the masses.
A Caddy – unaffordable by most, envied by many.
I spent 34 precious seconds feeling good about the world, about our country. The longest I’ve felt since the Women’s March. Now I only feel anger. Anger at these advertisers’ emotional manipulation for a product that contributes to global climate change. Anger at this ad built on the backs of heroes and change agents.
Talk about feeling ripped off. Robbed. Cheated. Used. Duped.
Maybe I feel worse because I identify with these images, with these movements or because they’re usurping these social change movements, for which they’ve never played a part and even thwarted, to sell something that contributes to our planetary demise. I feel duped by allowing myself to feel manipulated by their images and rhetoric that feel sacred to me.
A labor organizer colleague disagreed with me about this ad, which aired during the Academy Awards, because he said their UAW workers receive a good wage, which, of course, is important. Had the ad come from the UAW, I would have hailed it, because they’ve fought the good fight for workers. Had the ad featured electric cars, which I see as working towards a solution, I too would have lauded it. Just not a Cadillac.
Of course, they’re not the first company to play on our emotions. That’s advertising’s design. It manipulates us. Opens our heart to see the product or service for the first time or in a new light and then, hopefully tells our brain to purchase it.
Studies show the average number of advertisement and brand exposures we experience per day per person reaches 5,000+.
In addition to using emotional and nostalgic images, advertisers and politicians more frequently employ popular music to promote their wares and themselves. For example, Microsoft paid Rolling Stones to play “Start Me Up” to launch Windows 95. Candy giant Mars licensed “Satisfaction” to sell Snickers bars. BMW played Steppenwolf’s classic hit “Born to Be Wild.” Most recently, Sleep Number mattresses used the Kink’s iconic song, “All Day and All of the Night.”
As much as I dislike hearing the songs I love used for commercial purposes, these artists made a financial agreement with these companies knowing how they would use their art.
The Cadillac ad strikes me differently. Because it relies on our emotional connection to striving for a better world to sell us a product for which it bears no connection or relationship. Pure and simple pandering. Well done. But pandering nonetheless.
When it comes to ads like this, I must protest.
Tour de Farce 