Gap is in social media hell for not knowing what "Manifest Destiny" is

So, apparently Gap has been selling this shirt with the words "Manifest Destiny" written on it.

As a Canadian, the first thing it made me think of was the rhetoric behind post-1812 border skirmishes with our southern neighbours. But that's just the way I learned it in history class.

FB friend Audra (a social media specialist in the not-for-profit world) made me aware of just how much shit it's causing with the real victims of the policy when she shared this post on The Belle Jar:

The term Manifest Destiny was coined by journalist John L. O’Sullivan in 1845 as part of his campaign to encourage the annexation of Texas and Oregon County. His first use of the phrase, in the 1845 July-August issue of the Democratic Review, didn’t draw much attention, but the second time he used it, in a column published in the New York Morning News on December 27th, 1845, became extremely influential: 

“And that claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federated self-government entrusted to us.” 

Manifest Destiny became the smart, fancy-sounding name for a belief that had already been around for quite some time: namely, that white folks of European descent were destined to rule the entirety of North America. These people truly believed that it was God’s will that they colonize the new world and systematically destroy any civilizations that might already be occupying the lands they wanted.

To make things worse, here's what the shirt designer had to say about it:

Via Ida Hammer

There's now a petition on Change.org that states:

GAP is selling a black shirt with the words "MANIFEST DESTINY" written on it. This article of clothing promotes a belief that has resulted in the mass genocide of indigenous people, and it serves to normalize oppression. This shirt is marketed to teens and young adults, and it gives no context for the racism and inequality that persists in our society, to this day, as a result of this doctrine. We are asking that this shirt be discontinued, and that an apology be issued.

The designer, Mark Mcnairy, is very very sorry:

Like ALL CAPS sorry.

Meanwhile, Gap have lost all control over their Facebook wall. 

Here are some choice posts.:

Seriously. Is nobody minding the store?

Advertising as cultural immersion, Lithuanian edition

My previous post, about a cool new Lithuanian music festival campaign, prompted my Lithuanian friend (okay, my only friend in Lithuania) to send me an interesting campaign from his former colleagues at Adell Taivas Ogilvy, Vilnius:

What?

My friends, if you even get a chance to meet a Lithuanian, buy him or her a drink. You will learn things .

Lithuania is a proud nation with an interesting history. It was one of the last pagan strongholds in Europe when it was officially converted in the late Middle Ages. Soon, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became the largest country in Europe, incorporating modern-day Belarus, Ukraine, and parts of Poland and Russia.

That explains the first ad.

This one is more obscure, but Lithuanians (the target audience) would get it.

From a tourism site:

Lithuania has long history and capital was moving along with the ruling power. The most ancient known Lithuanian capital was Kernave - until 13th century there was big settlement here located on 4 mounds facing River Neris. In 14th century Trakai became residence for Lithuanian Grand Dukes. Grand Duke Gediminas settled Vilnius in 1323 and the capital moved to the new residence where it is until today. Kaunas was temporary capital of Lithuania between World War I and World War II when Vilnius was occupied and temporarily outside frontiers of Lithuania.

Also, there was only ever one person who took the title of "King" of Lithuania: Mindaugas (ca. 1203 –  1263).

Whew! Covering international advertising can be a lot of work! But I always told people I got into this industry and stayed because I get to learn something new every day...

The white stork is a native Lithuanian migratory bird, the official bird of the country, and a big part of its folklore.

Which brings us to...

Ummm... uhhhh... any Lithuanians out there want to go grab a beer with me?

All ads via Ads of The World

Ziggy Street

It's certainly one of my favourite album covers.  Shot by photographer Brian Ward in January 1972 photographer Brian Ward outside a fur distribution company called "K. West" at 23 Heddon Street, London. According to The Ziggy Stardust Companion, the entire shoot was done in black and white, then colourized in those saturated tones. (You can see some outtakes here.)

"To be played at maximum volume."

The side street has apparently changed quite a bit in 40 years. But just this week, the Crown Estate mounted a "Blue Plaque" at the site to commemorate its historical significance.

Unveiled by the dude from Spandau Ballet. Remember them?

Now that David Bowie is seemingly retired, I hope this kind of thing doesn't make him feel too old.

But then again, he's the one who said we only had five years...

Thanks to Mark B for the tip.

The real St. Valentine

There he sits (his head, anyway) in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. All that we really know about him is that his feast day is today (February 14) and that he is dead. Stories about him being a priest martyred by Emperor Claudius for secretly marrying Christian couples is a bit of late Mediaeval and Renaissance embellishment, as is his association with love and romance (attributed to Chaucer).

So enjoy your cards, candies and sexy time while you may. You'll eventually be a dead person people make up stories about too.

History repeats itself. History repeats itself. History...

Mexico City's Museo Memoria y Tolerancia is an interesting idea. In a place founded on genocide and the clash of ancient empires, the museum stands "to warn about the dangers of indifference, discrimination and violence for generating, instead, responsibility, respect and awareness in each individual."

These ads, by Mexico's Made agency, paraphrase the George Santayana  quote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" and matches it with iconic images of war and violence to amplify the message.

The effect is not subtle, and you could accuse the campaign of relying too much on borrowing interest from some of the world's great tragedies. But the message is, at least, clear. and as important now as it was over 100 years ago.

Via I Believe in Advertising 

Axe turns a single sexual pun into more than a minute of online ad

Because Canadian history and identity are so entwined with the humble little Castor canadensis, we're pretty used to these kinds of jokes. So, while this ad is somewhat funny at first, it could easily have been written by any hoser in Grade 9.



And here's my mental narrative:

Ha! "Beaver"! Oh, that history lesson is so awkwardly sexual when read over the sexy video. Oh, that was a good one! ... Okay, end now. ... Is that still going?

I guess that's why it has had <5K views in three months.

F'd Ad Fridays: The perfect gift for your little van Leeuwenhoek

No, not really.

Ironically, I received this super geeky adult sex toy link as comment spam, and here I am posting about it.

From the product site:

"It might not be made by the space agency but the Nasa Scope is still pretty hi-tech, and a fantastic way to view your own sperm or any other juices you or your partner produce! Use the various lens to get a maximum magnification of 1200 times and REALLY get to know how your body works.

This set includes not only the powerful yet novice-friendly microscope, but also samples for you to test out your scientific skills before you get more personal. There are also slides, filters, a dropper and a spatula included. This has been especially produced for all those curious guys and gals out there, so don't feel squeamish or embarrassed about putting your intimate liquids right under the microscope!

The Nasa Scope features:

• Includes: samples (fat, sea salt, shrimp eggs, eosin), slides x 4, color filter, pin set, prepared slide x 2, dropper, spatula, surgical knife"

 Surgical knife? What kind of sick shenanigans are they getting up to in the bedrooms of Japan?

Although I do appreciate the historical appropriateness of examining intimate fluids. Antonie Philips van Leeuwenhoek, father of microbiology, famously fell afoul of church authorities for discovering sperm by examining semen under his early microscope.

"I have often observed the sperm of a healthy man without waiting for it to become corrupt or fluid/watery, five or six minutes after ejaculation. I have noticed that a large number of small animals, I think it must be more than a thousand, on an area no larger than a grain of sand."

 Maybe I should be more curious about what kind of shenanigans they're getting up to in the laboratories of The Netherlands.

The decline and fall of art and design, as seen in Olympic advertising through history

The Olympic Games FB page posted this gallery of Olympics posters through history.

Watch as the style transitions from neoclassicism to awesome art nouveau, through homoerotic constructivism, hyper-nationalism, and mid-century minimalism to shit, shitty and shittier.  (Although Atlanta's not bad.)

I took the liberty of adding London 2012, the "XXX Olympiad" that has been described as pornographic Simpsons fanfic:

Let the Games begin...

F'd Ad Fridays: Creepy Ronald Reagan cartoon will haunt your nightmares

And this is just the trailer...



Jezebel also points out how the video, a brainchild of Mike Huckabee,  tells "how the Reagan Revolution saved us from [a] knife-wielding, disco-loving African American chap".

Good point, but I'm more disturbed by this:

And this...

 And this...

Mommy! Make it stop!