Commentary on advertising from the automobile advertising. How the industry is marketing products to us. I will also occasionally toss in an example from outside of the auto industry that I think is relevant or is an example of notable advertising and marketing.
(and we're still on the car topic - where else would you drive-thru late at night?)
Some background here, although it could be urban legend. That Wendy’s board were patriots and wanted to make a serious statement about the bad guys. They certainly did - on a lot of levels!
Speaking of the great advertising that MINI creates, have you seen the brilliant Geico Caveman car insurance commercials?
In a staged ad, Geico manages to put it's foot in it's mouth by suggesting that their website is so easy to use a "Caveman could do it". What Geico should have known is that cavemen still exist, and they were offended by this ad. (Whether some somehow survived, or were unfrozen from Siberia - we don't know).
For your viewing pleasure, here are the ads in the series to date:
The Offensive Ad (note that a member of the crew is a caveman - look at the hair on him!)
Apology to the Offensive Ad (cavemen are sophisticated)
At the Apartment (note that despite the metrosexual lifestyle, the painting on the wall is that of a beast being hunted. That's why I believe he is conflicted, stuck in two ages)
At the Airport (note the tennis racket and preppy clothes)
Call to complain
The Talk Show (sendup of Fox News)
Getting Therapy
Now that they have referred to his Mom, they have to show us what she looks like!
I had some initial ideas: that maybe she would wear perils and vacuum all day, like June Cleaver? Or maybe wears a set of Dame Edna eyeglasses? Falsetto voice aka Python? Or played by a guy in drag? Micro-manages his life? Already using Geico - why isn't he? Maybe a tough dame who has been in the slammer? Or she has a boyfriend - but he is a human 21st-century human? Or maybe she is dating a Larry Fortenski type (to remind her of her base roots)? But does his Mom have to be an embarrassment? NO!
Now I'm evolving (pun) my thinking for where this series of commercials could go. The Caveman is definitely not human, he is a different species. He is stuck in two worlds. That is not to say that he doesn’t have humanity. Look at how he lives, how he dresses, his sophisticated apartment, his friends (all cavemen) - he strives for more in life as well as in his insurance company (the two being indistinguishable in this commercial world).
His Mom should represent the side of him with hopes, dreams, aspirations. She should have class. She should be smart and have her own opinion and interests, and be her own person. But she is still a Mom (and still facing up to her responsibilities therein) despite being millions of years old (does this species still exist, or were they frozen?).
She should be a sweet person too. She would make herself up nicely, have class and manners. Dress nicely and look good, despite the caveman attributes of bad hair, stooped posture, large forehead (my own Mom suggests that Caveman Mom would read Kant and have in interest in early religions - and she also insists that the Caveman is indeed human and that I am missing an important point here).
However, because the caveman is in reality pre-human in a modern world, we have to see both of the sides of the makeup that he is struggling with. Therefore, his Dad should be a Fred Flintstone/ Joe Palooka type - crude and everything that is a caveman. He would be blue collar, enjoy going to the fights, having an evening out with the guys (who despite all being human themselves somehow don't notice any difference in him), going out to eat big and bloody BBQ. Probably a drag racer as well!
So his Mom represents his future, his Dad the past. Human or pre-human, and the conflict between the two.
And there would be a commercial in which he is no sooner demonstrating how advanced he is to somebody - when his when his Dad shows up unexpectedly. Embarrasses him in front of the humans, and pulls him back down to the middle (conflicted) position. Because one can get a big head from their choice of insurance company. Or by not accepting one's nature.
Going crazier here, he could have a caveman girlfriend. She could be self-centered and always be talking about her pleasures of going to the beauty parlor (where they shave her back and eyebrows). Of course her sessions there are all pretty much futile... but the caveman loves her anyway.
