linkedin Great brands don’t just reflect safe and accepted norms; they dare to set agendas in culture at large.
The above statement made by Ed Booty, chief strategy officer for Publicis Communications APAC (in connection with one of the ads presented below), reflects an admirable goal. While most people in this industry would agree with the lofty premise, if we re honest, we can admit that such work is rare. Work that truly dares to enter into uncomfortable territory is too seldom attempted, and even more rarely pulled off.
Yet one need not look far for evidence that ads have the power to incite controversy and therefore lead to discussion that ultimately changes minds. For example, witness how just last week, a bunch of bigots got their undergarments all in a twist over a Ritz Crackers campaign showing a couple that didn t conform to the cis-gendered, heterosexual norm .