There’s a recent TV ad that’s making me cringe. I don’t know the name, but it’s probably titled something like Taco Bell’s “Double the Beef” commercial. I can’t find it on youtube, but I’ll describe it:
It starts off with a black and white montage of people throwing the “V” sign in protest situations. (Think anti-war rallies on school campuses in the 60’s). This is followed by a narration with something like “Across the world everyone wants…double the beef”, and then a grotesque closeup of a burrito.
Never, ever co-op imagery associated with peace to sell fucking fast-food loaded with meat and processed cheese. When I see video clips of marching people, I think of civil rights and rallies against some form of injustice*. This commercial wasn’t witty and ironic, it’s taking themes like peace, anti-commercialism, human rights etc. to sell food and a lifestyle that to people who normally throw peace signs and march would find abhorrent. I eat fast food from time to time, but this commercial has turned me off Taco Bell. Then again, I am sure I’m not their market.
*(I bet some marketing genius already thought they were being sensitive by using stock protest clips with actors. If they showed clips of real protests, I would’ve burst.)
Technorati Tags: Taco Bell, Tasteless Ad, Advertising, Commercials
