The 'Connect 4' Campaign Lines Up Cruel Humor
Vivian Lau — June 16, 2012 — Pop Culture
References: hasbro & fastcocreate
Memes that once enjoyed humble attention on platforms like Tumblr, 4Chan and Reddit have meandered their way into popular culture, and now in one form or another, into print ads (as the 'Connect 4' campaign exhibits).
Using the same sort of short, punchy, one-liner humor, the ads feature the iconic Connect 4 board, with a hopeful streak of winning yellow pieces. The pieces have a succession of happily innocent objects and events written on them, for example: "A wealthy grand aunt," "A heart attack" or "Only one heir," but unfortunately are interrupted by a trolling red piece, with "Bernard Madoff," effectively shutting down the scenario.
Life is full of surprises, and the Connect 4 campaign cleverly draws on popular culture to highlight the beautiful frustrations of its game.
Using the same sort of short, punchy, one-liner humor, the ads feature the iconic Connect 4 board, with a hopeful streak of winning yellow pieces. The pieces have a succession of happily innocent objects and events written on them, for example: "A wealthy grand aunt," "A heart attack" or "Only one heir," but unfortunately are interrupted by a trolling red piece, with "Bernard Madoff," effectively shutting down the scenario.
Life is full of surprises, and the Connect 4 campaign cleverly draws on popular culture to highlight the beautiful frustrations of its game.
Trend Themes
1. Memes in Advertising - Opportunity for brands to incorporate popular memes and internet humor into their campaigns.
2. Short, Punchy Humor - The use of one-liner humor to engage and capture audience attention in advertising.
3. Incorporating Popular Culture - By incorporating elements of popular culture, brands can create relatable and engaging ad campaigns.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - The advertising industry can leverage the use of memes and comedy to create engaging campaigns.
2. Board Games - Opportunity to create innovative and humorous board game experiences that resonate with a modern audience.
3. Social Media - Social media platforms can take advantage of the popularity of memes in advertising to attract and engage users.
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