But look at this picture for a moment, sent as one side of an advertisement for shoes, sent to a straight man. Is this picture supposed to make me rejoice? Will it give me a thrill that my relationships will be as exciting as this? Do I dream everyday of about having 'my day to sparkle'? Did (national seller of shoes here) actually commission this picture of two middle-age lunatics thinking that their ecstasy at buying a pair of shoes would translate to me?
Yes, it's marketing. They want me to come and buy shoes. But this reminds me that for all the analytics and algorithims that now go in to marketing, this company failed miserably when it came to knowing their audience, ME. We complain all the time that companies are selling our private personal data (that we have given them willingly, BTW) and that no longer can we make choices on our own. Surely, we think, this is the end of the world.
But as long as actual marketing campaigns are run by people stupid enough to think that this picture will appeal to a straight middle-aged white male, maybe we shouldn't be so worried that we are losing our souls. Because this picture almost makes me NOT want to buy from this company, just as the guy selling cars from the local Ford dealer who screams into the camera makes me NOT want to buy Fords.
Of course, I do like a new pair of kicks. And I do like money off...that should have been their message. As it is, I've got to hold onto this picture of these orgasmic morons until I finally get around to getting my new shoes.
