Devoted to branding and building and protecting brands

While there’s much to criticize about the coarsening of culture and society today, as reflected in advertising, marketing and entertainment, it’s equally true that we’ve also come a long way for the good of our culture, society and nation.

Blunting racism, anti-Semitism and sexism are prime examples.
As an ad junkie, I was hooked on AMC’s Mad Men series right from the first episode last July (I’m in withdrawal now – awaiting Season Two).  In the very first show, set in a major New York ad agency in 1960, the anti-Semitism in particular was blatant and unapologetic.  The way we were, by today’s standards, wasn’t exactly flattering.

Today?  It’s Hanukkah; and the idea of any commercial organization, especially an ad agency, issuing even the slightest whiff of what was so prevalent back then would be financial suicide.  Imagine today’s retailers and retail brands failing to adjust their product offerings, merchandising and marketing today – and having people take notice.  Or corporations resistant to accommodating Jewish employees on this or other religious holidays – which, when you think about it, has become more problematic with so many different holiday traditions that raise different issues of inclusiveness.  Makes me glad I’m not in human resources.  Or in the legal department.  But it makes me even gladder that this is now, and that was then.