17568: WTF KFC.

Does Colonel Sanders really translate in Myanmar? Really? Or is it Colonel colonialism?

17507: On Elephants In The Room At BP.

This BP employee training video empowers people to speak up against disrespectful and/or abusive behavior in the workplace.

 

Okay, but based on historical accusations, maybe the visual metaphor should’ve been a White elephant in the room.

17445: WPP Media QSR WTF.

 

MediaPost reported WPP Media was named integrated media agency for KFC and Pizza Hut in Singapore, allegedly after a competitive shootout.

 

The four-sentence report stated spending for the brands was not disclosed; plus, incumbents and competitors were not identified.

 

Was the victory sealed via Corporate Cultural Collusion, cronyism, or colonization? Probably a conspiratorial combination of all three.

 

WPP Media Wins KFC, Pizza Hut Singapore Assignments

 

By Steve McClellan

 

WPP Media has been appointed integrated media agency for KFC Singapore and Pizza Hut Singapore, following a competitive pitch.   

 

The agency’s remit includes media strategy, planning, and buying for both brands across the market.

 

Spending was not disclosed, and the incumbents on the account were not identified.  

 

WPP Media has existing relationships with both brands, working with them in parts of Europe, Asia Pacific, and other regions.  

16307: Scorn On The Fourth Of July.

 

Adland gleefully celebrates the 4th of July—despite the fact that four of the big six holding companies are not American enterprises, hailing from Japan, France, and the UK.

 

Does this reality impact true dedication to DE&I initiatives? Do the majority of holding company leaders view such nettlesome matters as primarily US concerns—local nuisances to check off from to-do lists preceded by more pressing priorities like quarterly earnings, mergers, award pursuits, digital capabilities, and AI? And it doesn’t help that holding companies take a colonizing approach to growth.

 

Are most of the men in charge—by virtue of their geopolitical perspectives and foreign interests—further levels removed from those seeking equality and justice?

 

16183: How Decolonizing Design Can Diversify Adland.

Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook by Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall is both auto-biographical and anti-racist—a call-to-action for justice, equality, and institutional transformation, as well as a call-out to the colonization that has historically harmed non-Whites and adversely impacted design.

 

Tunstall has served in a range of leadership roles, culminating to her current position as Dean of the Faculty of Design at Ontario College of Art and Design University, Toronto—and she’s the first Black person to hold such a title in the world. Other professional accomplishments include associate dean and professor at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. In Adland USA, Tunstall has worked for White holding company Publicis Groupe and White advertising and digital firms such as Arc Worldwide and Sapient (although technically, it would be improper to label the latter a White enterprise).

 

The book presents plenty of provocative perspectives—like putting Indigenous demands first in DE&I hiring plans. Hell, Adland USA DE&I hiring plans prioritize White women, White LGBTQI+, White people with disabilities, White people who are neurodivergent, White old people, and numerous other White groups well ahead of non-Whites, with Indigenous communities relegated to the bottom of the proverbial totem pole. In fact, it’s unlikely that the standard White advertising agency even has DE&I hiring plans.

 

Another interesting point involves Tunstall’s success in orchestrating the “cluster hire strategy”—that is, appointing numerous minorities into executive slots at once. Recruiting a group of people together can—in addition to accelerating DE&I efforts—help lessen the pressures that may build up around a single minority appointment, as there will be communal support from the start, which also aids in retention.

 

To be clear, the maneuver happened in Canada, where legal measures (e.g., the Ontario Human Rights Code) allow such group hirings when it can be shown an underrepresented segment has historically faced discrimination. It’s hard to imagine executing the move in the UK or US, where cries of reverse discrimination would likely commence. The ruling majority, of course, has no problem with the Caucasian cluster hiring that created an exclusive industry. In short, Adland would turn minority cluster hires into major clusterfucks.

 

Read Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook by Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall. For a primer, check out Tunstall’s thoughts on how to make Adland a safer space for Black people.

16040: Happy Anti-Racist Thanksgiving.

The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence presents Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combatting Racism in Schools—a bountiful harvest of anti-racist resources.

15954: The Queen Of Beers…?

 

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has sparked reflections on British colonialism in Africa and other countries during her reign.

 

The reactions might inspire a rethinking of the iconic Great Kings and Queens of Africa art series from Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch.

 

14703: Shameful Indian Campaign Is Clearly Wrong. Or Rong.

Why does this campaign from India shame people for speaking in imperfect English? Seems like the lingering effects of colonialism—just saying.

14127: Colonialism By Canoe.

Anyone else think this campaign for The Canadian Canoe Museum by BrandHealth feels culturally clueless? The tagline proclaims, “We Got Here By Canoe.” Sorry, but Canada was not colonized and conquered by canoe.