Pushing Boundaries
Advertising has inundated our minds with unforgettable slogans, edgy commercials, and timeless personas that haunt our thoughts and dreams — like the Burger King mascot who still terrifies me to this day. Albeit to say, growing up throughout the 90’s was a magical time for ingesting media advertisements between my favorite daily broadcasts of Rocko’s Modern Life and Hey Arnold. I saw unspeakable things that modern television wouldn’t dare recreate or reinvigorate into our current canon of corporate media. 90’s ads had an edge, pushed boundaries, and were quite possibly the most memorable moments in televised commercials.
Don't Get a Big Head
Not only did the 90’s inspire an influx of bizarre and whacky media, but it introduced a wave of sugary drinks and snacks that we begged our mothers for daily. Despite her saying no, we still got a little taste of sweetness from the advertisements. One ad campaign that lives in infamy was for the snack food, Gushers by the Betty Crocker brand. Now, Gushers are squishy, sugary candies that come in radically designed packaging — so naturally, how could we not want them, Mom?! But Gushers decided to take their radically designed branding to the next level with their fruit-head commercial ads. The commercials portrayed children and teenagers eating Gushers, and the result was their head turning into giant fruit that reflected the flavor of the candies. Beyond that, the ad's included wacky editing techniques, action-packed music, and bizarre scenarios that somehow circled around eating Gushers — I mean, they were kind of terrifying ads if you think about it!
The Modern Aesthetic
Despite the short run time for these infamous, 90's ads, they were highly effective at engaging with their targeted audience — they actually worked! So why abandon this lawless approach to advertising? Well, over time, the media has tightened up its guidelines and seams to create advertisements that take a more sincere, and cinematic approach. Brand loyalty and ethos are at the forefront of commercial advertisements today — ones that don't take many risk but intend to provide a wholesome, valued experience that attempts to reach a general, universal audience. Which, in our modern day melting pot, is an appropriate outreach to create more inclusive advertisements for all consumers. Yet, with the advent of Youtube and the world wide web, us 90's kids who are soon approaching our 30's can assuage our urges for nostalgia by revisiting classic, unforgettable commercials from our childhood.