Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Bah, Humbug


What can one say about "The Mascots?"


Except that they violate every rule of marketing. Like 4 items rather than 1 on which to focus.


Like forgettable names.


And what is with this painful farce of putting aboriginal symbols before the world as if we can take great pride in our "partnerships" with natives?


Is this yet another sad attempt by guilt-ridden governments to buy friendship with a most legitimately aggrieved group?


Where can I hide until this damn frat party is over? New Zealand?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have two children (both of whom I am trying to shield from marketers for as long as possible...). I also childmind a four year old.

The four year old gives his opinion after seeing the picture on your blog, "it looks great for a baby!"

Keep in mind that a four year old will like a stuffed rat if the taxidermist turns its upper lip into a forced smile....

As for my opinion, I think these silly stuffies are the product of market research and focus groups - but, instead of the marketers actually choosing one thing that would represent Vancouver and British Columbia - they choose a hodge podge of elements that they hoped would please everyone. In the end - they please no-one.

They took several symbols and combined them. A cross between an orca and a spirit bear. Huhhhhh??? Then make it look like Hello Kitty to appeal to the Asian market. Wait, there were other symbols, create a few more little stuffies to represent them. Have they covered everything? Wait, make an extra "side kick"

I don't think that this is so much a sad attempt to buy friendship with the First Nations (I am not sure, but I don't believe they are getting any royalties from these products...)

I liken these designs more to my four year old charge and two year old son playing with paints. They want to use all the colours and end up with a big mess.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering what they were thinking when they named one of the mascots Sumi. I wish we could. The Canada Line is only happening because of the Olympics -- the Sumi/Sue Me mascott is perfect for that debacle.

The 2010 mascots brought to mind a Vaniety Fair article I read some time ago about "furries", people who have an erotic attachment to plush toys. Prior to reading the article it was something I could never have imagined. There is a huge ick factor to this "hobby".

http://pressedfur.coolfreepages.com/press/vanityfair/

Mo.

Anonymous said...

Godammit yer an angry bugger. I'm going out to buy a bunch of Olympic mascot crap now thanks to this post.

David Berner said...

HAHAHAHA...ENJOY...

Anonymous said...

David, I have room in my crawl space if you would care to join me until................2011. Bring pale ale.

David Berner said...

HAHAHA...I'LL BE RIGHT OVER...

Anonymous said...

Trap, skin and wear them at official Olympic functions...