Schlagwort: USA

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Der Marlboro-Mann denkt nach

Einsamer Wolf sucht anderen einsamen Wolf zwecks gemeinsam auf dem Hügel rumtreiben und Schafe hüten und so. Ist schon ein Jammer in diesem Marlboro Country. Die Werbefuzzis verlangen einfach zu viel von einem. „Sie sind der Marlboro-Mann, also schauen Sie gefälligst auch so!“. „Arschloch“, denkt sich der Marlboro-Mann und schaut eben so. Aber egal, wohin er auch schaut: überall nur Landschaft. Da haben die hier wirklich viel davon, nicht so wie in Castrop-Rauxel oder Hannover-Laatzen. Was denkt der Marlboro-Mann eigentlich so, wenn er schauen soll? Eine kleine Auswahl, was dem Ur-Raucher bei der Werbeaufnahme durch den Kopf geht:

Come to where the flavour is. Come to Marlboro Contry.
Come to where the flavor is. Come to Marlboro Contry.
  • „Hoffentlich pisst mich jetzt der verdammte Gaul nicht an“
  • „Ich hasse Pferde“
  • „Das Gras hier ist fast so weich wie am Brokeback“
  • „Sind das jetzt Cirrus oder Cummulus dort drüben?“
  • „Nächsten Sommer hol ich meinen Quali nach, dann ist Schluss mit dem Mist hier“
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Salem Menthol

Cigarette commercials of the 70s seem to be cursed: As happens with the Marlboro Country campaign, Brokeback Mountain comes into mind when one looks at the two young gentleman advertising Salem Menthol. The theme is repeating itself, but this time much more subtle: Two young men, good looking (hairstyle), active (canoe), natural (cigarettes?) and possibly very lonely. However, in the PBM-age (Post Brokeback Mountain) maybe one should be careful to interpret it this way. Perhaps the two guys (Tom Selleck would fit in very well, unfortunately he doesn’t smoke cigarettes see update below) just want to enjoy nature. And smoke. Their backpack should be large enough to carry about 20 cartons of Salem Menthol. Enough to get your lungs going for one weekend. Canoeing is so much more fun, when the windpipe blows in tune. Immensely refreshing.

Salem Menthol
Salem refreshes naturally

Salem is owned by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR). It was once one of the most successful cigarette brands in America. The name Salem refers to the hometown of RJR: Winston-Salem in North Carolina, where the company’s headquarters are located. Readers of Christopher Buckleys novel “Thank you for Smoking” (very recommendable: the book, not the movie) will remember Winston-Salem as the heartland of Tobacco.

Update:
The boys from Bellybuzz are great. Though we have sugested, Tom Selleck would fit nicely in the group of our Salem Menthol guys, we didn’t dream that he actually was one of the Salem-ad-figures. Check it out: Tom Selleck smoking.

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Come to Marlboro Country

The evergreen among cigarette commercials is not missing in our collection: Cowboys, horses, countryside – freedom. According to Philip Morris, manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes and owner of one of the most valuable brands, men’s paradise lies just behind the vending machine. Take your cigarettes, get on the horse and into the hills.

Marlboro Country
"Come to Marlboro Country"1975 US ad campaign

There is more than the scent of freedom and cigarette smoke blowing over the hills. Since 2005, you may also feel the warming aura of real comradeship. What cinema visitor hasn’t experienced it: As soon as Marlboro Man is riding into view, pictures from “Brokeback Mountain” force themselves into the head. Ennis’ and Jack’s hopeless love couldn’t be more tragic than what is happening since to advertising strategists. Marlboro Man, the embodiment of male toughness, is now associated with cuddling cowboys. Cigarettes? No way, José – even though the two of them were smoking quite a lot. Marlboro Country? A real dilemma. I am curious, how Philip Morris and Marlboro get out of this. To anybody who wants to learn more about Marlboro-Man and the machinations of the tobacco industry, I recommend reading “Thank you for smoking” from Christopher Buckley. Clever, funny, hilarious – the book, not the movie.

Maybe you’ll also like another smoking post: Marloboro Man is musing