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Promotions with Cultural Stereotypes Edit
'Lonely Fortune Writer' Ad Singles Asian-Americans Out

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Promotions with Cultural Stereotypes
'Lonely Fortune Writer' Ad Singles Asian-Americans Out
Promotions with Cultural Stereotypes - 'Lonely Fortune Writer' Ad Singles Asian-Americans Out (GALLERY) 2
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Promotions with Cultural Stereotypes - 'Lonely Fortune Writer' Ad Singles Asian-Americans Out (GALLERY)
'Lonely Fortune Writer' Ad Singles Asian-Americans Out
 Published: Dec 21, 08
Comments: 3 Views: 2,678

To promote sales for ‘Healthy Choice: Asian Inspired Cafe Steamers,’ ConAgra foods created the website ‘Lonely Fortune Writer.’ Unfortunately for ConAgra, their new interactive site is considered insulting by a number of Asian-Americans.

The ‘Lonely Fortune Writer’ features an Asian man who is bummed out because the sale of fortune cookies has gone down. To make him happy, you can have him write a fortune for you or a friend.

One reason the ‘Lonely Fortune Writer’ has people upset is that fortune cookies aren’t an ‘Asian inspiration’ but rather an American one. They feel if a company is going to claim that something is inspired by a culture, then make sure you use something from said culture. 

I can see their point. Fortune cookies first came about in California and are thought to have been created by an Asian immigrant. When sold in China (first introduced in the 1990s) they were marketed as ”Genuine American Fortune Cookies.”

This is the best 'Asian Inspired' concept ConAgra could come up with? The Chinese culture, rich as it is, dating back to 1500 BC, with 50 something ethnicities and cultures, could not inspire them to come up with anything better? Seriously - the fortune cookie? Something that is mostly completely 'American', especially in the form featured, was the best piece of 'Asian' culture they could leverage? I truly question the integrity of their marketing managers and their lack of creative thinking. (adrants)

References:  healthychoice, adrants

Filed In:  business,  food,  interactive,  lifestyle,  marketing,  retail






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FOUR WAYS TO REACT: vote, favorite, add more examples of Promotions with Cultural Stereotypes or comment about 'Lonely Fortune Writer' Ad Singles Asian-Americans Out.

Sandra Winn on Dec 21, 08  423 Trends   1,249 Comments
Brilliant title change Marissa, thank you. :-)
Sandra Winn on Dec 21, 08  423 Trends   1,249 Comments 0
Marissa Brassfield on Dec 21, 08  3,535 Trends   4,162 Comments
"Unfortunate" is right. I don't think Healthy Choice and ConAgra intended to offend, but as AdRants points out, there are a number of authentic Asian traditions that might have been more appropriate.
Marissa Brassfield on Dec 21, 08  3,535 Trends   4,162 Comments 0
Sandra Winn on Dec 21, 08  423 Trends   1,249 Comments
I agree. Honestly, until I read about this on Adrants, I assumed fortune cookies were a complete cultural Asian tradition myself.
Sandra Winn on Dec 21, 08  423 Trends   1,249 Comments 0


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Promotions with Cultural Stereotypes