The Auckland True Blood billboard in New Zealand is a huge display of the show’s more-than-mature content.
True Blood is notoriously graphic, dirty and thrilling—more so than any other show riding the passing wave of vampire popularity. Branding itself as "Vampires for Grownups," the series prides itself in its sexual nature. Rather than downplaying this potentially controversial and unbecoming trait, True Blood bares all.
Underscoring its hard-hitting sexual nature is definitely the differentiating factor from other popular pieces of entertainment like The Vampire Diaries, Twilight or Underworld. Since there is a negative ‘fan-girl’ stigma that comes with the Twilight phenomenon, it is not hard to see why the directors take such risque lengths to distance themselves.
The duality of the billboard is perfect in describing True Blood’s cornerstone characteristics of both sex and gore.
Precariously Phallic Billboards
The New Auckland True Blood Advertisement is Shocking
Trend Themes
1. Controversial Advertising - The Auckland True Blood billboard demonstrates the effectiveness of controversial advertising in drawing attention and sparking discussions.
2. Embracing Adult Content - True Blood's branding as 'Vampires for Grownups' shows the potential success of entertainment that fully embraces adult content and themes.
3. Differentiation Through Shock Value - True Blood's use of graphic and sexual content sets it apart from other vampire-themed entertainment and highlights the potential for differentiation through shock value.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - The True Blood billboard demonstrates the potential for adult-themed entertainment to capture attention and build a loyal fanbase, even with content that may be controversial or taboo.
2. Advertising - Brands can learn from the controversy generated by True Blood's billboard and explore the potential of edgy or provocative advertising campaigns to stand out from competitors and generate buzz.
3. Marketing - True Blood's approach to marketing itself as an edgy and controversial series provides an example of how brands can be marketed with provocative and daring campaigns that emphasize differentiation over conformity.