Throwing shoes at President Bush started as a protest, then it became news, then parody, then games, then protests again, and now it has become commercial. eBay has an ad that suggest you should use them to get rid of a Christmas gift you don’t want. So the meme made the quickest transition ever from serious to silly.
The 20 second Bush Shoe eBay ad was apparently created by Belgium's Proximity BBDO ad agency. Has "jumping the shark" been replaced "by throwing the shoe?"
Current Events Parody Ads
eBay 'Bush Shoe' Ad Inspired by 'Sock and Awe'
Trend Themes
1. Parody Ads - Opportunity for brands to create humorous and satirical advertisements for viral marketing.
2. Meme Marketing - Utilizing popular memes and internet trends to create engaging and shareable advertisements.
3. Cultural and Political Satire - Creating ads that make light of current events and political figures to resonate with a humor-seeking audience.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising and Marketing - Incorporating parody ads into marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness and consumer engagement.
2. Online Retail - Leveraging viral trends like the Bush shoe meme to generate buzz and drive sales.
3. Creative Agencies - Developing innovative and witty advertisements that effectively capture the essence of popular parodies and memes.