The largest rally in Alaskan history took place last week, and surprisingly it was against Sarah Palin. Thousands of protesters gathered and were instructed to get creative in making their own slogans and signs. The result was a colorful array of some catchy pun-laden political slogans.
Hockey sticks were the preferred means of display, carrying such signs as "Hockey Moma for Obama" and several knock offs of the classic "McCain*Palin" sign with overt substitutions "Reckless*Inexperienced" and "McPain*Failin." Homorous signs like "Keep the Puck out of DC" and "Like the Palin Koolaid?" were waved side by side with more serious signs like "Pro-Woman, Anti-Palin" and "Drilling to Nowhere."
One sign, "Great Performance but We’re not that Stupid" seems to represent a common sentiment along with numerous variations of the "McSame" and "McBush" theme. But no slogan was more biting than "Palin: Bush with Lipstick!"
Anti-Palin Alaskan Protests
Pun-Laden Political Slogans
Trend Themes
1. Anti-palin Protests - Political rallies are shifting from being supportive into being critical towards personalities.
2. Pun-laden Slogans - Political rallies lean towards humorous and satire voices to attract people's attention.
3. Hockey Moma for Obama - Non-mainstream tools are being used to convey political messages, and there's an opportunity to explore their impact on the overall election process.
Industry Implications
1. Political Campaigns - Political campaigns should consider the tone and language they use in their rallies, which can influence how people perceive the campaign they support.
2. Event Planning - Event planners should explore the use of immersive experiences to enhance the impact of rallies and political protests.
3. Graphic Design - There are opportunities for graphic designers to help create messages that convey a political message using visual metaphors and witty wordplay.