# Dead Musicians as Activists John Lennon is Spokesperson for OLPC Ad By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2008-12-28 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/john-lennon-olpc References: [engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/28/john-lennon-eerily-returns-to-push-olpc-cause/) & [laptop.org](http://laptop.org/en/) Although personal computer technology was at its nascent stages when John Lennon passed away in 1980, the iconic musician appears in a new ad for One Laptop Per Child. In the Yoko Ono-approved OLPC ad, a [digitally-enhanced John Lennon](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-comic-con) says, "Imagine every child no matter where in the world they were could [access a universe of knowledge](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/im-not-remarkable). They would have a chance to learn, to dream, to achieve anything they want." **Implications** - John Lennon is an [iconic cultural figure](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-beatles-x-crocs-classic-clog) whose identity transcends the bounds of the music world. He is related to campaigns that have a social slant. I particularly like this ad because it reinvokes the spirit of an icon that both younger and older generations can relate to. Have a look at the ad to see for yourself. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 63% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Activism](https://www.trendhunter.com/activism) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Digital Celebrity Activists:** The use of digitally-enhanced celebrities or deceased cultural icons in advertisements to promote social causes. - **Technological Nostalgia:** The use of technological advancements to bring back cultural icons from the past for modern campaigns. - **Global Education for All:** The promotion of accessible education through the use of personal computer technology, particularly in underprivileged areas. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Advertising:** Opportunities for advertising agencies to use deceased celebrities or cultural icons to promote social causes in a modern context. - **Technology:** Opportunities for advancement in digital enhancement technology to create believable visual representations of deceased cultural icons for modern campaigns. - **Education:** Opportunities for personal computer technology companies to promote and provide accessible education for underprivileged areas in the world. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Creative Music-Based Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/music-deserves-bose.md) - [Music-Inspired Avatar Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/see-yourself-in-sound.md) - [Generational Musician Gin Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-toast-between-legends.md) - [Prolonged Activism Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stay-in-the-fight.md) - [Emotional Holiday Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/john-lewis-2025.md) - [Super Bowl Sleep Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/love-yourself-like-a-legend.md) - [Dreamy Dance-Centric Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apple-and-spike-jonze.md) - [Legacy Artist-Themed T-Shirts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gap-1.md) - [Singer-Led Fashion Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pour-homme-and-neighborhood.md)