Andrew Francis D. sent in this 1970s commercial for Faygo soda that appropriates elements of Native American culture, presenting them as part of a ridiculous caricature (“Running Pudgy”?):
For other examples, see our posts on the stoic Indian in marketing, advertising with Eskimos, a parody of Native Americans in ads, confusing the Sioux with Robin Hood, Sambazon’s Warrior Up campaign, Levi’s brochure of “American Indian lore,” and appropriating Native cultures in fashion.
Comments 8
standswithagist — October 11, 2011
Jamie Farr certainly made a career out of assuming false identities, didn't he? He is of Lebanese ancestry, yet he played another Native American in "F-Troop", Standup Bull, a "bumbling Native American stand up comic", played a gypsy on an Andy Griffith show, and of course a malingering cross-dresser in MASH.
It's like cracked.com said: "celebrities flipping race for profit" without any regard to whom it would impact, besides their career: http://tinyurl.com/3h6vzue
As far as the ad goes, why was there an African-American pilgrim? Not sure that's historically correct, tho I guess they just wanted to be inclusive as they mocked native culture.
Wonder if juggalos know the history of their preferred beverage...
Lunad — October 11, 2011
I don't know if this is mocking Native culture... although the costumes are definitely "movie Indian" the voices and expressions scream Jewish comedian.
Larry Charles Wilson — October 11, 2011
Until this post I had never heard of Faygo.
Andrew Francis D — October 11, 2011
I'm not sure if this is a stretch at all, but, is there a connection with "RED pop" and "RED skin"? Faygo had (has) a wide array of soft drinks and surely red pop was (is) not the preferred flavor. Certainly not among the juggalo sect. (think Moon Mist)
-Andrew Francis D
John Hensley — October 12, 2011
Good thing they got rid of this and started doing their promotion through postmodern minstrel acts