Ep. 96 - Advertising in the Activist Resurgence (& So-called "Wokeism") 3.0 ft. Justin Stillmaker

BrownTown sits down with the original "Ad Man" Justin Stillmaker
to reflect on the role of advertising as propaganda, its attempts
to co-opt social movement language and optics throughout the past
half decade, and the odd trajectory of the term "woke" (and the
right-wing obsession with hating it). Now in 2023, with
unapologetic anti-LGBTQ+, anti-Black, and anti-labor laws and
rhetoric sweeping the country, where do we situate so-called
“wokeism” in normalizing hate, harm, and regression? With their
varied experiences creating and consuming media as well as
involvement in liberatory struggles, BrownTown and Justin try to
make sense of the relationship between the current political
landscape and the media industry . Originally recorded July 10,
2023.


 


2019's first installment established advertising as a pillar of
consumerism serving as a jester for a larger capitalist economic
structure while analyzing the then unique wave of commercials
co-opting movement optics and language. Episode 2.0 in early 2021
reflected on the institutional and media landscape post-COVID
lockdown, post-George Floyd uprisings, and post-2020 elections,
where the movement co-optation skewed towards “uplifting Black
voices'' regardless of anti-Black policies, shitty marketing, and
the mere fact that the capitalism can’t breed liberation.


 


Full Transcriptions Here!


 


GUEST
Justin Stillmaker has been a creative director at Publicis and
Leo Burnett and has directed commercials for Disney, Target,
Dremel, Nickelodeon, and ComEd. He has worked with Fortune 500
brands from Target to TikTok and has a deep understanding of
designing and operating Artificial Intelligence platforms,
communicating messaging for emerging brands, and developing the
visual language of companies and brands. Justin has directed
numerous short films, web series, and music videos that have been
screened at dozens of film festivals around the country. He has a
deep passion for film, basketball, and terrible puns. Follow
Justin on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and his site
JustinStillmaker.com. Watch and/or listen to his Twitch show
Connect the Dots on YouTube or whoever you find your
podcasts.


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Mentioned Topics:


Episode 95 - Home

Chicago Drill 'n' Activism

Paul Ryan likes RATM?

SNL sketch on Kendall Jenner's Pepsi Ad

Dave Chappelle & "cancel culture"

#MeToo & Anziz Ansari “cancelation” (1, 2)

CPD sexual assault allegations



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CREDITS: Intro soundbite from The Daily
Show and outro Wake Up by Rage Against the Machine.
Audio engineered by Kiera Battles.


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