Commercials baffle me, but this one for Tostitos more than others. It’s a little trite, using the scenario of the little kid who asks “why?” to every explanation as a transparent excuse to drive exposition about why you should try their product, but it has an odd conclusion.
We’re all made from different DNA.
Why?
So we can adapt and survive.
OK!
It’s a bit clumsy, but there it is: biology used to sell snack food.
Why?
I know we evilutionists are a minority—why would there be a commercial to target such a narrow slice of the market? Could it be a test, to see if the ad generates a little buzz (I’m doing my part here, see!), or are they looking to see if they can tap into a market segment that is otherwise ignored? Maybe we need to have Mexican for dinner tonight.
Scientists aren’t normal people, so the need targetted marketing.
We’re all made from different DNA
Reminds me for some reason of Life of Brian where a great crowd repeats in unison “we are all different” and then one lone voice says “I’m not”. Great paradox! Solidarish diversity!
We are certainly all made from DNA, and are all different, but not of our DNA is different, and there are people with the same DNA. The statement is somewhat ambiguous, and I wonder what the “different” is doing there. It reads well enough without it. (Or else it should have been proceeded by “slightly”).
Flour is the devil!
I think the OBVIOUS question here is why that YouTube video is over 4 minutes long, featuring the same Tostitos commercial over and over. Who has time to make and upload crap like this?
Beware the Wedge Tactic!
First they get us all buying their naturalistic Tostitos.
Then, they quietly begin printing images of the Virgin Mary on each Tostito. Mass conversions ensue. Atheism dies an ugly, floury death.
Be strong! Ignore the siren song of floury Tostitos!
A spambot running at the manufacturer’s ad agency.
Most TV ads are annoying, but the one that grates on me the most is Sally Field pimping Boniva.
The only reason the admakers can give is that Boniva will reduce the frequency of pill taking from 1 pill a week to 1 pill a month. In their words from Field’s mouth they won’t have to “SET ASIDE TIME once a week” to take a pill.
That last bit was frighteningly ambiguous.
What he’s trying to say is, “We (as individuals) have different DNA so that we (as a species) can adapt and survive.” But there’s no way the kid’s making the connection, and I’m worried that she’s going to embrace Lamarckianism.
Does anyone have the father’s e-mail address?
That sinister possibility did not even come to my mind, xebecs. When we achieve our goal of complete conquest, overthrow of the government, and control of the apparatus of the state, I’m appointing you to be Minister of Internal Security, because of the suspicious way your mind works.
I’d rather not be any sort of minister. Can I be Exalted Madam Chairperson of Internal Security?
I’d also like to be in charge of the food. The last thing The New Order needs is Reactionary Rubber Chicken at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Hmm…I thought Xebecs was just making a pun:
“Beware the Wedge Tactic!”
They should pursue a triangulation strategy. Ouch, that was really corny.
Tostitos Gold are better. Trust me.
That’s funny — probably the first time in my life I wasn’t trying to make a pun, and I made one anyway.
“It’s a bit clumsy, but there it is: biology used to sell snack food. [snip] I know we evilutionists are a minority–why would there be a commercial to target such a narrow slice of the market? [snip]”
It seems to me that the advertisers see evolution as sufficiently well-accepted that they can imagine that a ‘wise and loving father’ would use a colloquial reference to it as part of a heart-warming conversation with his ‘very cute and bright daughter’. The message of the advertisement is that ‘smart happy successful people eat Tostitos™ flour tortilla chips’, with evolution, the casting decisions, and set design being the font and layout for the message. (There are quite a few elements of this commercial which indicate that positive social change has happened over the last forty years.)
I like it. I think it’s cool that the dad actually did try to give a REAL (if terribly simplified) explanation instead of “because God made it that way” which seems often to be the final recourse of many parents dealing with a “whying” kid.
I guess ultimately that eating flour tostitos is the final proof of evolutionary theory? Now we all have something to consider besides the banana;)
Future headline:
COMPANY APOLOGIZES FOR OFFENDING CHRISTIANS
After a recent uproar and threats of a boycott by several conservative and religious groups, Tostitos has issued an apology for an ad that religious leaders and several congressmen have denounced as “pushing the scientific agenda”.
“We extend our heartfelt apologies for airing an advertisement that offended our Christian customers. We did not intend to insult anyone’s sacred beliefs, and once we became aware of the hurtfulness of the ad in question, we immediately removed it from the air.”
The statement, issued by Tostitos president of marketing, went on to say that the company will be conducting an internal investigation to discover who is responsible for approving the advertisement, and it will take measures to ensure that this does not occur again.
Well, geez, Mr. Tikistitch and I are on a diet right now, but I guess if they’re gonna mention DNA in a chip ad, I better go buy a bag.
I had to do a little grocery shopping today, and I confess, I looked for them. Our store doesn’t stock them.
Well thank goodness, this product is filling a huge niche in the snack food ecosystem. Finally, something “mild” tasting for all those people who cannot handle the deep, dark taste of Tostitos corn tortilla chips!
Or…perhaps a cheap answer to the eventual usurping of all corn for ethanol production?
This is pretty amazing that they decided on this dialog. Although the dialog probably flies over many creationist/anti-evolutionists heads.
“Adapt and survive? That doesn’t sound like evolution to me, Vern.”
PZ:
Probably just as well. I confess that I looked for Jimmy Dean Pancake & Sausage On A Stick after seeing them on the Daily Show.
Just to save y’all some time and money: they’re pretty much as expected. Just not as tasty.
I was reading Guitar World magazine and found an ad for a guitar company that was selling one of its models as “the marriage between intelligent design and evolution!” I think it was these guys.
If you actually read through that forum, a creationist troll pipes up, whereupon the other posters say “this is a guitar forum. Take your religion and politics elsewhere.”
I admit that my first thought on seeing DNA mentioned in a food commercial was that it was a test balloon to see how the public may react to the concept of genetically modified foods.
*dons tinfoil hat*
Simple. Most creationists acknowledge microevolution.
So it’s evolution of the taste buds.
“*dons tinfoil hat*”
Actually, I recently saw an article in Paranoia magazine debunking the tinfoil hat theory. According to the magazine, tinfoil hats are not effective in blocking signals from the government — in fact, they amplify the signals. The whole tinfoil hat thing is actually part of the government conspiracy.
I swear, by all that is beautiful in this world: I am not making this up. I couldn’t make this up if I tried.
So keep those tinfoil hats OFF, people! Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.
I believe it’s Steinberger that put out the “Evolution? Or Intelligent Design?” ad. The discussion on the Parker board may have been sparked by that.
unfortunately…. this is also a creationist ad…
The spirit in the sky makes each of us have different DNA when he touches mommies and daddies with his magic finger to make them have a baby…. This is so kids are a bit different from their parents, so we can’t possibly make them understand us exactly, and so they can be
punishedborn again…. This is god’s way of ensure we adapt to his message and survive to assist in making more babies for god.I’ll be really pissed if this shows up anywhere else in support of creationism…
aside:why in hell do the religionistas get to usurp such a positive word as ‘creation’. Creation is a beautiful thing! I do it every time I write an email ;-) My accountant engages in it every April on my behalf! Even my wife indulges in it to satisfy my epicurean demands!
Why do we let these guys get away with their blatant theft of a word that is all about discovery and invention…. and has nothing to do with ‘magic woo’. Let’s all demand the return of Creation to where it belongs…. and away from the narrow-minded and un-creative theists
Sad to say, at least in Southwest PA the ads have been changed to get rid of any mention of DNA. The Dad now says something like “For greater diversity blah blah blah”
So sad…