Existing comment:
Advertising - A Touch of Class
Shakespeare selling sewing machines? Apparently the New Home Sewing Machine Co. thought it would work, as they offered a booklet with plot summaries of 34 of Shakespeare's plays to capture their market. (1)
Since the 1787 reproduction of Shakespeare's image in an ad for a Philadelphia stationer's shop, he has appeared thousands of times, selling everything from cigars to Levis, from fishing reels, beer, and whisky to cough syrup, cars, and cell phones.
Advertisements by Coca Cola, Marcus Ward, and James Moran tobacco all rely on the use of Shakespeare to add a sense of class, luxury, and refinement to the everyday objects in our lives. (2-4)
When Twentieth Century Fox released the film of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1999, Ronnie Specter, the make-up artist, created limited-edition cosmetics to attract a young audience to the movie. (5) The widespread use of Shakespeare in American advertising over many generations speaks to his continued recognition and importance in our culture. |