2nd February 2021
Toppling Taboo
The weakened power of religious authority and rise of individuality has toppled many taboos. We feel freer to curse in public, share sexual harassment stories via #MeToo, or even talk about incest and patricide thanks to Game of Thrones. Technology has broken down other taboos. Ashley Madison has made it easy to commit adultery. Glassdoor and LinkedIn create an open discussion of salaries and have become a powerful tool for fighting pay inequity. Pragmatism has taken over and the stigmas that once prevented progress are slowly deteriorating.
The pandemic has opened up conversations around many taboos like mental health and death. Brands are breaking advertising taboos, like using red liquid for period commercials or putting ads on pornography sites. Consumers are yearning for authenticity and brands that don’t obfuscate true meaning or intention behind innuendos and euphemisms.
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Snoring 20's
We’ve turned into homebodies. This decade is primed to become the Snoring 20’s instead of the Roaring 20’s, a decade marked by indulgence and exuberance a century ago.
Washing
Washing is when brands disingenuously capitalize on public sentiment around topics like #BlackLivesMatter, environmentalism, and LGBTQ rights to push their products and services.
Cancel Culture
Cancel Culture has flipped the power of authority figures and celebrities to the marginalized and often voiceless. It played an important role in conclusively shutting down Bill Cosby and Kevin Spacey.