The UnConvention is a non-partisan gathering of artistic and educational activities (exhibitions, lectures, performances, etc.) that are currently taking place outside of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their efforts are laudable, and much of their work is worthy of attention. However, the ad campaign they used to draw attention is not. Urging residents to be courteous, and bearing the motto “Every party needs a gracious host,” the suggestion in several pieces is that homosexuality should be curbed in the interest of so-called proper behavior.
Other spots created by the UnConvention are humorous and in good taste:
I commend your desire to point out and work against examples of homophobia and discrimination, including those in the media, although, as the comment above suggests, the video ads in the “The Republicans Are Coming” are tongue-in-cheek. The other ads in the series can be found at -
@Sue, Trey,
Perhaps I missed the joke! Thanks for kindly pointing out the satire. I still wonder, though, whether this is effective. When these ads are seen in isolation, I think the joke is lost - hence my blunder. Thoughts?
Posted by James David | 8-09-2008 16:26
Hi James,
It’s very subtle, I agree! The ads taken as a whole seem to be saying “Here come the stuffy, rich, old white guys who are completely out of touch; let’s do stuffy things so they don’t feel uncomfortable (*wink*).”
Human trafficking – it is the new slave trade, an action many of us thought be extinct after the US Civil War. But it is worse than ever, not least because many of the victims hand themselves over to get out of economic and political peril. They want to…
I recently had the privilege of being invited to speak and participate in the 2012 Design Ethos Conference/Do-ference at Savannah College of Art and Design. The creator of the conference, Scott Boylston, is a longtime friend in the relatively small socially conscious design community and I was delighted that…
Osocio is dedicated to social advertising and non-profit campaigns. It’s the place where marketing and activism collide. Formerly known as the Houtlust Blog, Osocio is the central online hub for advertisers, ad agencies, grassroots, activists, social entrepreneurs, and good Samaritans from around the globe.
Print this article 
