Below is a sample video of a Geico commercial with the Gecko in it.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Geico Gecko
Geico, which stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, is a car insurance company based out of the USA. This auto-insurance company is notorious for its awkward, yet mostly hilarious commercials. The spokesperson for each one of these commercials is the tiny, green, easy-going, animated gecko. Geico has used many ad campaigns in which they utilize their well-known tagline "Geico, fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance," to help portray to their audience the easiness of saving money with their company. In the ads, certain comedy techniques are used such as arbitration, pop-culture references, and pastiche. The gecko helps display these characteristics through the use of their commercials. He is a soft spoken, Australian accented, creature who is funny and fun loving. All the gecko is interested in is saving the Geico customers money.
Below is a sample video of a Geico commercial with the Gecko in it.
Below is a sample video of a Geico commercial with the Gecko in it.
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I have always thought that the GEICO gecko was Australian as well, but an interview with the advertising agency that created him says that it's actually an English cockney accent, and is in fact voiced by an English actor. This choice was made simply because it would be unexpected, and also because they felt it would humanize the gecko, to give him an accent associated with the working class. Most Americans just find him funny, but anyone with a background in accents and their significance would be immediately inclined to think this gecko wants to save money, because of the background his accent implies. It's a clever use of non-American talents to hint at the trustworthiness of an insurance company.
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ReplyDeleteWhile the GEICO gecko is undeniably cute, I'm not sure if his English/Australian accent qualifies him as an ethnic minority. I don't find these ads controversial, and I doubt that anyone has really been offended by the gecko's accent. I don't see this advertisement campaign as either a step forward or a step backward from old racial stereotypes; I just view it as somewhat irrelevant in the scope of this writing assignment. If the gecko is indeed British, then he is certainly not an underrepresented minority. If the gecko is in fact Australian, then he still is Caucasian, and therefore is still not an ethnic minority. Personally, I would have a really hard time writing this paper about the GEICO gecko, but maybe you have some really good ideas for the paper.
ReplyDeleteI think that although this is a good idea, I do agree that he is not an ethnic minority. He is playful, cute and animated, but I don't think that he is a sufficient candidate to be called a minority. Australian accents aren't offensive or racially embarrassing in any way; however, I am sure that if you are going to write about this for your paper that you will find some valid points for your argument.:)
ReplyDeleteI did not realize that when we created our first blog that it would have to be about an ethnic minority, rather just any kind of company spokesperson. This is why I chose to write my essay on Tiger Woods. Thank you guys for your comments, there definitely is not enough information to write about the Geico Gecko! He is fun loving and funny though. :)
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