Cashing In On Kaepernick:  A Visual Ideological Analysis of the Commodification of Racial Equity and Inclusion in Nike’s “Equality” and “Just Do It” Advertising Campaigns

Student: Benjamin Ferling
Major: Communication Studies
Minor: Political Science
Advisors: Dr. Ahmet Atay, Dr. Melissa Weller
There are few better ways to acquire the attention & money from consumers than to present to them controversial images and advertisements. The purpose of this study was to analyze Nike’s “Equality” (2017), and “Just Do It” (2018) advertising campaigns, for strategies in an effort to commodify racial equity and inclusion. Several themes were uncovered and discussed throughout this research, such as the use of notable bodies, the cultivation of neoliberal advertisements through neoliberal rhetoric, the amplification of popular advertising strategy, and the coloring of advertisements. Because of this, this research expands the growing area of research on commodified social issues, as well as contributing to the growing area of study on the influence of modern capitalism on society and consumer culture. This research utilized a visual-ideological analysis, which aims to identify the ways in which Nike intervenes in a social controversy and converts racial equity and inclusion into a consumable good, or commodity.

Benjamin will be online to field comments on May 8:
2-4pm EDT (PST 11am-1pm, Africa/Europe: evening)

Posted in I.S. Symposium, Independent Study on May 4, 2020.