I imagine some of you have recognized that when you first arrive somewhere new – particularly a new country – you are able to observe far more interesting and unusual things about the culture and the surroundings than the natives there. It's understandable, because they have become inured to their surroundings, whereas it's much easier for a newcomer to notice things.
I had a similar experience yesterday, during the handful of instances I glanced at the Super Bowl. I was mostly interested in the ads, and I started noticing a consistency among them. They seem to be playing to an audience which:
+ Feels oppressed by others (their girlfriends/wives/bosses) and is deeply embittered by it;
+ Desperately needs a way to express their inner Id – often by way of a noisy, unattractive American car;
+ Finds people in their underwear really, really funny
In other words, it seems the target market is men endowed with the minds of twelve-year old boys (with the aforementioned oppression being delivered, at that age, by teachers and mothers). I offer Exhibit A:
