Phallic Symbols & Advertising: The Fish Are Jumping

Draftfcb is running a terrific new ad campaign for Aquaphor healing ointment that features some very eye catching visuals. Each ad features a rather dramatic tattoo on some rather appealing flesh. The headline, "Keep It Alive," speaks to the target on several levels. Of course, it's about keeping your skin smooth and supple. But it also speaks directly to that demographic of the population that's busy getting their skin inked. After getting a tattoo, caring for your skin as it heals is important, and Aquaphor is the perfect product to use in this case. All of the tattoos are of living creatures, which also adds a layer of meaning to the headline.

I love all the ads in the series, but the one below in particular adds yet another level of meaning. Given that the main ingredient of Aquaphor is petrolatum (known best by the brand name Vaseline) and given the position of the product and the fish, well...yes, and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Sure.