The Drive-In Theatre: Old and Obsolete, or New and Refreshing?

The movie industry is always locked on the next best screenplay, or the newest high definition movie projection technology. But no one is looking towards the past for the next new experience, and they should be.

Take it back to 1933. The Great Depression was in full swing, but a man named Richard Hollingshead didn’t let that stop him from creating that next best thing in the film industry. In an attempt to design a movie theatre experience that was more comfortable for his larger-than-average mother, he revolutionized the movie industry for people of all shapes and sizes for decades to come.

The first drive-in theatre in Pennsauken, New Jersey, 1933

The concept: what if someone could just drive up, park, and watch a movie without ever having to leave their car? Everyone would be able to see the movie through their windshield on a multiple-story high screen and roll their windows down to listen in. The drive-in theatre started with a 1928 Kodak projector mounted on the roof of Hollingshead’s car, a large sheet nailed between two trees, and some low-quality speakers next to the screen. But it spread like a wildfire after Hollingshead patented the idea, and the experience improved rapidly. By the 1950s and 1960s, there were almost 4,000 drive in theatres across America. Visitors could tune in to a special radio station to hear the movie’s audio and leave their windows rolled in case it began to rain.

A showing at Shankweiler’s Drive-In, Orefield, Pennsylvania, circa 1950

Tragically, as interest rates for land tracts rose and more impressive projection technology developed, the drive-in theatre began to die out. By now, there are no more than 300 spread across the United States. It’s a shame that a vintage experience like the drive-in theatre is so hard to find nowadays. But is it? Surely there can’t be one within, say, an hour of your home. Even if there was an easily accessible one, the price of a ticket must be monumental!

Or not. The Ocala Drive-In is only a 45-minute drive from the University of Florida’s main campus, and you can get tickets to two showings in one night for a grand total of six dollars. Even after you incorporate the cost of gas (about three dollars each way), a trip to the drive-in theatre is half the price of two regular movie tickets. Plus, who wouldn’t want the brand-new, priceless experience of a vintage drive-in? The Ocala Drive In is a historical spot in Florida, and it is only one of eight total drive in theatres in the state.

A premiere showing of Cinderella at the Ocala Drive-In, Ocala, Florida, 2015

The theatre may be old, but it always has screenings of the industry’s best blockbusters, like Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Located at 4850 South Pine Avenue, Ocala, FL, the Ocala Drive In is bound to provide visitors with a memorable experience – one that’s bound to make you reconsider going back to your same old, local theatre.

Everyone Benefits from Local Thrift-Shopping

photo courtesy of @flashbacksrecycledfashions on instagram

College is a time for self-expression. It can be hard to do this when brand name or high-quality clothing is so expensive. Thrifting is the best way to get the luxury feel without the luxury price, and Flashbacks Recycled Fashions is the premiere shop in Gainesville for your fashion needs. At Flashbacks, we have an abundant selection of modern clothing, but also sell authentic vintage pieces in great condition, mostly donated by the eclectic student body nearby.

There are several benefits of thrifting locally:

Find your Perfect Style

We are not just a thrift store, but also a consignment store. This means that we buy and resell hand-picked clothes that represent the best in fashion. Since Gainesville is filled with young and stylish students, it is easy to find clothes that are cool and modern, unlike the big box thrift stores that are often filled out outdated and unappealing apparel. At Flashbacks, you are guaranteed to find unique pieces that will make your style stand out.

photo courtesy of @flashbacksrecycledfashions on Instagram

Imagine going into your closet and being able to decide who you were going to be that day. By shopping with us, you can change your style with more ease than a regular store. Instead of being limited to trends, Flashbacks offers so much more to customers. Interested in plaid, but don’t want to break the bank to later discover it’s not your thing? Take it for a spin here knowing you’re going to get something stylish and durable for a low price. Worst case scenario, you sell it back and it’s not a total loss.

photo courtesy of @flashbacksrecycledfashions on Instagram

If modern fashion isn’t your thing, you’re still in luck! We have an entire section dedicated to authentic vintage clothing in mint condition. It is trendy to be wearing clothes from the past, and major stores sell clothes that are vintage inspired for premium prices. Here, you can buy authentic vintage pieces for a fraction of what it would cost you to purchase fake ones. When you shop with us, you can discover pieces such as leather jackets, pin-up dresses, bell-bottom jeans, and fur coats that were made decades ago and are coming back into style.

photo courtesy of @flashbacksrecycledfashions on Instagram

Support Your Community

Flashbacks has been a Gainesville staple since 1986, when former gator Steve Nichtberger used his finance degree to open up Flashbacks Recycled Fashions Inc. because he wanted to create a spot where people could enjoy themselves while shopping and build lifelong relationships with fellow customers. Most of the profits that Flashbacks makes gets recycled back into the Gainesville community, unlike larger thrift stores where you aren’t able to know exactly where your money is going. All of our supply comes from the community, so we are always supporting other local establishments in order to give back.  Many chain stores, on the other hand, have the tendency to get their goods from corporate, and are often not as personally invested in buying local. By supporting us, you’re also supporting your favorite coffee shops, pizza restaurants and nightclubs at the same time.

photo courtesy of google street view

Before you decide to shop at department stores or thrift store chains, consider that thrifting locally is better for your community, is more sustainable, and the best way to find something unique that will impress all of your friends. At Flashbacks Recycled Fashions, you know that you are always going to find something that perfectly defines your style without a hefty price tag.  

FreeRide Surf & Skate Shop’s History in Gainesville

Skateboarding and Gainesville have had a very interesting relationship over the past 30 years. Ever since there was a skating presence here, FreeRide (Originally known as Inland Surf Shop) has been there.

The store has recently decided to close it shop because it is being bought out by a development company to construct new buildings around the area. Raina, a store employee, did not know a specific date of closing but said it’s scheduled to be closed soon.

They are providing major discounts for skating gear and clothing which is discounted up to 40% off retail value. You can go in and find some great gear for the summer season at ridiculously low prices. They also have some of the most caring staff willing to answer any questions you might have. Local skate shops aren’t businesses, they are part of the community, so come check out FreeRide before we lose a little piece of Gainesville history.

The store originally opened up in 1975 with the explosion of the sport around college campuses everywhere. During that time, most students rode to get around campus and to feel part of the counterculture that was being rampant with the times. In the following decades skating had wild resurgence with street skating in the late 80’s and then in the 90’s due to the popularity of skaters like Tony Hawk and Mark Gonzalez. Skating now has entered the mainstream with popular brands like Supreme and Thrasher being worn and shown off by the most famous celebrities in the world.  Raina went into great detail about the magnitude of the skating culture that was brought here by of one the best skaters of all time, Rodney Mullen.  

Rodney was born in Gainesville, FL and started his lifelong love of skating at around 10. He is arguably the best technical street skater ever and has become known as “The Godfather of Street Skating.” He accumulated a 3.92 GPA while studying biomedical engineering at UF but decided to drop out after starting his own skateboard company, World Industries, but still shares his love of science to the world “I’m a nerd down deep,” he said.” I like computers and I always read that stuff. “He invented tricks like the Flat Ground Ollie, Kickflip, Heelflip, Impossible and the Tre Flip along with 50+ other original tricks.

Sponsored Florida skater Cooper Moser spoke about how much of an influence Rodney Mullen was to him “Yeah man for sure! Rodney definitely inspired me to be a better skateboarder as well as a student in school. Rodney was a mathematician, like he is a genius on and off the board. He definitely inspired “freestyle skateboarding” and created his own tricks as well as his own style. No one can ever recreate what Rodney did for skateboarding. As well as Rodney being from Florida influenced us and gave us hope as skateboarders that we as well can make something out of ourselves as well.” 

The shop also sponsors Possum Creek Skate Park which is a 20,000 sq. ft concrete park created by Spohn Ranch Skate Parks. This skatepark features modern plaza elements, a multi-level bowl and obstacles which allow skaters to transition through the park’s landscaping. These landscaped areas give the skater’s the feeling of a real urban environment.

Photo Courtesy by Possum Creek State Park

Popular Graduation Hairstyles to Wear with Your Cap and Gown

The class of 2019’s answer to fabulous and fresh styles inspired by your favorite celebrities.

Graduation Day — with the special day approaching, the coming weeks will bring caps, gowns, and smiling faces as the class of 2019 welcome their transition into adulthood. Past graduation seasons have shown that finding a hairstyle to complement your cap and gown is no easy task. Co-owner and master hairstylist Michele Anzivino of Gainesville’s Ciao Bella Hair Salon recommends checking out these celeb-inspired trends that will have you looking stunning as you walk across the stage.

  1. The Sleek Up-do

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    Photo Courtesy of Pinterest.com

As we all know, the weather in Gainesville is incredibly hot and humid around graduation time. Anzivino says a great way to avoid frizz and stay cool is to sport a low bun like Selena Gomez’s on your special day. This look is also a super cute and easy way to style your hair under a cap.

2. The Beachy Waves

 

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Photo Courtesy of Pinterest.com

 

Jennifer Lawrence’s beachy waves have become her staple hairstyle on the red carpet. The curls create an effortless vibe that looks flawless even when you take your graduation cap off. Anzivino recommends this style because of its versatility as it can be worn in many ways depending on how tight or loose you prefer your curls to be.

3. The Fishtail Braid

 

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Photo Courtesy of Pinterest.com

 

At the Ciao Bella Salon, many clients are requesting Sarah Hyland’s fishtail for special occasion styles. The elevated side braid looks romantic and elegant while keeping your hair out of your face. To recreate this look at home, make sure to pull out the pieces of hair that frame your face and curl them with an iron.

4. The Half-up, Half-down

 

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Photo Courtesy of Pinterest.com

 

If you would prefer a combination of curls and keeping your hair pulled away from the face, then the half-up and half-down style worn by Blake Lively is the one for you. Anzinivo suggests wrapping your hair around the iron in alternative directions to achieve a natural look. Once the curls are in place, secure the pieces of hair that frame your face with a clear elastic and you’re ready to go!

5. The Low Pony

 

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Photo Courtesy of Pinterest.com

 

Honestly, Jennifer Lopez never fails to disappoint when it comes to her taste in beauty and hair trends. If you’re interested in recreating her popular, chic ponytail, begin by parting your hair before applying styling cream and securing the low pony. It’s as easy as that! Anzivino advises to not forget to make sure the ponytail is low enough to fit your cap.

6. The Blowout

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Photo Courtesy of Pinterest.com

 

The blowout is a great way to create a simple look that is both straight and has body. Jessica Alba sports a blowout when she wants to keep things more natural, which might be what you’re looking for on graduation day.

One of these styles is sure to have you feeling your best for graduation! If you’re still unsure of which hairstyle is best for you, the hairstylists at Ciao Bella Salon are always happy to answer questions and offer services.

Visit us at 235 S. Main St Ste 102, Gainesville, Fl 32601 or feel free to call us at (352) 379-9200.

 

 

The Hidden Gem of Libraries

To all students who love fiction or once did, the hidden gem in Gainesville that you need to know about is the Alachua County Library.

While all of the libraries on campus will supposedly order any book from any library in the state, this has never worked for me in practice. The only books that I have found in UF libraries are educational and nonfiction – but who wants to read more heavy literature in college than required? Throughout my freshman year, I struggled to find fiction, leisure books in the libraries on campus and buying more books than necessary is not an appealing option.

Two months ago, I became a member of the Alachua County Library. The Alachua County Library has almost all of the must-read titles that I have been collecting over the past year. I also submitted a purchase recommendation for a novel that I couldn’t find and received an email from the library a week later saying that the novel had been purchased and put on hold for me to pick up at the Headquarters in downtown Gainesville.

WHY?

  1. It’s free. As long as you are a resident of Florida, which qualifies all students at the University of Florida, it is completely free to get a library card at the Alachua County Library.
  2. More than just books. In addition to novels, members of the Alachua County Library can also rent DVDs, reserve a computer, use the eSources, and download eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and music. The library also hosts events including Author Series that brings nationally renowned authors to Gainesville. For students, the Alachua County Library offers unique programs including Girls Who Code tutoring sessions and Tax Assistance. Students can choose to participate or volunteer in these programs.
  3. Giving back to Gainesville. The Alachua County Library is the only public library in Alachua County, which has a population of around 250,000 people. Funded by tax-payer dollars, the Alachua County Library has 12 branch locations, two bookmobiles, and multiple deposit collections. As listed by the American Library Association, some of the economic and social benefits of public libraries are: collection of materials for public use; support of educational programs; educational benefits of the library’s mission including literacy of the citizenry; technology for use in the library; employment of the expertise of the library staff; library facility as a community gathering place; “halo” spending by library users at establishments close to the library; value of a library’s enhancement to neighborhood real estate and community partnerships. In addition to the service opportunities offered, simply supporting the library is a small way that you can give back and connect with the Gainesville community.

WHERE, WHEN & HOW?

To register as a member of the library, bring any current photo ID with Florida address or any other verification of residency (UF students from out-of-state qualify.) The Headquarters Location is conveniently located in downtown Gainesville and is open from 9:30AM-9 PM Monday-Thursday, 9:30AM-6PM on Friday, 9:30AM-5PM on Saturday and 1PM-5 PM on Sunday.

Being able to read more as a member of the Alachua County Library has reminded me of my love for fiction and helped me escape the stresses of college. As a member of the Alachua County Library, I also feel more connected to the community, and Gainesville feels more like home than ever.

The Origins of Coffee Shops: a Look Into History

What is beloved by college students, businessmen, and philosophers alike? Coffee. Coffee has played an important role in civilization since the Renaissance. This energizing drink has been inspiring thinkers, businesspeople, and the common person for centuries, and today, there’s hundreds of coffee shops to choose from. So, how should you pick? To understand why coffee shops are so important, it’s important to understand the origins of the modern coffee shop.

The origin of the coffee shop reaches back into the 1500s. Coffee was first grown on the Arabian Peninsula around this time, and the first coffee houses sprung up in the holy city of Mecca. These coffee houses became a place of political discussion and discourse. The Imams, or Muslim priests, actually banned these coffee houses from 1512-1524 because they were believed to be a place of propaganda and threatened to the political regime.

Ottoman Coffee House via DrinkingCup

From the Arabian Peninsula, coffee spread to Europe. With the spread of coffee came the spread of the coffee house. Reports say coffee shops spread to Vienna in 1529, where sweeteners were first added to coffee, then to Damascus in 1534, and to Constantinople in 1555. Eventually, coffee houses distributed across the rest of Europe and served similar purposes as they did on the Arabian Peninsula. According to French traveler Jean Chardin, these coffee houses were a place for sharing news, conducting business, discussing politics, and storytelling.

By the 17th Century, coffee, tea, and chocolate had made its way to England and allowed for coffee houses to open across the country, the first being in 1652. From this point, they exploded in popularity and became common across England. They became wildly popular because these shops were one of the only communal spaces in England that did not involve the consumption of alcohol. Before coffee, taverns were a common place to meet, yet, because clean water was hard to come by, many people drank beer. In coffee houses, the boiling of water for coffee and tea created safe to drink and non-intoxicating drinks. In England, much like elsewhere, coffee houses were a place to gather, discuss politics and philosophy, conduct business, and share stories, without the drunken atmosphere commonly found in pubs and taverns of the time.

English Coffee House via Brewminate

In the United States, coffee became the beverage of choice after the Boston Tea Party, and even Thomas Jefferson proclaimed: “Coffee—the favorite drink of the civilized world.” These coffee houses became integral to society, and today they are still just as important to our modern world.

Today, when you set foot into a café or coffee shop, you still see people experiencing this communal space the same way they did over 400 years ago: by gathering with friends, co-workers, engaging in discussions, and most importantly: enjoying the America’s favorite beverage.

This shop taps into the essence of what these historical coffee houses were made for: community. Not only is Bay Island Coffee Company a staple in the Gainesville community, but helps support this camaraderie by providing a public space for people to gather without distractions. Located in a tiny shack in the middle of Butler Plaza, they strip down many of the high-tech amenities that one would expect from a modern coffee shop: such as Wi-Fi, charging stations, et cetera. Instead, they focus on the basics: fast service, cheap prices, and some damn good coffee. With this simplistic approach, this coffee shop brings together many different walks of life from around Gainesville: from Alachua County residents to UF students.

Via FourSquare

In a college town, it’s easy to be swept up in classwork and gravitate towards fancy Starbucks-like shops, but going to Bay Island is an experience unlike others offered in Gainesville. It is truly a hidden gem, since it is so unassuming from the outside. It is easy to drive by and miss it, but if you have not gone and experienced their seasonal flavored coffee selection, their delectable breakfast offerings, or taken advantage of their daily deals, you are truly missing out on one of the best coffee joints in Gainesville. If you are tired of struggling to find a seat at an over-crowded, loud, university coffee shop, drive a quick 10 minutes down Archer road and experience the best Gainesville has to offer in a friendly, communal environment. Once you try some of their offerings, you will understand why this joint has a cult following by many UF students.

Check out Bay Island Coffee Company, located at 3270 SW 35th Blvd. Make sure to take advantage of their great deals offered daily.

Opening the Doors for Diversity in American Theater

New leadership roles are popping up at theaters across the country. Many of the longtime artistic directors that have served their communities for the past 50 to 60 years are beginning to retire. It’s important to note that most of these directors are white men. Many of them are stepping down to retire, while a few of them are getting the boot after sexual misconduct and workplace harassment allegations. This has created the opportunity for greater diversity in leadership positions within the theater.

In the latest edition of The New York Times, theater reporter, Michael Paulson, writes about this major leadership transition and how it has led to a total transformation within the American theater. According to Paulson, the role of the artistic director is not only to choose the show lineup and oversee its production, but also to serve as the face of the theater, forming relationships with patrons and getting new community members into the audience.  

As many of these artistic directors are stepping down from their roles, more and more are being replaced by women and people of color. A study done by two Bay Area directors, Rebecca Novick and Evren Odcikin, looked at 85 artistic director jobs around the U.S. and found that since 2015, 41 percent of those jobs have been filled by women and 26 percent by people of color.

Paulson suggests that although this leadership transition is a huge step forward in terms of representation and diversity in the theater community, this is still an uneven demographic change. Women are still less likely to get hired over men, and women of color are even less likely to get hired.

“Theater leadership is still not broadly reflective of the nation’s demographics.”

Additionally, once these directors step into their new roles, it is a delicate balancing act to find the right amount of change and continuity. According to Paulson, it’s crucially important that they think strategically about how to lure in new audiences. They should not be so quick to make changes that they distance the theater’s current patrons as a result.

It’s going to take time before theater leadership is fully representative of the demographics of the nation. In the meantime, the small steps towards inclusivity are changing preconceived notions and creating a more welcoming theater experience for everyone.

For more on this, check out, Michael Paulson’s “The Theater, Transformed,” The New York Times (Mar. 20, 2019): C1

Narratives and Content Marketing Strategies

I may have mentioned this before, but content is where it’s at. Content is becoming so important that the content associated with a good or service is as important as the actual good or service.

It seems truer now more than ever that people want to get a sense of who a company is based on how they sell their products. Sure, we all know the history of the famous Sears catalog, and we know how instrumental that catalog was to Sear’s brand.

But what is it about content that reels people in?

Part of the discussion has to do with competition. If two companies are selling the same product, they have to find a way to get their product noticed. Sure, companies can rely on the quality of their product, and perhaps even word-of-mouth, but that may or may not get people through the door initially. Further, that does not guarantee customer loyalty.  This is where a sound marketing strategy comes helps.

What matters is the narrative a business creates about itself, and the narratives a business can generate for its customers. Content is not just about the object or service on sale. It is about the culture created based on the content of the narratives created.

Advertising is a brand of storytelling.
Advertising is brand storytelling.

The latest round of posts will feature students diving into this storytelling schematic.

For this new assignment, students were asked to create a content marketing strategy for a local business here in Gainesville, Florida. This will be a multi-faceted approach to marketing that will feature a long piece (800 words or more), a short piece (think press release), and a presentation. The end goal is for students to come up with creative and topical ways to sell a business via a stratgic-content campaign.

Our class blog will feature some of their long pieces. It will be interesting to see what kind of narratives they create.

-KRW

P.S. feature image is Photo by Kaboompics .com

March Madness

This Week in Sports Media

March Madness

Press Release: Week of March 11th, 2019

Gainesville, March 16, 2019, Internet

Conference Championships are on the line in NCAA as numerous teams push to one of the most compelling spring sports spectacles, March Madness. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is about to tipoff next Tuesday so the sports world is looking ahead to the possible cinderella stories that could captivate the nation in the coming weeks. Here are this week’s articles that set the stage for the best amatuer basketball tournament in the world and highlight other important conference championship stories.

The article with the most insight into its subject matter was “Brando revisits unforgettable ACC Tourneys including the day Dean Smith chided a Virginia player” by David J. Halberstam. Halberstam talks with Tim Brando, an analyst who will be commentating on the Atlantic coast Conference tournament for the last three decades. Brando will stop covering the tournament after this year because ESPN will start sole coverage of the event and the company that Brando works for, Raycom, will stop their coverage. Brando lists some of his favorite moments in covering the tournament and discusses the life-long memories that he has made during his experience. Brando finished off one of his anecdotes with the sentence “Ya’ never forget moments like those”. It is clear to see that Brando’s time broadcasting the ACC tournament mean very much to him.

Seeing someone who has spent so long in the field of sports broadcasting reminisce about some of his favorite moments over his entire career is really something that is inspiring to see. One that aspires to be in this profession would agree that anecdotes like the one’s shared in the article are stories that anyone in the field would strive to call their own. It is a shame to see a broadcaster have to stop working because of a licensing agreement, but Brando does not express any harshness or bad feelings in the article and that is good to see.

The goal of Sports Broadcast Journal (Initially Sports Announcers Report Card) is to serve a mix of announcers, executives, producers, and other interested followers of sports broadcasting, podcasting, webcasting, and the growing world of digital media.

William Camron Lunn Twitter:@CamronLunn Email:Camron12@ufl.edu

Media and Creativity Collide

The world of advertising is always evolving and changing with the flow of the consumers’ needs. If advertising teams remain stagnant, they become a rock in the river impeding the flow of progress instead of promoting it. The most successful teams are the ones open to change. Sometimes just changing a P to a B is all you need.

Lindsay Rittenhouse gives some insight on how companies are moving with change in this week’s issue of Adweek. IHOP, BP and Westworld are a few examples of how companies are consolidating their media and creative teams to push innovation forward. IHOP’s collaboration with IPG agencies Initiative and Droga5 allowed for the IHOb campaign to come to fruition. All it took was a letter change to blow up Twitter. It would not have happened though if Initiative and Droga5 had not worked so closely throughout the campaign. Consumers in this generation require personalized media and innovative ideas to garner their attention. This creates a need for media teams and creative teams to become synonymous in order to deliver successful media campaigns. BP also had WPP Team Energy create the “Possibilities Everywhere” campaign in order to emphasize its support of transitioning to a lower carbon future. WPP used a single team made up of strategists, media specialists and creatives in order to deliver the campaign instead of splitting up the responsibility into separate teams. Westworld and Giant Spoon also found great commercial success in its campaign for the new TV show. Giant Spoon co-founder Marc Simons stated how they don’t treat media creation like an assembly line. “There’s a central team made up of strategy, creative, media, experiential that is linked to our projects. It’s not just a media-led project or creative-led project,” Simons said.

Advertising has become a creative collaboration. As consumers take in new media their expectations rise. Media and creative teams can no longer act separately if they want to create the next IHOb. Creating innovative media is difficult for one department to do. Everyone can’t be as witty as the International House of Pancakes, or should I say burgers. While collaborations between teams can bring tension and cause individuals to butt heads the pay off is tremendous. IHOP’s campaign speaks for itself garnering 1.2 million tweets and 15,000 media stories in just ten days. There were probably individuals who laughed at the idea of IHOb proclaiming that a letter change won’t create any media buzz. Low and behold though that the IHOb campaign is one of the most successful media strategies in the past few years. Times are changing and with that consumers needs are as well. Advertisers need to take risks and get creative with their media. IHOP and Westworld have shown the industry that consolidating media and creative teams are a step in the right direction in combating an evolving market. Who will use this information to succeed in the market? Only time will tell. It is clear as day though that advertising must do something different or it risks falling to the wayside in the mind of the consumers.

For more information, follow up by reading the article What’s Old is New in Adweek volume 60.