Digital strategist and lecturer Marcus Collins joins Jessi Hempel to discuss the power of culture in influencing consumer preferences and personal identity. They explore the impact of technology on culture, the role of provocation in communication, the branding decisions of companies based on their beliefs, and how culture shapes our decision-making and relationships.
Brands can connect people by understanding and leveraging culture to make meaningful connections.
Technology amplifies cultural discourse but also brings challenges, requiring empathy and new rules to navigate the digital landscape.
Deep dives
The Power of Brands in Culture
Brands have the ability to connect people and make meaning of the culture around us, but many brands miss the mark in understanding how culture works.
Identity and Culture
Identity is the anchor of culture, and our self-identification is influenced by implicit social connections. Understanding our identity helps us navigate and make sense of the world.
The Influence of Technology on Culture
Technology extends human behavior and provides more prevalence, salience, and speed to cultural discourse. However, it also brings more exogenous shocks and polarizing effects, requiring empathy and new rules to navigate the digital landscape.
Most of us have brands we’ve always been loyal to. Maybe you stick to one brand of paper towels, or have a pair of shoes that you swear by. What drives this loyalty? Today’s guest would say that, beyond quality or familiarity, this tendency is most influenced by culture. Dr. Marcus Collins is a lecturer at the University of Michigan and a digital strategist who has run campaigns for Google, Apple, and even Beyoncé. His book For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want unpacks the power of culture. He sits down with Jessi to discuss how this power influences our behavior every day.