Informed Attraction 20. Brand Mascots II - Snap, Crackle, and Pop's Polycule
Aug 31, 2025
Dive into the quirky world of brand mascots as they hilariously unravel the iconic Hamburger Helper Hand and the Rice Krispies elves. The hosts blend nostalgia and humor, exploring childhood food memories and the cultural impact of characters like the Kool-Aid Man. Amusing anecdotes about food adventures in unexpected places and reflections on wrestling with identity through mascots add a playful twist. They even tackle the strange allure and evolving designs of these queer icons, making it a delightful and entertaining discussion.
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Directing A Silly Nonbinary Play
- Mackenna directed a short play about an AMAB non-binary person arguing with a puppet electric razor.
- The experience was silly, healing, and joyful for them both.
Queering Mascots As Cultural Play
- Aubrey frames queerness as a spectrum and enjoys projecting queerness onto non-human mascots for fun and visibility.
- She argues this playful queering matters more now amid rising hostility toward queer people.
Hamburger Helper Born From 1970s Meat Shortage
- Aubrey summarizes Hamburger Helper's origin as a 1971 response to meat shortages and rising prices.
- She links the product to 1970s food fads and economic pressures that shaped its creation.