Did you know that there were non-human Barbie dolls? Maybe if I were the parent of a little girl, this would be old news to me. But it's not. And to my eyes, it's weird. Does Mermaid Barbie have sex with land-dwelling Ken? Does she leave sea-slug trails all over Barbie's Malibu Dream House? The mind boggles.
Here's the thing about visual icons: you should know what their standard meaning is before you attempt to use them.
Rowboat plus lake plus two individuals equals romance. Or fishing buddies. That's it, your only two choices. With the presence of a gaily striped parasol and the lack of fishing equipment, however, you're pretty much limited to romance.
So what this ad is saying is: "Wear our shoes and all your dates will look like hippos." Or possibly: "Those who wear our shoes are closet furries." Or maybe: "Our customers work for a carnival and like to spend their leisure time in costume."
Category: Animals, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, Bestiality, Junk Food, Asia