All-American Ads of the 2000s

In the aughts, geekdom was the new rock’n’roll, Pokémon and PS2 kept the kids busy, a website called Amazon had just turned a profit and social media was beginning its bid for world domination. Savor a decade’s worth of magazine ads for food, alcohol, travel, auto, fashion, and beauty, fed to a tech-hungry but increasingly anxious post 9/11 nation.

Post-9/11, America’s sense of invincibility was shaken. The dotcom bubble had burst, there was war with Iraq, and eco-angst was becoming mainstream, as evidenced by impressive sales of the Toyota Prius.

For escapism, self-expression, and even romantic connection, America turned to tech. Geeks were the new superheroes, and the iPod and iPhone reigned supreme, both commercially and creatively. Social media began its unstoppable rise, with MySpace and Facebook pushing brands to get more interactive with consumers. Prestige dramas—The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad—populated the small screen, while Netflix swapped mailing DVDs for streaming content, the reality TV star was born, and Paris Hilton decreed, “That’s hot!”.

Amazon and eBay threatened the cultural centrality of the shopping mall, and every famous name from Michael Jordan to Madonna could be found on scotch, sneakers, and scents. Health and wellness fueled the growth of brands like Whole Foods and Lululemon, and consumers increasingly valued experiences, ethics, and personalization.
Featuring 10 chapters covering the full range of advertising, from food and fashion to entertainment, business, travel, and automobiles—with special mentions for the worst as well as the best—All-American Ads of the 2000s captures a time when ads still had the power to sell products and dreams in the millions, but mirrored a nation in the midst of profound transition.