--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back in Russia, where they’re still…" description: "\"“Back in Russia, where they’re still getting acclimated to the whole capitalism thing, most TV advertising took a straightforward approach to persuasio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/seth-stevenson-77165_reggae-music_back-in-russia-where-they-re-still-getti_2933927.jpg" --- # Back in Russia, where they’re still getting acclimated to… ![“Back in Russia, where they’re still getting acclimated to the whole capitalism thing, most TV advertising took a straightforward approach to persuasion. Thus, even though I don’t speak Russian, I had no trouble understanding Russian ads. They were all along the lines o: “Oh, no, there’s a stain on…” quote by Seth Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/seth-stevenson-77165_reggae-music_back-in-russia-where-they-re-still-getti_2933927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/seth-stevenson-77165_reggae-music_back-in-russia-where-they-re-still-getti_2933927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/seth-stevenson-77165_reggae-music_back-in-russia-where-they-re-still-getti_2933927.jpg) > ““Back in Russia, where they’re still getting acclimated to the whole capitalism thing, most TV advertising took a straightforward approach to persuasion. Thus, even though I don’t speak Russian, I had no trouble understanding Russian ads. They were all along the lines o: “Oh, no, there’s a stain on the tablecloth! What will Mom do? Thank goodness for this effective detergent!” Not so in Japan, where sophisticated consumers have grown bored with simple persuasion, forcing advertisers to get wildly inventive. Japanese TV ads have at this point evolved into an abstract mishmash of symbols and sounds. Your average thirty-second Japanese commercial is something like: Here’s a man holding a giraffe. Now the giraffe morphs into a rainbow. The rainbow is friends with a talking pencil, and they live together on a spaceship. A few seconds of laughter! A snippet of loud reggae music! Fad out. At least half the time, I have no idea what the product being advertised is or what it does. And yet I very much enjoy the ads. They’re like short-acting hallucinogens.”” Seth Stevenson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts straightforward, product‑focused Russian ads with abstract, entertainment‑driven Japanese ads, highlighting cultural differences in consumer expectations and advertising styles. **In simple terms:** Russian ads are direct; Japanese ads are surreal and fun. Key Takeaway Adapt advertising style to cultural context. Themes culture advertising consumer behavior creativity globalization Mood curious amused reflective Type observational analytical humorous When to use this quote - marketing strategy - media planning - cross‑cultural research - creative brainstorming - brand positioning Key Concepts semiotics symbolism entertainment value attention economy cultural adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural context shape advertising effectiveness? - When should brands prioritize entertainment over clarity? A Different Perspective Abstract ads may confuse consumers about product benefits, reducing conversion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Reggae music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reggae-music/) [Thank goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank-goodness/) ## Related quotes > [I have to match wits with the ads. Like, there's pop-ups that, like, move around and you have to chase them like it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/i-have-to-match-wits-with-the-ads-like-there-s-pop-ups-that-like-move/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [I like our ads. I like beautiful women eating burgers in bikinis. I think it's very American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-puzder/i-like-our-ads-i-like-beautiful-women-eating-burgers-in-bikinis-i/) Andrew Puzder > [I think you will see a point where the traditional model of advertising on TV or advertising online will go, and advertisers will cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/i-think-you-will-see-a-point-where-the-traditional-model-of/) [Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/) > [The only prejudice I've found anywhere in TV is in some advertising agencies, and there isn't so much prejudice as just fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-king-cole/the-only-prejudice-i-ve-found-anywhere-in-tv-is-in-some-advertising/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-king-cole/) > [“He had the marketing department organize tests, running commercials in only the Minneapolis and Portland media markets and measuring whether they generated an uptick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/he-had-the-marketing-department-organize-tests-running-commercials-in/) [Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/) > [“When long-term effects were included in the calculations, however, the contribution of digital dropped by half. Online displays and Facebook advertising just cannot deliver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mckinsey-chief-marketing-sales-officer-forum/when-long-term-effects-were-included-in-the-calculations-however-the/) McKinsey Chief Marketing & Sales Officer Forum > [I grew up with reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-grew-up-with-reggae-music/) [Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/) > [It's my luck to be at the frontier of what looks to be a resurrection of roots music on the international scene. That's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-marley/it-s-my-luck-to-be-at-the-frontier-of-what-looks-to-be-a-resurrection/) [Damian Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-marley/) > [Puerto Rico got too futuristic with the electronic reggaeton. It lost the essence of the reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/puerto-rico-got-too-futuristic-with-the-electronic-reggaeton-it-lost/) [Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/) > [Reggae music is consistently influencing the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedella-marley/reggae-music-is-consistently-influencing-the-world/) [Cedella Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedella-marley/) > [Sometimes you have to fight with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/sometimes-you-have-to-fight-with-music/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [One of the first places where I started to respond to song lyrics was in reggae music. A lot of what I was responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/one-of-the-first-places-where-i-started-to-respond-to-song-lyrics-was/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [Reggae music is simple music - but it's from the heart. Just as people need water to drink, people also need music. If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/reggae-music-is-simple-music-but-it-s-from-the-heart-just-as-people/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [I'm really not the biggest metal fan as it is. I'm more of a hard-street-punk kind of kid, but I also loved hip hop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-sandoval/i-m-really-not-the-biggest-metal-fan-as-it-is-i-m-more-of-a-hard/) [Sonny Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-sandoval/) > [My parents are from Jamaica, and I love reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/my-parents-are-from-jamaica-and-i-love-reggae-music/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## More by Seth Stevenson > [“The wonderful thing about extended travel - the whole lifestyle, with the come-and-go friendships and the rootless freedom - is that it breaks you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-stevenson/the-wonderful-thing-about-extended-travel-the-whole-lifestyle-with/) Seth Stevenson > [“As I continue to sip at the chest-warming liquor, entering ever-deeper states of inebriation, a mauldin thought begins to take shape in my whiskey-addled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-stevenson/as-i-continue-to-sip-at-the-chest-warming-liquor-entering-ever-deeper/) Seth Stevenson Explore all 3 Seth Stevenson quotes ## More Reggae music quotes > [My parents are from Jamaica, and I love reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/my-parents-are-from-jamaica-and-i-love-reggae-music/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I'm really not the biggest metal fan as it is. I'm more of a hard-street-punk kind of kid, but I also loved hip hop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-sandoval/i-m-really-not-the-biggest-metal-fan-as-it-is-i-m-more-of-a-hard/) [Sonny Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-sandoval/) > [Reggae music is simple music - but it's from the heart. Just as people need water to drink, people also need music. If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/reggae-music-is-simple-music-but-it-s-from-the-heart-just-as-people/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [One of the first places where I started to respond to song lyrics was in reggae music. A lot of what I was responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/one-of-the-first-places-where-i-started-to-respond-to-song-lyrics-was/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [Sometimes you have to fight with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/sometimes-you-have-to-fight-with-music/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Reggae music is consistently influencing the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedella-marley/reggae-music-is-consistently-influencing-the-world/) [Cedella Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedella-marley/) > [Puerto Rico got too futuristic with the electronic reggaeton. It lost the essence of the reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/puerto-rico-got-too-futuristic-with-the-electronic-reggaeton-it-lost/) [Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/) > [It's my luck to be at the frontier of what looks to be a resurrection of roots music on the international scene. That's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-marley/it-s-my-luck-to-be-at-the-frontier-of-what-looks-to-be-a-resurrection/) [Damian Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-marley/) > [I grew up with reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-grew-up-with-reggae-music/) [Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/) > [When I was 17, I listened to reggae music. I loved Bob Marley. I started growing dreadlocks. It's always been my way, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/when-i-was-17-i-listened-to-reggae-music-i-loved-bob-marley-i-started/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [For me, reggae music and its aesthetic are touchstones in both simple and complex ways. Reggae's capacity to be a folk music that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-dawes/for-me-reggae-music-and-its-aesthetic-are-touchstones-in-both-simple/) [Kwame Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-dawes/) > [When I make the music that I make, when it comes to reggae music, I engulf the whole spirit of it all. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/when-i-make-the-music-that-i-make-when-it-comes-to-reggae-music-i/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [I believe that reggae music has always been a source of healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koffee/i-believe-that-reggae-music-has-always-been-a-source-of-healing/) [Koffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koffee/) > [I make reggae music because my inspiration comes from reggae music. All my inspiration is firstly reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koffee/i-make-reggae-music-because-my-inspiration-comes-from-reggae-music/) [Koffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koffee/) > [Reggae is music of love. It has joy and pain, but it feels good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/reggae-is-music-of-love-it-has-joy-and-pain-but-it-feels-good/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) [Browse all 56 Reggae music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reggae-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Back in Russia, where they’re still getting acclimated to the whole capitalism thing, most TV advertising took a straightforward approach to persuasion. Thus, even though I don’t speak Russian, I had no trouble understanding Russian ads. They were all along the lines o: “Oh, no, there’s a stain on the tablecloth! What will Mom do? Thank goodness for this effective detergent!” Not so in Japan, where sophisticated consumers have grown bored with simple persuasion, forcing advertisers to get wildly inventive. Japanese TV ads have at this point evolved into an abstract mishmash of symbols and sounds. Your average thirty-second Japanese commercial is something like: Here’s a man holding a giraffe. Now the giraffe morphs into a rainbow. The rainbow is friends with a talking pencil, and they live together on a spaceship. A few seconds of laughter! A snippet of loud reggae music! Fad out. At least half the time, I have no idea what the product being advertised is or what it does. And yet I very much enjoy the ads. 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