The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Amazon

New Yorkers outraged by Amazon’s Nazi-themed subway car

Author

By John Glenday, Reporter

November 24, 2015 | 2 min read

New York commuters have been raising eyebrows at a poor taste advertisement for Amazon Prime’s upcoming dramatic retelling of Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle which saw an entire subway carriage remodelled with Nazi insignia.

Amazon, Nazi

Customised seat covers include American flags superimposed with a Third Reich eagle emblem and iron cross as well as flags representing the Japanese empire were installed on the 42nd Street shuttle to Times Square following an agreement between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Outfront Media.

Ann Toback was one bemused passenger who ventured onto the affected carriage, she told Gothamist: “Half the seats in my car had Nazi insignias inside an American flag, while the other half had the Japanese flag in a style like the World War II design.”

“So I had a choice, and I chose to sit on the Nazi insignia because I really didn't want to stare at it.”

MTA spokesman Adam Lisberg defended the promotion, insisting that it was not a ‘political advertisement’ (which are banned across the transportation network).

He said: “Unless you're saying that you believe Amazon is advocating for a Nazi takeover of the United States, then it meets the standards. They're advertising a show.”

The unconventional remodelling is designed to communicate an ‘alternate history’ in which the axis powers of Japan and Germany defeated the allies during World War 2, leading to America being occupied during the 1960’s.

Amazon

More from Amazon

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +