Quizno's $5

Let's analyze another fast food ad, shall we?



I highlight this commercial because

(1) it is a BLATANT knock-off of Subway's $5 footlong promotion (Come on, Quizno's! Can't you come up with your own unique marketing strategy?) and
(2) it features an Asian character.

Credit goes to them for choosing an Asian as their main character. But how arbitrary is it that Quizno's chose this setting for their commercial? How come she's not placed in a home setting, or in a restaurant for that matter (after all, this is a fast food commercial). No. it appears as if she is the owner of that small business.

Doesn't that sound familiar? Another model minority Asian who is business- and success- oriented. But something strikes me as odd. She is Chinese and the owner of a LAUNDROMAT… I guess the commercial decided to take the stereotype further by depicting another stereotype that is particular to the Chinese ethnicity. The commercial could have used an Asian character in any other location but they chose to depict a known Asian stereotypical setting. Why? Because they thought people would relate? Because people would understand the reference and find it amusing? I don’t see what’s so amusing, but maybe I’m one of the few people who don’t get their sense of humor. And if people, just as I did, can instantly recognize that subtle stereotype, than perhaps the stereotypes isn’t so subtle after all.

So much for perpetuating more stereotypes in American society.

I’m not a big fan of the commercial anyways. Why would an Asian woman, or anyone for that matter, want to eat $5? Oh that’s right. So they can remember that Quizno’s sandwiches taste so much more better than dollar bills… yum.