With the rise of social media, memes have become a new way for both activists and candidates to spread their messages.\u00a0 However, this method clearly targets millennials who grew up with the technology that memes were born from.\u00a0 Millennials have less trouble understanding and communicating with memes, which leads to the question of how people who are less connected to Facebook, Twitter and the Internet at large feel about the tactic.\u00a0 The following is a Q & A with Tim O\u2019Neill, a 61-year-old who lives in Johnson City, Tennessee.\u00a0 O\u2019Neill watches the evening and morning news and reads the newspaper, but he does not use social media at all.<\/p>\n
How have you seen political advertising change in your lifetime?<\/strong><\/p>\n Kennedy hired an advertising agency, and that was the first person that ever had their image polished or put out there.\u00a0 That was the start of it, and, now, it\u2019s all about the image.<\/p>\n What is the single most successful political advertisement you remember seeing in a presidential race?<\/strong><\/p>\n Al Gore leaked that Bush junior had had a DUI, and they said that had a big effect on the election even though Bush won\u2014even though Gore got the most votes.\u00a0 One of the most effective ads of this season\u2019s campaign was Bernie\u2014he used a Simon & Garfunkel song\u2014but it was more a unity ad than a negative, slam the opponent ad.<\/p>\n Which candidate do you think is \u201cwinning\u201d when it comes to advertising right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n Hillary has outspent Trump three to one.\u00a0 Trump relies on getting his name in the press\u2014his motto is any press is good press\u2014but I haven\u2019t seen any ads that have really rocked my world from either one of them.\u00a0 The ads that he\u2019s running are pretty disgusting\u2014they\u2019re so anti Hillary and so bitter.<\/p>\n What do you think about memes?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think it\u2019s a very powerful way to advertise.\u00a0 It\u2019s a very powerful way, but it can be a bit sneaky\u2014you use a picture that\u2019s not very flattering for a negative statement, try to use a flattering picture if you\u2019re trying to push.\u00a0 It\u2019s a powerful way to spread propaganda.<\/p>\n