“HISTORY”: Important for Good PR So You Better Brush Up!

There was a recent episode on a reality show that featured a young bride in her twenties that didn’t know the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” (Apparently, she was going to look a lot like Audrey Hepburn on the big day.) I mean, come on. But don’t be surprised. A lot of the young people I know don’t know anything about Elvis, the Beatles and forget about Clark Gable. So, it got me thinking. How important is “history” for good public relations… I think it’s incredibly important, especially if you specialize in the consumer sector.

Ok, I am using the word history loosely. It’s really about having a good understanding of poplar culture and that means knowing your history too. So when a fashion designer brings out a new black dress, it’s wise to understand how Chanel changed the course of fashion with her “new thinking” and how this effected everyone else around her. Or, how the “Rebel Without A Cause” era ushered in the more widespread (and accepted) use of blue jeans. If you love chocolate it might be interesting to know that the Aztecs loved this delectable treat first (though they used it as an elixir). Or maybe that it was first enjoyed as a drink in Europe long before it was converted into a bar. Or that it’s darkest form is a great antioxidant.  Never mind understanding how Frank Lloyd Wright shifted popular thought around what makes good architecture thus inspiring a bestseller (“The Fountainhead”) and the art world as a whole.

What has this got to do with pr? Well, we work with chocolate brands so knowing how this treat has evolved over time helps us build relevant stories today. We work with fashion brands, positioning them as the “new classic” means we’d better know who the classics are… And the thinking goes on. So, if you’re considering making this a career, brush up on your history. It’s a must.

Source:  www.tutiz.com, www.mischastyle.com