A Pioneer in Advertising and Society Studies: An Interview with William O’Barr on Building Academic-Industry Bridges

Abstract: This is the second of three interviews published in this issue with Advertising & Society Quarterly ’s founding editor William “Mack” O’Barr. The series covers his prolific career as an anthropologist and a founder in the field of advertising and society studies. In this particular interview, brand strategy consultant and Advertising Educational Foundation (AEF) board member Cynthia Round asks O’Barr to reflect on a central tenet of the journal: building bridges between academia and the advertising industry. Throughout the conversation, they explore their longstanding involvement with the AEF and various educational programs. Round asks O’Barr to share his story as a pioneering anthropologist who became well known for working with the advertising industry to conduct research, archive materials, and educate about advertising’s place in society and culture. They delve into the development of Advertising & Society Quarterly and the subsequent launch of the ADText curriculum, a series of open access educational units on advertising and society. Round and O’Barr cover the evolution of advertising, its integration into broader marketing strategies, shifts in societal perceptions, and the need to continue forging academic-industry bridges. The discussion concludes with reflections on corporate social responsibility and the ongoing efforts to understand and address advertising’s societal impact. O’Barr provides advice to scholars and practitioners on how to foster and sustain relationships with each other in understanding advertising’s relationship to society, culture, history, and the economy.