Thesis (M.M. (Strategic Marketing))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2014. / The world as we know it is rapidly transforming into what is frequently referred to by many scholars as the era of „postmodernism‟. The postmodern consumer is more flexible, instinctive, more individualistic in preference and needs, and builds an identity through the products he/she consumes. Postmodern consumers are exposed to increased levels of advertising clutter and are becoming difficult to reach via traditional media. As a result, marketers have found alternative methods to get their message across and have looked at innovative ways to engage postmodern consumers and have turned their attention towards non-conventional advertising practices such as product placement within mass media entertainment. Reality television has emerged as a prominent genre in South Africa among young adults (Generation Y) and the incidence of product placements within these shows has grown substantially over the past few years. With marketing spend allocated to traditional television advertising (when marketing to Generation Y), the research aims to explore if traditional television advertising is effective compared to product placement in reality television in creating brand awareness and brand identity. It also aims to identify if product placement in reality television can be integrated as an element in IMC strategies.

[pt] Recentemente, muitos pesquisadores de comportamento de consumo tem se interessado pelo marketing pós-moderno e seus desafios à teoria moderna e tradicional do marketing. Na abordagem pós-moderna, o comportamento de consumo dos indivíduos não é mais analisado com base em características demográficas, psicográficas e outras características de segmentação, e sim a partir de estilos de vida e sistemas de valores dinâmicos e aparentemente contraditórios. Além disso, esta abordagem estuda o comportamento dos indivíduos como parte integrante de grupos, as chamadas tribos ou comunidades pós-modernas. Tais comunidades possuem símbolos e consomem produtos e serviços em função dos valores de ligação que eles oferecem, ou seja, produtos e serviços que permitem ou suportam interação entre seus membros (Cova, 1995, apud Cova, 1997; Cova, 2001). O objetivo principal deste trabalho é identificar as características de uma tribo pós-moderna bem como a existência de valor de ligação em seu consumo. O grupo selecionado para esta pesquisa, de caráter exploratório, foi o dos gourmets que cozinham. A escolha do grupo buscou contribuir para a disciplina do marketing, não só do ponto de vista mercadológico, dado o crescimento do mercado gastronômico no Brasil, como do ponto de vista acadêmico, em função da escassez de estudos sobre este consumidor nas pesquisas de marketing relacionadas à comida. Os resultados sugerem que os gourmets que possuem o hábito de cozinhar constituem uma tribo pós-moderna, e que o ato de cozinhar para amigos apresenta diversos significados simbólicos. / [en] Recently several researchers on consumer behavior have had interest on postmodern marketing and its challenges to modern and traditional theories on marketing. In postmodern approach, consumers behavior are no more based on demographic, psychographic or other kind of segmented aspects, but on lifestyles and dynamic values, apparently in contradiction. This present work studies individuals behavior while members of a group, the so-called tribes or modern communities. Such communities have symbols and consume products and services related to the linking values they offer, that is, products and services that allow or support interaction among their members (Cova, 1995, apud Cova, 1997; Cova, 2001). The main goal of this work is to identify in a postmodern tribe the elements responsible for its definition as so, and to identify the existence of linking values in its consumption habits. The group selected for this exploratory research was the gourmets – connoisseurs of fine food and drink - that usually cook. The choice of this group aimed to contribute to the discipline of marketing from mercadological point of view, due to the growing gastronomy market in Brazil, as well as from the academic point of view, due to the scarce research on this consumer in the food related studies on marketing. Results suggest that gourmets that cook constitute a postmodern tribe, and that the act of cooking for friends has several symbolic significances.

This thesis focuses on the definition of the term postmodern marketing in the area of marketing literature. The postmodern marketing aims adaptation of innovative marketing strategies to specific changes in society and consumer behavior. In this context, there are introduced concepts as tribality, hyperreality, fragmentation or increased activity during the perception of consumers etc., in order to demonstrate described changes. Because the postmodern marketing is closely linked to the symbolism and meanings of consumption, this thesis includes the application of specific semiotics approaches and brand development with an emphasis on the fact that the brand itself is made up of sum of aspects, such as the logo or products, but its value is also constructed by meanings with which consumers associate the brand. The next part is devoted to community marketing and communication via social networking sites such as progressive approach that is able to connect the issues of the previous chapters (reaction to changes in society and consumers' requirements and space for the construction of the symbolic value of the brand). The summary of these individual components is described in the conclusion, in the case study analysis from ILP in order to examine whether it is possible to build a successful marketing...