LEGENDS RETURN TO THE SPOTLIGHT: ADVERTISING BRINGS HISTORICAL ICONS BACK TO LIFE, INCLUDING SALVADOR DALÍ

10. 9. 2026 | 11 min read Napoleon sold cars and beer, Cleopatra promoted chocolate and cosmetics, Einstein became a symbol of genius, Edison of ingenuity, and Leonardo da Vinci of boundless human creativity. The advertising world has always had a soft spot for the great figures of history. A famous name works as an effective shortcut: within seconds, it can trigger associations that would otherwise take an entire brand story to build.

THE ODYSSEY IN ADVERTISING: BRANDS SET SAIL FOR A MOVIE HIT, WHILE MATT DAMON SELLS BEER AND CRYPTO

13. 8. 2026 | 11 min read This summer, one of the oldest stories in Western culture returned to cinema screens and, judging by rising box-office revenues and sold-out screenings, is enjoying phenomenal success. The adventures of the mythical hero Odysseus are accompanied by epic images of sea voyages, numerous heroic trials and the everyday clashes of an “ordinary” man with the gods. The premiere of The Odyssey naturally inspired official partners as well as various brands eager to ride the wave of the ancient Greek theme. Yet the motif of an odyssey had appeared in advertising long before this new film, while Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, also has an advertising history of his own.

THOMAS ALVA EDISON IN TV ADVERTISING: THE INVENTOR WHO KNEW HOW TO SELL THE FUTURE

11. 8. 2026 | 10 min read Thomas Alva Edison appears in advertising as a symbol of technological progress, breakthrough ideas and the moment when a new technology transforms everyday life. But he is interesting to advertising creatives for another reason as well: his public image was not created long after his death. As early as the 1870s, demonstrations of the phonograph and extraordinary press interest turned him into an international celebrity. Later, his products were promoted through paid public exhibitions and spectacular comparative “tone tests”. Edison is therefore not merely a historical figure retrospectively transformed by advertising into a marketing symbol. From the very beginning, his own career also unfolded at the intersection of technological development, public demonstrations and the ability to capture an audience’s attention.

SPIDER-MAN HAS CAUGHT FAMOUS BRANDS IN HIS WEB: HOW THE ICONIC SUPERHERO HAS SHAPED THE WORLD OF TELEVISION ADVERTISING

3. 8. 2026 | 10 min read The film Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrived in Czech cinemas on 29 July 2026, with Tom Holland returning for his fourth appearance in the leading role of the web-slinging hero. The premiere also brought a new wave of advertising partnerships, covering everything from cars and electronics to pizza and hydration drinks. How have campaigns built around Spider-Man evolved over nearly a quarter of a century, and why do some commercials feel more like lost scenes from a film than conventional advertisements?

ADVERTISING REWRITES HISTORY: CLEOPATRA IS PORTRAYED AS A SEDUCTIVE BEAUTY IN TELEVISION COMMERCIALS, BUT IN REALITY, SHE PROBABLY HAD A PROMINENT NOSE AND CHIN

30. 7. 2026 | 9 min read More than two thousand years have passed since her death, yet she remains one of those historical figures whose image is still instantly recognisable across cultures, making her highly appealing to creatives in the advertising industry. Rather than depicting the real Egyptian ruler, advertisers draw on the image of a seductive queen surrounded by luxury, an image shaped over the centuries by Roman propaganda, art and Hollywood. Her lover Julius Caesar has also enjoyed a successful advertising career. Let us explore how television advertising transforms famous figures from antiquity into comic heroes, brand ambassadors and users of modern services.