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Introduction. The emergence of COVID-19 prompted diverse advertising strategies globally, with humor appeal being one of the notable approaches. Method. Thus, the aim of this research is to examine and analyze the utilization of humor appeal in Moroccan advertising during the pandemic, employing a semiotic perspective. Analysis. The study adopts a qualitative approach and employs Barthes’ model of denotative and connotative meanings for analysis. Results. The findings indicate that when humor is employed contextually, it significantly enhances the impact of the advertisements. The study reveals the creativity and adaptability of Moroccan advertising agencies in utilizing humor appeal to engage audiences during the crisis. Conclusion. This research highlights the effectiveness of humor appeal in advertising during unprecedented times, providing insights into adaptive advertising strategies through a semiotic analysis of the Moroccan context.

Introduction. The emergence of COVID-19 prompted diverse advertising strategies globally, with humor appeal being one of the notable approaches. Method. Thus, the aim of this research is to examine and analyze the utilization of humor appeal in Moroccan advertising during the pandemic, employing a semiotic perspective. Analysis. The study adopts a qualitative approach and employs Barthes' model of denotative and connotative meanings for analysis. Results. The findings indicate that when humor is employed contextually, it significantly enhances the impact of the advertisements. The study reveals the creativity and adaptability of Moroccan advertising agencies in utilizing humor appeal to engage audiences during the crisis. Conclusion. This research highlights the effectiveness of humor appeal in advertising during unprecedented times, providing insights into adaptive advertising strategies through a semiotic analysis of the Moroccan context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Connotative meanings of five alternative proteins are explored. • Animal-based sources are rated as lower evaluation and higher potency/activity. • Plant-based sources are rated as higher evaluation and lower potency/activity. • Certain music genres match non-randomly with alternative proteins. Alternative proteins have recently received significant attention from both academia and industry. Given the reported lower willingness of consumers to accept these alternative protein sources, it is crucial to gain insights into consumers' perceptions of them. Study 1, based on the theory of the meaning of objects and concepts, unveiled the connotative meaning (evaluation, potency, activity) associated with five alternative proteins (insects, cultured meat, mycoprotein, algae, and plant-based proteins). Animal-based sources, such as insects and cultured meat, received lower ratings in evaluation but scored higher in potency/activity. Conversely, plant-based sources, including mycoproteins, algae, and plant-based proteins, were rated higher in evaluation but lower in potency/activity. Building upon the congruency theory, Study 2 integrated these connotative meanings of alternative proteins into potential marketing strategies. More specifically, Study 2 introduced background music as an ambient factor and demonstrated how certain music genres align with alternative proteins, suggesting their potential use in alternative protein marketing. Animal-based protein sources were found to align with music genres characterized by lower evaluation and higher potency/activity, such as metal and rock. In contrast, plant-based sources were better matched with music genres associated with higher evaluation and lower potency/activity, such as classical, jazz, and country. Drawing from the insights obtained through these studies, this paper discusses practical applications in the context of marketing strategies and highlights potential avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]