“Drowned Circus” commercial for Farmers Insurance

This commercial for Farmers Insurance starts with an extravagant dream sequence of an underwater circus (played by Cirque de Soliel actors). The aesthetics and atmospherics of the sequence parallel those of the underwater bride photography in the previous post (everything is in slow-motion, it seems timeless and preserved). It’s interesting how weight is depicted here: circus tricks typically depend on the pull (and threat) of gravity to make their feats impressive. Here the actors perform this gravity, simulating out of water conditions under water to make the spectacle. Yet at the same time this performance comes off somewhat ironic and serves to reinforce the punchline at the end, the humor of a flooded circus.