Questioning Creatives: Culture & Commercials

The creative industry has always been obsessed with, fascinated by, and drawn to culture. Commercial work can be empowering (?), celebratory (?), and extractive (?)— using all forms of culture to promote and sell everything from condoms to cars.

In recent years, an abundance of cultures otherwise kept outside corporate buildings have found their way into commercial promotion: skateboarding in fashion, queerness in beauty, Asian influence in food, art in AI.

In this edition of Questioning Creatives, we are questioning the relationship between culture and commercials.

Is the creative industry exploiting or empowering culture? Are there more than one answer?

SPEAKERS →

Anna Gunvor / annagunvor.com
- Anna Gunvor works as a creative director, artist, curator and activist within arts, music and fashion.

Esther Michelsen Kjeldahl / estherkjeldahl.dk
- Esther Michelsen Kjeldahl is the co-author of Reklamemagt (2025) and Retfærdig Naturbevarelse (2023), co-founder of Fossilfri Fremtid and The Green Youth Movement, and co-host of FRI OS podcast. She is also a part-time freelance campaigner in Reclame Fossielvrij.

Tess S. Skadegård Thorsen, Ph.d. / tesskadegardthorsen.com
- Tess S. Skadegård Thorsen, PhD, was headhunted at 32 to run the first of its kind Product Ethics practice at Comcast NBCUniversal, one of the worlds largest media- and tech conglomerates (behind, for instance, BRAVO, NBC, SKY, Universal, Dreamworks). An award-winning gender-researcher, Tess now runs a consultancy focused on representation and ethics in media, film and tech.

MODERATOR →

Jennifer Maria Matos Tonndorff / jennifertonndorff.com
- Documentary Filmmaker, Creative DEI Consultant & Public Speaker
With a background in advertising and communication, Jennifer works at the intersection of culture, communication and identity. Driven by the question of what makes us feel like we belong, she creates spaces where different perspectives and communities meet.
As moderator for Culture & Commercials, Jennifer will bridge the gap between the commercial world and authentic representation, questioning the thin line between empowerment and extraction.

PROGRAM →

Doors open at 18.30 - we begin at 19.00 sharp.

Each speaker will give a 15-minute talk related to the topic. We'll end with a panel discussion and a Q&A session moderated by Jennifer Maria Matos Tonndorff.

ABOUT US →

Questioning Creatives is a nonprofit organisation that promotes and facilitates critical thinking in the Danish creative sphere.

SUPPORT →

This event is supported by Public Service, Tuborgfondet, and Huset.