Are creatives and brands playing it too safe in the Trump era? While the nation has become intensely polarized and politically opinionated, marketing creativity has gotten blander than ever. This week, we look at the creative hangover since the election—and why many think it may soon be ending. We also discuss Aretha Franklin's surprisingly robust legacy in advertising, the marketing genius of Ryan Reynolds and this year's winners of Adweek's Project Isaac innovation awards.

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