Going to try to add a little inside perspective (been in the production biz for 20+ years now).

Is there a formal agenda being pushed here? Sure, I believe it. However, I'd wager that accounts for maybe 1/4 of the total advertising material out there. The rest is just brainless corporate copycats just trying to keep up with whatever trends the rest of the industry is following. Advertising is a group-think kind of industry, one or two leaders in the field define everything and the rest just sort of emulate them endlessly in hopes of repeating their success.

The people actually shooting, editing, and delivering this content - I can almost guarantee you it never even crosses their minds. The business is so brutal now people will work on just about anything if it means a paycheck at the end of the day. Questioning your client's motives isn't part of the business plan, you just want to get the job done and get paid (if you are lucky lol).

Look at the really big players in media and advertising, and that'll be your conspiracy. The rest of the industry would use penguins dressed as footballs to advertise makeup if they thought it would make a quick buck.