Good ads don't annoy me because they are a little like public art, or poetry of the kind that used to be sponsored by wealthy patrons (who insisted that they illustrious families or gardens be the ones described in the paeans and elegies). Like poetry, advertisements try to appeal to our emotions by using association, simile, metaphor, word play. It's sad that so many creative young artists cannot make a living any other way than by flogging a product, but I am happy for them when their industrial lord lets them get away with something clever. It's also sad that so much money is spent on advertising lousy crap instead on worthier causes, or even R&D. But over all, intelligent, media-savvy people can appreciate a good ad and the fact that ad money goes to support things like web-sites, public transport, newspapers etc., without actually being affected by them. The easily-led are affected, some to the point of brain-washing, but the easily-led always were.
That's for good ads. Bad ads, of course, are a scourge, because of the high visibility they have. I'm all for destroying and defacing and cleverly manipulating such ads.
Speaking of the easily-led, have you heard of the new advertising trend that sees makers of gadgets and clothing using head-hunters to single out "popular school kids" and giving them hundreds of $ worth of stuff for free? The idea being, of course, that the peers of the trendy popular kids want to be just like them, and will run out and buy the same stuff they see the trend-setters wearing and using... That's just so manipulative. "Oh, hey kid, you're bright, popular and good-looking, why don't we shower you in brand-name gifts as well!" Grrr.
Makes me want to subscribe to Ad-Busters. (Great Canadian product! *free advertisment*, heh heh)
That's for good ads. Bad ads, of course, are a scourge, because of the high visibility they have. I'm all for destroying and defacing and cleverly manipulating such ads.
Speaking of the easily-led, have you heard of the new advertising trend that sees makers of gadgets and clothing using head-hunters to single out "popular school kids" and giving them hundreds of $ worth of stuff for free? The idea being, of course, that the peers of the trendy popular kids want to be just like them, and will run out and buy the same stuff they see the trend-setters wearing and using... That's just so manipulative. "Oh, hey kid, you're bright, popular and good-looking, why don't we shower you in brand-name gifts as well!" Grrr.
Makes me want to subscribe to Ad-Busters. (Great Canadian product! *free advertisment*, heh heh)
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