art not ads

Well, I suppose it had to happen. Stay Free comment on an article in the LA Times about a TV show called “Firebrand” which is nothing but adverts. It features “commercial jockeys” who actually introduce the upcoming ads.

Now if you don’t mind, I think I’ve just about had it…. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??? It’s as if Franz Kafka, David Cronenburg and Terry Gilliam dreamed up some hideous TV monster, and it ATE TV-LAND then crapped out RECURSIVE TV NIGHTMARES. This is in Revelations, right?

Honestly though. Are they on crack or what?

Hmm?

This story has been kicking about for a while, but it’s worth mentioning. Have you seen those awful ads that a certain tissue-manufacturer has been airing, where a guy sits on a blue couch in the street and invites people to “let it out” and talk to him? There’s a box of tissues on the table, and as the volunteers open up their hearts, they tug out a tissue to dry their eyes. Very touching.

The manufacturer in question, Kimberley-Clarke, make a proud boast of using 100% virgin fibre. Campaigners Kleercut say that this material largely comes from clear-cutting ancient forests, which are home to wolves, caribou, and other wildlife that are forced to move on as their habitat is destroyed. It certainly doesn’t look very pretty.

The Kleercut campaigners took to the streets of New York to interrupt the filming of some of these ads. The results are quite amusing. However, the really interesting part of that film from is the comments from the advertising film crew that can be heard in the opening sequences. The volunteers are told that their tears should be genuine, so they’ll need to discuss something moving.

Very few people are naive enough to think that the actual sessions on the blue couch are as open and heartwarming as the final edit purports; and some may not agree with Kleercut’s tactics. But it’s fascinating to get a glimpse into the machinations of an advertising campaign that sets out to deceive. Of course, TV is all theatre, but this advert uses members of the public in an ostensibly impromptu display of emotion, a facade that is demolished by the overheard comments in the film. The link to the final product is tenuous at best, though as any marketeer will tell you, if you engage the audience’s emotions, they’ll most likely remember the product. It’s disappointing that everyone involved in the ad, even presumably the volunteers for the blue couch, were aware that they were all being duplicitous about the premise of the ad. In any group activity, responsibility can become diffused among all participants, so the individuals feel little responsibility themselves. Is it a little harsh to suggest similar mechanisms are at work in advertising, particularly in cynical and exploitative ads? Is there any other reason that people are induced to take part in this sort of advertising? (Apart from cash of course..!)

David Lynch succinctly expresses his opinion on films that use “product placement” to gain funding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4wh_mc8hRE

The China Daily reports that children who are “beleaguered” with advertising “could just blindly develop a passion for famous brands”. The main concern seems to be how advertising affects autistic children, and others with a “lack of discerning abilities”. There’s an underlying pining for traditional family values throughout the story that is frankly a red herring - the key question is about advertising and children: not whether they are affected, but whether we actually care.

Via Stay Free.

More genius from the wonderful Ji Lee who brought us the Bubble Project. This time, abstractor.tv demonstrates how to turn a TV or “video billboard” (something that is increasingly pervasive in the UK) into a work of art. Art Not Ads, activist-stylee. Luv it.

A beer-pusher is currently advertising its drug using the slogan “belong”. The desperate importance of “belonging” is illustrated by film of a huge, swarming flock of birds; in the background plays one of those a chirpy pop-rock songs that seem to be 10-a-penny at the moment.

It’s a little cryptic, so I’ve hunted high and low for a translation, and apparently, this is what it means:

“Belong! It doesn’t matter what all this is about; in fact, we’re not even going to tell you. That’s not important any more, those days are gone. You just need to BELONG. Everyone else belongs, and that’s what’s important, isn’t it? Join the herd, you’ll be safe. It doesn’t matter what we’re selling, you need it because everyone else tells you. Don’t question it, don’t try to resist, and don’t be different - whatever you do, DON’T BE DIFFERENT. Don’t think, don’t question, just BELONG. Belonging is what’s important, and you can illustrate your belonging by purchasing the correct products. Everything’s the same these days anyway: it doesn’t really matter what you buy, so you may as well BELONG. Why wouldn’t you want to BELONG? Why on Earth wouldn’t you? It doesn’t matter what it is that you belong to, don’t worry about that. It’s like an exclusive club where all your mates are members! In fact, you’ll automatically make friends just by joining! Well, not friends exactly, but at least you’ll know who you don’t like, and that’s everyone who’s not in the club, right? So everyone who is in the club must be your friend. It’s obvious. All this could be yours, just by buying some piss-poor lager. Seriously! That’s what we’re offering. Membership to some nebulous herd of clueless people who’re waiting to be told what to do, what to think, what to wear, what to buy - people just like you! Now some people say that you could save money by not BELONGING, by not purchasing those special things that you need to show in order to BELONG. But where’s the fun in that? You work hard for that cash, so spend it! And what better to spend it on than BELONGING?”

Wow, that sounds just brilliant.

I took a trip into London on the Tube a couple of days ago, and surfaced at Tottenham Court Road. I haven’t been there for a while, so I hadn’t seen the flat-screen TVs that line the escalators. There must be 30 of them, each side. So that’s something like 60 screens projecting animated adverts to the people who are chugging their way up the escalators. The ads change of course, so by the time you’ve reached the top, each screen may have displayed several ads. It’s a long escalator so most people stand rather than walk. I didn’t notice, but I’d be surprised if the ads aren’t timed so that the screens update as you roll past them, to make sure you get optimal exposure to brand names, slogans, and the like.

And of course, Tottenham Court Road isn’t the only place that does this. Waterloo and Liverpool Street stations both have enormous plasma screens, each one several metres across, replete with loudspeakers, projecting advertising and corporate news to the waiting masses.

This all begs the simple question, who gave permission to do this? I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that the London Underground is controlled by the Mayor, and the Mayor represents the people of the city. Have the people of London been clamouring for televisual advertising to brighten their journeys? London Underground wishes to improve its service but it’s not clear whether the people of London were consulted about the options available. It seems that an increasing amount of intrusive advertising is the only solution that has been considered.

If anyone can clear up how this has happened, or if you have any opinions on the subject, I’d love to hear them. Email ANA at . I’ll have to contact the Mayor’s office and the London Underground to get the low-down. Feel free to join in!

PS. If you’re not familiar with “Television, Drug of the Nation ” by the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, check it out, you may like it.