Reaction to Tsunami AD by DDB Brazil
There have been many posts across news websites, ad websites and various other media regarding the controversial spot done for the World Wildlife Federation to promote the conservation of the earth. Some have said it is outright tasteless, full of hatred and insensitivity, however others think it's brilliant...
I am somewhere in between. I think the use of two of the most tragic events in the past 10 years is very cold, insensitive and thoughtless, but at the same time it got our attention and that was the point right? I in no way condone the funding or airing of these commercials, but at the same time, sometimes shock value is the only thing that can ignite the flames underneath us and get people to at least think a little deeper into things.
This particular ad has caused quite a stir, and lots of people are talking. Talking isn't necessarily what they were looking for, but it can definitely lead to some type of change. However, I don't think this was they type of attention they were looking for.
I think it is truly tragic that they felt this approach was their last resort and in a sense I think of it as a cry for help. Are we that consumed in our own lives, with our own personal day to day safety that we have to be reminded of tragedy in order to make us aware of our impact on the earth?
This also makes we wonder: Had they decided to use the tsunami approach WITHOUT the 9/11 reference, would it have been as controversial? And would have been as effective. Advertising is meant to get your attention, make you aware, push the limits, but the challenge is to keep from crossing those boundary lines because when those lines have been crossed, all credibility goes right down the toilet. They wanted to inspire change, make people realize that every day people kill people, and every day people pollute, waste, overuse energy, etc. that can kill even more people than the cold blooded murders of 9/11.
It's a tough issue because it deals with vulnerability and emotions, but again, that's what advertising is meant to do...tap into your emotions, get you questioning things and ultimately help us make informed decisions.
Thank you DDB Brazil, we have been informed, but next time use a little more humanity in your decisions.
Unforgettable
Today, January 20th, 2009 marks the day the United States of America has officially sworn in the first African American President in history. Barack Hussein Obama. It is a day I will never forget.
I just wanted to write this down somewhere so I have it as a memory. I set my alarm so I could wake up and watch in on TV. I had tears in my eyes before it even started just because I realized how much I personally have taken for granted and how much history has always felt like a thing of the past, when in actuality it is unfolding right before our very eyes. I was given the opportunity to live it today and am thankful for that.
I can't even imagine what life was like when an African American man was not served in a local restaurant, when he was considered 3/5 of a white man. How disgusting and inhumane. A lot has changed, but in some ways a lot hasn't. It is so unfortunate that it has taken this long to happen, but at least it happened and we can only move forward from here.
I feel somewhat rejuvenated, kind of like a second "new years" celebration in a sense. Although we are in no way starting over, more like moving foward. That's what needs to be done and I look forward to the future even though it will take a while for things to be visibly different.
I just wanted to write this down somewhere so I have it as a memory. I set my alarm so I could wake up and watch in on TV. I had tears in my eyes before it even started just because I realized how much I personally have taken for granted and how much history has always felt like a thing of the past, when in actuality it is unfolding right before our very eyes. I was given the opportunity to live it today and am thankful for that.
I can't even imagine what life was like when an African American man was not served in a local restaurant, when he was considered 3/5 of a white man. How disgusting and inhumane. A lot has changed, but in some ways a lot hasn't. It is so unfortunate that it has taken this long to happen, but at least it happened and we can only move forward from here.
I feel somewhat rejuvenated, kind of like a second "new years" celebration in a sense. Although we are in no way starting over, more like moving foward. That's what needs to be done and I look forward to the future even though it will take a while for things to be visibly different.
Everybody's doin' it...
I've written this first blog post 3 times already because I'm not quite sure how to write a blog...I think I'm just going to settle with what I started with:
So it seems that everyone these days reads blogs, writes blogs, talks about blogs, etc., so I decided to join the masses. Considering I'm in a field that makes it necessary to keep up with trends, and maybe even help set them, I figured I should start a blog of my own just to see how it feels. The purpose of my future career as a copywriter is to get into peoples' heads, connect with them and what better way than to do the things they do? Makes sense to me.
Honestly, the one thing I hate about blogs (yes, I've tried creating one once before) is that you never know when to stop writing, if you've written too much, not enough or if what you're writing is of any importance at all. Our lives are filled with so many restrictions, rules we must follow, boundaries that cannot be crossed and the moment we are given the freedom to create those limits for ourselves, we freak out because we are so used to someone else deciding for us. I know there's a good quote out there that says it better...I'll find it eventually.
Anyway, I haven't decided whether or not there will be a specific theme like "advertising only" or if I'll just describe the random occurrences in my daily life. I suppose it doesn't really matter. What I'm looking forward to most is 20 years down the line when I get to read everything I have written with a whole new perspective on life.
I'm done for now...This whole blogging thing is going to take some getting used to because I keep writing and writing and writing, then I delete it all, then write something similar all over again.
So it seems that everyone these days reads blogs, writes blogs, talks about blogs, etc., so I decided to join the masses. Considering I'm in a field that makes it necessary to keep up with trends, and maybe even help set them, I figured I should start a blog of my own just to see how it feels. The purpose of my future career as a copywriter is to get into peoples' heads, connect with them and what better way than to do the things they do? Makes sense to me.
Honestly, the one thing I hate about blogs (yes, I've tried creating one once before) is that you never know when to stop writing, if you've written too much, not enough or if what you're writing is of any importance at all. Our lives are filled with so many restrictions, rules we must follow, boundaries that cannot be crossed and the moment we are given the freedom to create those limits for ourselves, we freak out because we are so used to someone else deciding for us. I know there's a good quote out there that says it better...I'll find it eventually.
Anyway, I haven't decided whether or not there will be a specific theme like "advertising only" or if I'll just describe the random occurrences in my daily life. I suppose it doesn't really matter. What I'm looking forward to most is 20 years down the line when I get to read everything I have written with a whole new perspective on life.
I'm done for now...This whole blogging thing is going to take some getting used to because I keep writing and writing and writing, then I delete it all, then write something similar all over again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)