If you work in or pay attention to advertising, it helps to have an appreciation for irony. This New York Times article, for instance, demands it. Consumer cynicism is a topic of great interest to Amanda Helm, an instructor of marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In connection with her research, she has conducted in-depth interviews with about two dozen consumers on the subject and has looked …
You Don’t Seem To Understand The Nuances Of Our Brand Voice
Care of Hugh MacLeod …
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DANGER: Rooftop Drinking Sweeps The Nation
New York Times reports that some curmudgeons did not appreciate the Bud Light Super Bowl spot, where a guy is depicted spending quality time with his beer. Critics said that the commercial sent a dangerous message that it was fun to drink on rooftops and that the ad violated the beer industry's advertising and marketing standards, which stipulate that ads "should not portray beer drinking before or during activities, …
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Failure Can Be A Smashing Success
Many of my literary heroes are failed copywriters. Hemingway and Fitzgerald, in particular. Recently, I Iearned that Jim Harrison, author of Dalva, Legends of the Fall, and several other important books, also gave it a go. Jim Harrison in his memoir, Off to the Side: After a long day and evening designing a sample ad campaign for BBDO I had narrowly missed by a single other candidate getting a good position as a …
Gamecock Yes. Fighting No.
From Charleston Post & Courier: A state senator says the University of South Carolina needs to rethink its Fighting Gamecock mascot if the Legislature passes tougher penalties on cockfighting. If the bill passes, "how can we as lawmakers and other leaders of this state justify a major institution in our state running ads and logos on billboards with a fighting gamecock with spurs on the feet?" asked Sen. Darrell …
Social Software My Ass
You know something's big when the satire commences. From Sean Bonner: Since the internets were invented we've all been trying to figure out what they can be best used for, how that can improved our lives, and how we can monetize the fuck out of that. Who ever could have guessed that I'd be the one to figure it out? Well, it's been a long three days since this was conceived in the back channel at etech, but the …
Hummer Can’t Buy A Break
From Austin 360: The Thermals, a rambunctious rock band from Portland, Ore., were en route between gigs last year when they got a phone call from their label, Sub Pop. Hummer wanted to pay them $50,000 for the right to use their song "It's Trivia" in a commercial. "We thought about it for about 15 seconds, maybe," lead singer Hutch Harris said. They said no. Washington D.C.'s Trans Am were offered $180,000 by Hummer …
The Corporate Coffee Backlash: Coming To Your Town Soon
In a comment seeming to stary from their party line, Consumerist says: Normally we’re not into anti-consumer agitprop but this one butters the biscuit. You can't see it in the photo, but this stencil is directly adjacent to a brand-spankin'-new, soon-to-open Starbux. Click over to Consumerist for more photos. …
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