advertising

Origami Themed Mitsubishi Commercial

JasonMR — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:19:08 -0600

The following ad produced for Mitsubishi took weeks to make, and required some elaborate origami work, which was completed by Robert J. Lang (an incredibly apt artist), Linda Tomoko Mihara (who's just as amazing), and a few people from the production team who were instructed in the art of folding by Mr. Lang. All that work for 20 seconds in a 30 second commercial, with hardly any of the details created ever visible. What a waste it might seem, but in a sublime way, this is what allows the art to keep its dignity and merit. Undeniably it was created with the intent to produce a commercial, but the art work has still had its life of its own, in independence of the ad presented to a wider audience, solely to manipulate their minds, branding the marketing message into their unconscious existence. The commercial production merely served as a vehicle of income for the artist, in an art form with great difficulty creating (more ethical) income options.

Read the article by Robert J. Lang describing the making of, for a more detailed description of the work that went into the creation of the video seen above. Now I would like to see a documentary of its creation. If anyone knows of a video that shows the production process, please leave a comment.

Web Tool To Test For Ad-Injection By ISP

JasonMR — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:24:48 -0500

The University of Washington has a tool available, which allows you to check, if your ISP inserts ads after a page has been sent by a server.

If you're like me, and have a strong aversion towards advertising in general (unless they are cool/funny videos found on YouTube) and use Firefox, I highly recommend you install the Ad-Blocker add-on and its companion the Filterset Updater.

Found via /..

Imagine A World Without Advertising

JasonMR — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:58:19 -0500

In Sao Paulo this has partly become a reality, what bliss. Though I'm sure, plenty of people have become sufficiently addicted to the constant sensory input, that they will feel some kind of loss.

Advertising has become the modern form of popular art. And instead of thinking for a solution to employ creative people, without having to rely on a monstrous propaganda industry. We have accepted flawed arguments for the need of "information", and the legitimacy of mass manipulation based on the individuals freedom of speech. Especially if the main aim is to create noise to dampen the spread of information. Brands are like spoilt or deprived children, always out to get your attention, no matter at what cost.

I can see how one might argue, that cities will turn gray and boring in the absence of colourful [and especially blinking, buzzing] adverts. What I can not accept, is this being an argument for accepting mass propaganda. While it may not be for totalitarian governments, we have to acknowledge its attempt to create totalitarian products and brands. How about coming up with new ways to finance public art? Why can't it suffice to have a small plaque stating a businesses sponsorship, with a mentioning in the public paper?

Only because we have become accustomed to, and developed a culture of killing small businesses, does not offer sufficient ethical reason for its continued legitimacy.

I'm certainly not for a total ban on advertising, which would be in line with drug and alcohol prohibition. But I'm certainly for a reduction of its prevalence and advertisings seeming boundlessness. Just as with tobacco. I'm not for the prohibition of tobacco products, but I'm for sane laws restricting and limiting its spread and usage. Both, advertising and smoking are bad for our health. The only difference being, that one affects the body, the other warps minds. Our sleeping partner, as the late Alan Carr referred to it, is a powerful persuader, without us even realizing its efficiency. Why else would corporations be spending billions to push their products?