Week 3 EOC: William Bernbach

TBC

Week 3 EOC: Creative Thinking

TBC

Week 3 EOC: Thank you for smoking

Thank You for Smoking does a wonderful job of showcasing the elements at play in Washington DC and the power of advertising. Though there are though that take it as a clear show of what is wrong, in the world of advertisement and politics. I see it more as a showcase of what you get when you let things happen. None of the characters truly do anything arguably wrong, as while there are moral and legal implications. The social norms that were set and the world they where operating in forces them to do so.
For me it showcases what can be done when someone knows how to speak to the person in front of them and audience they target. The lead character explains it himself, he is just really good at talking. So really a lot of the criticism he takes through out the movie, is almost out of envy that their voices are not as strong as his.
The tobacco industry did a lot of shady things in this time and times leading up to it. But put in the same position I couldn't see anybody else doing anything different. If you were the owner of a tobacco company, and you were facing a threat like they were. Would you not do everything in your power to prevent it. Even if it looks bad from the outside, it is hard to say their intention wasn't good for their own. I don't like how things are done, but like the movie shows at the end it's how they are done. So you either play the game, or try to change the rules. But don't be surprised when the other players, play their hands.

Week 2 EOC: Three Ad's with questionable ethics

The use of sexualization for fast food isn't anything new. However there is usually a clear divided between the product and the person trying to sell it. In this ad the implication of a sexual act and the placement of model and sandwich puts it across the line.  

http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1907218,00.html

This ad is ok on face value, but becomes questionable once the copy and implications are taken into account. As it over sells a product that had little evidence of actually being able to work. Further more by using one of the most famous cases of a person with HIV as the spokesperson, creates a belief of legitimacy. Even though the use has no know benefits.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/02/drug-advertising-lipitor-lifestyle-health-pharmaceuticals-safety.html

While this add has the benefit of being absolutely hilarious, it is questionable on the placement. Though ads are unavoidable in day to day life of the modern age, to put an add that has such personal implications in such a public spot is truly unethical. Though this can be warranted depending on the building, I believe in most cases it is just inappropriate.

http://www.oddee.com/item_99581.aspx

Week 1 EOC: VW Lemon Ad

The Volkswagen's Lemon ad is one of the most influential ad of all time, though many took it for face value it runs deeper than that. "In a sea of hard sell, Volkswagen appeals were islands of refreshing wit that extolled its products' virtues with breezy self-effacement. "Live Below Your Means," advised one ad. "Think Small," counseled another."(http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1960-1969-volkswagen-beetle4.htm). Volkswagen was able to use the fact that the had a tarnished named to their advantage. They had the freedom to take a chance on something new and were rewarded for it.

Their openness to new ideas is shown clearly in their choice of a jewish advertising agency, for a company that was founded by the Nazis only a few decades earlier. "The “Think Small” and “Lemon” ads were not intentional.“Think Small” was a note written by Julian Koenig at BBD in reaction to the original creative contrasting VW with large American cars.  “Lemon” was  a comment made by Rita Selden on one of the proposed ads.The headline for the original VW ad was intended to be “Willkommen”The client (Carl Hahn) thought it was too German.  He firmly believed that in order to compete against well entrenched American brands it had to be “as American as Apple Strudel”."(http://www.brandstories.net/2012/11/03/vw-beetle-story-lesson-in-brand-persona-development/). This understanding of needing to embrace another markets culture to ensure sales is common place today, but at the time it was merely a fledgling idea. So while the ad is simple, the ideals it represents are much larger.

The fact of the matter if they would have tried to become exactly what everyone else was it wouldn't have worked. That doesn't mean that they could just do what ever the brand desired, as the American public wasn't really ready for them. “You just went from wondering if it was socially acceptable to even own such a vehicle to having a cute nickname for it.” (https://designshack.net/articles/graphics/the-greatest-print-campaigns-of-all-time-volkswagen-think-small/) By keeping it simple, and even a little bit self degradation, they controlled the conversation around their product.

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

A jack-of-all-trades but a master of none is better than a master of one, is one of the simplest ways to describe myself. I am the devil’s advocate, as in when I am placed in a situation I will always try to understand the other side of things. I use this to maintain a wide view on topics and issues that face me, both creatively and administratively. I grew up in Wisconsin but for the past five years I have moved across the country. Though I have made sacrifices to do so, my ability to assimilate into the areas to get a better understanding has been invaluable to me. My greatest strengths are in visual composition, both for video and print the former being my strongest. What I lack in technical skill for production I believe I more than make up for with my ability to navigate a project within its market. Though I can’t say I have had a perfect past or succeeded in every endeavor that I have taken on I know without a doubt that I can pick my self back up and keep striving for more.