The original
plan was to create a comic about what old workaholics will one
day call the BlackBerry
Blackout of '07. I'm sure we all know a CrackBerry addict
or two and I think there's something inherently amusing in the
image of a disheveled executive, circa hour 14, holding a cardboard
sign that reads "WILL SUCK COCK FOR PUSH E-MAIL TECHNOLOGY".
No? Just
me?
Either way,
it's a moot point. As soon as I read the Adrants
article about Sao Paulo's war on visual pollution, including
everything from billboards and bus wraps to fliers and neon
signs, I knew it was the only possible topic for discussion.*
The arguments
in favour of the ban are pretty straightforward (are you really
shocked that Brazilians
would be preoccupied with beauty?). The arguments against
range from the rational ("this is a radical law that
damages the rules of a market economy and respect for the rule
of law") to the clearly desperate ("neon signs keep
people safe at night").
At the risk
of crapping where I eat, I'm forced to admit that I'm okay with
the recession of ad creep. I mean, Times Square is a nice place
to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Having said that,
I'm not sure creepy
billboard-skeletons are much of an improvement. It's like
gazing upon capitalism's graveyard.
On the subject
of crapping where you eat, I'd love to know what McCann Erickson
was thinking when it created this:
-Graham
*I did briefly
consider venting my spleen over NBC's copycat-encouraging validation
of a murderous asshole, but Jamie didn't even let me finish
my sentence on that one.
What would an advertising
site be without the fine print? Here goes: Any reference to actual brands
on this site is for satirical purposes only and is in no way endorsed by their
parent companies
or the agencies that represent them. Neither is any harm intended towards
the aforementioned brands, companies and agencies. Quite the contrary —
we may well come begging for a job one day.
And really, wouldn't you rather sue Adbusters?
