Ads Are Culture

He must've killed at Jenga.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:18:00 +0000

This incredible hand-lettering artist in Barcelona caught my eye. Incredible control & steady hands. Watching him makes me feel like I'm watching a medieval sign-maker.

Legacy of Letters from Luca Barcellona on Vimeo.

SO much better than being a grain merchant.

News At 11

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:57:00 +0000

Update coming soon. Stay tuned.

Social networking gets into bed.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:07:00 +0000

Discovered a very special web app via Twitter.
Bedposted.com.

It's for SEX. Complete with PARTNER LOGINS.

Set aside the jokes about "user interface" and "plug-ins" for a sec.
I can see this being an amusing app for curious couples and swingin' singles. (Or, curious singles and swingin' couples.)

I mean, if you want to submit that kind of personal info online, I'm presuming this is NOT Google-searchable.

But...
That field marked "name" is a little worrisome.
Can you honestly not recall your partners within the last month?
Week?
Do you really need a spreadsheet to track your sex habits?
heh, spreadsheet.

If so, mazeltov. I'm sure you're having a great time.

I also hope you're registered here, if applicable - or at least have a great doctor to keep you kosher.

Tough Love.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:08:00 +0000

Valentine's: the day "Hallmark" becomes a dirty word.

What's the big deal?
Why are people so passionately anti-Valentine's Day?
Type "anti valentine's" into Google, and you'll find there was a V-day protest in India this year. (I didn't even know they recognized Valentine's.) In undergrad, my friends once celebrated anti-Valentine's by smashing black roses frozen with liquid nitrogen. Yay chem lab nerds.

The party line seems to be something like:"We conciously don't celebrate, 365 days to show love, we're all anti-Hallmark-Holiday" (found here). Some Utah teens are saying pretty much the same thing. And UK's New Scientist Magazine has some intelligent words on the matter.

Hell, even Bacardi Rum is capitalizing on all the bitterness with a "Shred Your Ex" bar promotion.

This may be the one holiday when ads and culture intersect with the most ANGER.

But we live in a media-savvy society.
Since when do you do ANYTHING just because an ad tells you to?
If you really feel your relationship is at stake because of some flowers or chocolates, you have bigger problems.
And I think you may be doing it to yourselves.

I'm looking to you, Culture, and especially you, Society. You both should be pushing back against Ads in a more constructive manner.

Here's my advice: If you're so against it, quit bitchin' and REINVENT it. Don't let anyone else's bitterness, or advertising, define your holiday or your happiness.

Reposted from my other blog:
I always thought it was weird how so many people have an aversion to Valentine's Day. My family celebrated it as a day to remind everyone you love in your life, that you love them. So I'd cut out some construction paper hearts and decorate the house with Mom. Get chocolates and sign valentines for my family & friends. Get flowers for the dinner table. If I had a crush, he'd get a special card. See, we celebrated all kinds of love, not just a significant other.

When I went to college, I was deeply confused why so many people were bitter over a holiday dedicated to the people you love. It wasn't until someone sat down and explained to me the agony of being date-less on V-day in high school, or enduring sappy couples in restaurants. Or how some people see the red hearts and chocolates and flowers as insults, accusations, reminders of loneliness, artificial emotion, or just lies.

Damn. People got issues with Valentine's. But I don't let that change me, and I refuse to feel bad celebrating in front of other people. They're the ones who are mistaken. This is NOT a "date" holiday. It's a love holiday, and there are many different kinds of love.

Love.

Parting gifts:
1) V-Day by the numbers, a collection of Valentine's Day statistics.

2) a funny V-Day chart for dudes. (closer look HERE)

Pepsi: Sarcasm.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:41:00 +0000

I giggled when I saw this. Brilliant.

Pepsi Logo Redesigned AGAIN

Thanks to Charlie!

Pepsi: Plagiarism?

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:39:00 +0000

The new Pepsi logo has looked like this since October.

It's really not their fault it looks rather like Obama's logo.

But now, Pepsi's campaign also looks suspiciously familiar.

Obama:

PEPSI:

Dare we say, borrowed interest?

Why is Pepsi's campaign piggybacking on the election? Is it some kind of status symbol? I've read the news, so I get that a lot of this is about catering to us Millennials. But Chiat, I know you can do better than copy someone else's ads. Please, show us it's true.

And I won't even bother to quote what some say about the new bottle contours.

A Present. For You!

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Nokia disposes of your annoying digital clutter in a highly satisfying manner. Like shooting that life-sucking powerpoint through a ring of fire.

Upload docs and destroy, here.

(if you're wary of uploading, sacrificial docs are available on website)
Just delightful.

Happy Nothing

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:20:00 +0000

Bah, humbug.

I just want to get this off my chest. A little rant about the holiday that dare not speak its name.

I'm amazed at how uncomfortable people are, saying anything other than "Happy Holidays." Perhaps it's only in California. It's not just the check-out cashiers and the public transit operators. Everyone at work has been correcting themselves.
"Merry Christma - I mean..."
"Happy Hanukkah, oh whoops."

Except for my closest friends, everyone I know - or run into on the street - seems to be self-editing this one greeting. It's the PC thing to say, presumably because it's intended to be non-offensive.

But you know what? I think I'm offended by Happy Holidays.

I think it represents everything that's wrong with American pop culture: the generic-ization of everything (I know, not a word, but the meaning's clear). Why do we stumble so over a simple wish of good cheer?

My international friends say it's like the wal-mart of holiday greetings. Bland, timid, trying to please everyone, but completely lacking in real information and personality. "hey, have a happy whatever-you-happen-to-celebrate, I'm so worried about offending your sensibilities." And if that's what we're communicating, that's ridiculous. And empty.

In a country where we have the freedom to celebrate whatever we wish, we should be wishing each other exactly what we mean. I want people to wish me a Happy Hanukkah. A Happy Kwaanza. A Happy Epiphany. A Merry Solstice. Dare I say it, a Merry Christmas.

Whatever season you celebrate, I want to hear it.
I want to hear who you really are.

Otherwise, this seasonal silliness is analogous to the racial fallacy of being colorblind. We should be celebrating the things that make us unique, not trying to erase them.
Lest we run the risk of losing the meaning entirely.

Frak you, Earth.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:46:00 +0000

It would seem that the big conversation about the environment has recently spawned an amusing tangent.
Of hilarious.

Exhibit A.
Warning: F-bombs droppin' like it's hot.

Exhibit B.
Warning: same.
cute animals + swearing FTW

ahhh. Makes me feel like I'm back in (gr)ad school.

Speech Clouds.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:56:00 +0000

From election night, the 150 most-used words in Obama's acceptance speech.

And never to be forgotten, the most important and moving speech from McCain's run for president: his concession.

Tag clouds by Wordle.

Delightfully wicked.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:20:00 +0000

My friends are so talented.
One of them made this:

PalinAsPresident.com <--Click! there's multiple scenarios!

(Know Forrest too? Buy him a drink, send him a love note.)

Pinch Me.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:54:00 +0000

If you ever got to see this spring's MOMA exhibit in NYC, Design and the Elastic Mind, then you saw the work of one of my favorite interactive artists, Jonathan Harris. And I'm jealous.

Hearts!

Cut Scene

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Pacific Coast. Sitting in the office late with a lady named Tor. Wrapping up a major presentation for tomorrow.

Happened upon a very wise message from a good friend.

"I thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done. That is what all parents should do."

Right on.

It's gotten me this far.

Thanks Joyce!

Venn Diagrams are cool.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:13:00 +0000

Especially when they can tell you Why We Drink.

It's Back, Baby!

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:12:00 +0000

Proving once again what goes around, comes around:
Elizabethan style revisited as out-of-the-box couture.
Fig 1:

Fig. 2:

After all, the Neck Ruff is already on its way back.
Fig 3:

Fig. 4:

...and I think I like it.
Besides, Queen Elizabeth would be proud.

Fashion lust.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:37:00 +0000

Quite possibly the Best. Hat. Ever. <--Click it, it's got a © so I don't think I can copy it.

Need a hint?

Procrastination

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:14:00 +0000

For weeks, I've been collecting things to post.
Now I've got a pile to work through.

Here's a brilliantly tactile web interface for snowboarder clothing, of all things. Go play!

Also: Oldie but goodie.

Potty Mouth

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:31:00 +0000

I've aways found bathroom graffiti fascinating.

Why do people scrawl their thoughts in such an exclusive place, for intimate viewing only? Are they just bored?

It's the only place where striking insights share the wall with random phone numbers.

Anyways, I've started a collection.

Anger + Art = Change?

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:13:00 +0000

My first year at Adcenter, we were assigned a project: "Anger + Art = Change" in our Creative Thinking class. Being irked by the snowballing violations and dismissals of habeas corpus, I created this.

In the same spirit, I found a piece which reminded me of several reasons why jumping on the Beijing 2008 bandwagon might not be so hot.
Fifteen reasons, to be exact.

In a consumer culture, money speaks louder than words. I recommend boycotting tyrants.

Smile, You're on Closed Circuit MTV

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:23:00 +0000

In Manchester UK, Big Brother's watching, and so is everyone else. A rookie band with zero budget created a great-looking music video using the city's surveillance cameras. Well done, guys.
(The song's okay too.)

The best part is that they obtained the videos through the Freedom of Information Act. Use that surveillance state to your advantage!

Very clever use of media: playing to cameras in the street, in taxis, even on a bus. Videos capture reactions from passersby, and the use of frames warps space and time in smart ways. I guarantee this mechanism will be used to execute an ad or viral video (if it hasn't happened already).

Read the full article and band interview here.

I want one.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:47:00 +0000

I officially "finish" my book (portfolio) in the next 37 days.
Meanwhile, I look forward to buying this book a few months later:

Holy cow, that's so smart it's sexy.
And kudos to the marketing smartypants who put this video online.

In other news, I'm officially back from hiatus. Greetings, world.

What Lies Underneath

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:34:00 +0000

Everyone see the Superbowl? Good. (Go Giants)
and... those ads. hunh.

Specifically, the Victoria's Secret ad.
A classy execution and cute, but also entirely predictable. Will men really rush out to buy women's lingerie because of this ad? Will they even remember? Or will they just squeeze their wife/girlfriend's knee in between bites of spicy bbq buffalo wings?

I enjoyed Gregg Easterbrook's take in his article, Super Bowl Ads: $90,000 Per Second, who begs for energetic, athletic VS girls - suggesting (among other things) that Adriana Lima go drink a milkshake. She definitely lost some serious weight recently, which is unfortunate. She's been my favorite VS girl for a long time specifically because she used to sport a few real curves. But not any more. Check out her new cheek hollows and rib bones:

Whatever happened to Heidi Klum bringing the playfulness back to lingerie? That spoke to me a lot more than the Superbowl spot. Who're we selling underpants to, anyway?

Frankly, Victoria's Secret could use a little updating, and I'm not talking about the teeny-bopper "Pink" line extension. I'm talking about the wonderful interface at KnickerPicker.com, still in beta but already at the top of my shopping list. After all, I'm never gonna look like Adriana in underwear, so why should I buy based on her body type? I'm gonna look more like these fine gals. Different models make the dressing-room interface relatable to a decent spectrum of body types.

Tell it, Captain.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:25:00 +0000

This morning, Patrick Stewart surprised me.
He echoed what's been rattling around in my head lately.

Musing on the two halves of his Shakespearean career, Mr. Stewart said that acting feels different to him now. He kept himself in check in the early years, he explained, acting with deliberation rather than passion, faking rather than feeling.

“I had a certain fear of exposing myself too much in my work for a long time,” he said. “A lot of what performing to me had been was elaborate, and at times quite clever, concealment. Someone once said of acting that it is ‘telling beautiful lies,’ and well, it became just no longer satisfactory to work that way.”

More than anything, he has Shakespeare on the brain. “I have this theory that these roles, the really great roles — there are elements of them in all of us. And that is part of the greatness of this dramatist, that he taps into something which is entirely human. You feel him reaching out his hand and saying to you as an actor, ‘Come on, it’s easier than you think.’ ”

Read the whole NY Times article. It's fantastic.

Special thanks to Beth for finding this.

Only Yesterday

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:35:00 +0000

New resource for all you art directors and history-philes out there:
the Library of Congress now has a blog.

And a FLICKR ALBUM.
No Photoshopping. These are the real deal.
Hi-res, full-color photographs.
Taken in the 1940's.
Preserved in impeccable condition.

The RPG forums have already leapt on this as a character and location resource. Historical fiction novelists can't be far behind.

WANT.

noreply@blogger.com (withans) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:45:00 +0000

bumper sticker:

And a close runner up:

Nerdy, perhaps. But c'mon, SO COOL.