Absolut Reference?

When I saw this commercial today, I couldn't help but notice the very end, when the words "Pure Hershey's" come on the screen. I immediately thought of "Absolut Vodka." Hershey's uses the word "pure" over and over in this commercial. The use of "Pure Simplicity," "Pure Happiness," and "Pure Hershey's" also mirrors Absolut's famous two word copy. It just so happens that the word "Absolut" means pure. So is this merely a coincidence, or did Hershey's realize the incredible success of the Absolut Vodka campaign and try to mirror it without mirroring it too closely? Even if it wasn't intentional, I don't think there is any way an advertising agency could have created this without thinking about Absolut Vodka. Absolut is one of the greatest ad campaigns of all time, it has been poked at by Smirnoff, and it is bound to get imitated.

Love it.

So I've begun to appreciate ads more and not just wait for them to be over. This is one ad that I really appreciate. I think it's a great way to get the point across. It's sincere and honest. I also thought it was cool that they included product symbolism, the arches one higher than the other in the background. I love the way AT&T has found a way to make it about more than the product, without completely losing the product.

Art?

When we first talked about this topic in class, it was probably the first time I really thought about that question, what is art? And now that we've talked about it, it comes up in my head when I see something and I ask myself, is that art?

So, what is art? who determines what art is? is it all based on individual opinion? I came across this while I was shopping the other day, and if you notice the sign says "The Graphic Tee. This is Art. Wear it." This store is claiming that their graphic tee shirts are art. They are also using that idea as a type of advertising to try to get people to wear it. The funny part about this is, they didn't advertise the shirts as "this is hott!" or "this is sexy!" They have determined that their clothes are art, fashion is art, and that is why people should wear it.

So is this art? Is your child's scribble art? Is Jackson Pollock's splatter paint art? Or is art reserved for Van Gogh and Da Vinci? Dictionary.com has 16 definitions listed for art, but here is the first one, "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance." So to be art does it have to be beautiful?
I don't think there could be any straightforward definition of art. The definiton of art has become so broad, that if you were to say something isn't art it would seem like an insult.

So, for now, the definiton is subjective. In my opinion, art is something new and original. Some people look at Pollock's work and say "I could do that! That's not art!"But Pollock was the first one to do that. It was original and now, and therefore, it's art.

This topic is basically a never ending cycle.

OMNICOM

1. BBDO



BBDO has many well known Pepsi ads. As they started out, they often based their commercials on trying to prove they were better than Coca Cola by comparing the two. They often directly showed Coca Cola in a negative light. They even went to the campaign of "Pepsi - the choice of a new generation." This ad was one of the ads in that campaign. This ad uses some of the same common ideas used in many Pepsi ads. One of these is the use of a well known figure. In this case, Michael Jackson. In other Pepsi commercials we have seen, Britney Spears, Cindy Crawford, The Spice Girls, and many more. Pepsi also has been known to have music in most of its commercials. This ad features a remix of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean." One thing this ad does not have is the negative light on Coca Cola. However, this ad serves to promote the new generation campaign by showing young children, a legendary performer, and a youthful energy.

2. DDB



DDB is a company with a long and successful history. One of it's most successful campaigns that really put it on the map, is the Volkswagen campaign. With the first "Think Small" print ad, DDB started a great long running campaign that went against all conventional automobile ads. This ad, by DDB London, for VW Golf follows those same standards that DDB established many years ago. This ad is not about the looks of the car, it's not about the speed of the car, and it's not about the driver of the car. This ad is about being practical. This ad shows the great "everyday" quality about the car. Since the beginning of DDB's Volkswagen campaign, this has been the message they have been trying to get across. It has never been about the sleek design (which is not there), it has never been about the girls sitting on the cars, or the horsepower, it is about real life and real life practicality.

3. TBWA



This ad, from TBWA\Media Arts Lab, is one of the many ads in the "Get a Mac" campaign. These are some of the most well known ads of today, and with good reason. TBWA often finds different ways of presenting a commercial. For example, the skittles ads are often different in a strange way. This ad was completely different in the fact that the product, which is an inanimate object, is being symbolized by a human being. These ads also do not directly attack competition, and never have the "Mac guy" say anything negative about the "PC guy." The PC guy always ends up setting himself up and making himself look bad. This is so clever and really is a new way of presenting a product. The commercial is funny, light, but still really gets you thinking about buying the product in an indirect way.


4. GOODBY SILVERSTEIN - San Francisco



This ad, by Goodby Silverstein, gives meaning to the NBA Finals. This ad makes the NBA about history, and great legends, not just a basketball game. Also, this ad doesn't just have them standing together, it puts them together in the action of dunking, giving the ad a sense of movement. There is also emotion present in this ad with the presence of some of the greatest basketball figures of all time. This ad isn't just targeted towards the occassional viewer of a basketball game, it isn't for someone who is flipping the channels, it is for the true fan. This ad gets those fans excited and emotionally involved, and that makes this a great ad.



5. 180 AMSTERDAM/180 LA



This commercial by 180 Amsterdam, is a great example of the type of work this agency does. This agency has been daring and brave from the beginning. When the three founders were fired for accusations of talking to Adidas while working at Weiden and Kennedy (the agency for Nike), they decided they might as well talk to Adidas. They created the winning ad in less than 48 hours. This agency has always had courage, and the guts to do something innovative and new. The shapes and music involved in this ad make it great and almost like a dance.



6. GSD&M IDEA CITY - Austin, TX



GSD&M is an agency which started in Austin, TX, has always been producing great creative ads despite losing major accounts such as Wal-mart along the way. This ad is no exception. When you first look at this advertisement, it looks like art. It may remind you of a Jackson Pollock, but either way, it is beautiful, innovative, and artistic. After you notice the beauty, you realize it is an advertisement for a car. GSD&M is able to break that mold of the typical car print ad, with the car shown large in the middle, showing the sleek and powerful design. This advertisement doesn't even show the car, it doesn't need to. It continues the GSD&M creative idea outlet with a new and original way to sell a car.

7. DIESTE HARMEL AND PARTNERS



Dieste Harmel is a great spanish speaking agency here in Dallas. This ad is a great example of how Spanish agencies can still appeal to all audiences. This ad gets the message across with a simple image, no words are necessary. This is especially great for a print ad, since it can quickly grab the attention of the viewer, without requiring too much attention. It can be seen in the midst of a magazine or driving alone the highway, but still memorable. Sometimes simple ads are just as effective, and this agency does a great job with that.





8. LATIN WORKS - Austin, TX



Latin Works is one of the best Latin agencies. One of the best things about Latin Works advertising is the ability to make their ads universal. Although much of their advertising is in the Spanish language, or specialized in latin advertisements, Latin Works seems to always be able to have a universal message in their ads. We see this with their Starburst ads, and also with this ad.


9. MARTIN WILLIAMS



Martin Williams, in Minneapolis, created this ad as a part of the "Not for Sale" campaign. Although Martin Williams may not have as many big clients as DDB or TBWA, this campaign is definitely attention grabbing. Making this concept similar to a "sale," really makes an impact. It brings attention to an issue that many people may not even be aware of, and the way it is done is blunt but effective.

Responsible Ads

Ad Agency - Goodby Silverstein

I've always thought the "Got Milk" ads were clean, simple, and to the point. This ad in particular uses a celebrity, Taylor Swift, to attract young people, which is a main target audience. The Got Milk ads have never been about competition, but more about sending the message that milk is a healthy source of calcium and important to young and growing bodies.






Agency - TBWA USA

I think this ad for Gatorade is a great example of a responsible and good promotion of a product. This ad gives the product meaning and strength. The images and music give the product more than just a drink image. It shows images of fighters, heroes, and people we really look up to, to attach a good image with Gatorade in the mind of consumers. This ad is not offensive, does not bash any other company, can't be taken in a bad way, it is simple and powerful.






Ad Agency - Modernista Boston

Gap advertisements have always been fun and musical, staying very clear from the stereotypical department store or other clothing store ads. The thing that makes this ad repsonsible and great is the fact that it gives a unifying theme. The ad isn't just about a sale, or a new item, it's about love. Only at the very end, does it have a quick line about the product. Of course the product is showcased, but it is not about competition or prices, it is pure, energizing, and encouraging.

Promoting a Social Issue

Ads that promote social issues can really have a great positive impact on society. These ads can bring attention to issues that may not be addressed on a regular basis. Sometimes advertising is the only place people see these issues being addressed, and this shows how seeing tons of ads a day doesn't have to always be a bad or annoying thing.

This ad, by Grey, Melbourne, Australia, is a great example of a responsible and great advertisement for the social cause of driving while under the influence of drugs. It is very clear, yet still clever, and gets the point across simply. There is no need for images because the point is made in text alone.


This ad, by Ogilvy & Mather, China, is a great example of promoting a social issue in a good way. The image itself is the message. It is so powerful, and really pulls at the emotional strings of the viewer. This reminds me of the ad where they put a manican of a woman in the street and had a message about women's abuse. It is images like this, that are right there in the street, that really grab your attention, that are so effective. This ad shows no offense to the issue, no humor, it is sympathetic and serious, but also gets the message across in a great way.



This ad for Partnership for a Drug Free America, by Mckinney, is addressing the social issue of drugs and does so in a good way. It has a simple but scary message addressing the effects of drugs without making it inappropriate or irrespsonsible. This ad, targeted at teenagers, I think addresses the issue better for the target audience. There are so many anti-drug campaigns out there that teenagers look at and laugh or think it is so cheesy or dumb, but I think since this one isn't too in your face, or too cheesy I think many teenagers may look at it and realize how gross it really is.

Irresponsible Ads

Sometimes advertisers lose sight of how much impact their work can have on society, they get lost in the competition or in the ugly jokes, or just in plain irresponsibility. This is a very sad phenomenon because advertising can have the power to help the world if it is done in a responsible way, but it is ads like these that we need to prevent from happening in the future.

Irresponsible:

This ad, by Venables, Bell & Partners, San Francisco, references the big competition between Audi and BMW. These two companies have recently been in a sort of Ad War, with the purposes of their advertisements being to appear better and put down the other. Both companies participated in putting down the other in a series of ads, taking the focus off the benefits of the cars and placing it on the competition. I think this type of advertising is less effective and just simply gets annoying. It seems like they should be trying to think of something creative to really put down the competition without directly saying "bmw stinks." Plus, it isn't just about putting down the competition. It should be more about building your brand.




This ad, by BBH in the US, is a good example of an ad that can be taken in an offensive way, and can be seen as irresponsible. One of the things that can be seen as irresponsible in this ad is the attitude about women. This ad makes it seem like women, billions of women, would go running towards a guy that smells good. Some might ask, are women really that shallow? Of course the aim of "The Axe Effect" campaign is the sexuality, but do women have to be portrated this way? Also, there are tons of women running around in bikini's. Some may see this as inappropriate for public television, and again for the portrayal of women. Although this campaign is based on the idea of sexuality, these ads can be seen as offensive and inappropriate.

When I saw this ad for the Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, by TBWA Australia, I was shocked. I did not think this was an appropriate way of addressing the issue of child abuse. I understand they wanted to shock the viewers and show that it isn't easy forgetting about child abuse, but it seems like they turned it into a joke even with the line of text at the end. There is no sympathy, there is no seriousness, and it just does not seem appropriate.

Artful Advertising

This advertisment, by DDB, Helsinki, Finland, can be seen as art in different aspects. First of all, it is new and original. You don't ever see a cow on a trampoline, it is a new idea. This isn't the typical advertisement showing the product or telling you to go eat at Mcdonalds. They took a new approach, with a simple statement at the bottom, to get their point across. Like art, this is definitely something that gets your attention. If you were flipping through a magazine, this ad would probably catch your eye and you would want to know what the advertisement was. The next time you are driving around thinking of what you want to eat, you might remember this advertisement and drive over to Mcdonalds, which is exactly what they are trying to do. Art has to be something original, eye catching, and have a lasting impression. With these characteristics, this advertisement definitely takes a new approach to Mcdonalds advertising as well as grabbing the viewer. To me, this ad is much more effective than simply showing the food because some people are immediately turned off by the food or they simply skip the ad because it is uninteresting.

This advertisement, from Energy BBDO, USA, is also artistic in the fact that it is original. They have taken a new perspective on the idea of "mist." Although it is an advertisement for Orbit Gum, it is not your typical gum advertisement. By putting a new spin on it, they get your attention. Just as art can take a subject and portray it in a new and more interesting way, this advertisement has taken the simple product of gum and given it a theme. Even the clothes of the girl are artistic in the fashion sense. She isn't simply clothed in a dress, but they have taken it further to incorporate the "mist" theme in her umbrella dress. No words or phrases are even needed, she is simply holding the product. Although this ad doesn't scream at you to get up and buy Orbit, it leaves a thought in your head, and sort of intrigues you. This is sometimes an artistic aim, to get the viewer thinking, and this ad has definitely gone out to a new idea to get it's audience curious.

This advertisement, by JWT, Melbourne, Australia, takes the artistic approach of shock factor and importance. One of the characteristics of art is the fact that it should surprise the audience and get their attention. This advertisement takes an important world issue, and puts it out there on the table in a very blunt way. Art has also been known to address social and political issues as a way of drawing attention to the issue at hand. Many people try to ignore these issues, but this advertisement makes it very difficult to turn the other direction without thinking about it. As soon as you see this ad, you are brought into it, either emotionally or from shock. Either way, the ad has brought you in, just as art should do. The great thing about this ad is it doesn't try to hide anything, it puts it out there for everyone to see.

This ad, by Weiden and Kennedy, US, has so many characteristics that make it artful advertising. One of the great things about this ad, is that it is able to go past the product and create an strong advertisement. Like art does, it captures and unifies the audience. Through the series of images, they create the feeling of power, strength, and struggle. Sometimes art takes a different approach to make a stronger impact, and this is what they have done here. They didn't simply show the shoes or the clothes, but with the music and images, they made you want to get up and just do it by the end of the commercial.






This commercial, by Mother, US, is one of those fun advertisements that makes you start singing along. It has created a fun atmosphere to an object not ordinarily thought of as a fun product, which perfectly exemplifies their new mini inspiron laptops. They have again brought a new perspective to the product, just as art aims to bring a new view or outlook on something. They have also made a great use of color and excitement to really make the ad pop. The main thing about this ad is that it is expressive. The use of colors, the song, the whole fun atmosphere is new and exciting and really gets the audience excited about the product. This ad shows how advertising can be as expressive as art can be, even using colors and bold ideas to bring in the audience.