Joining the Adcult

Could this be the meeting of Upper Aesthetica and Lower Vulgaria, as Twitchell states?



Just thought those were funny terms, and what could be more Vulgar than a rat cooking your Upper Aesthetican food?

I always find the battle between high art and common art entertaining. Isn't it, in the end, the commoner who decides whether or not something has staying power? If the Medici's were the only people who decided what was successful it is unlikely that Michealangelo would still be held in such high regard.

Another thing that came to mind when I was reading was how strange it is that no matter how much money a company invests in and advertising plan it may or may not be successful. Three unsuccessful products:

In case one, we have a popular song, uplifting imagery and what I thought was a pretty good product. I drank the heck out of this stuff.



Here we have a similar situation, famous (at the time) band Papa Roach, product that tested well among the demographic, (teens and twentysomethings), and an image that resonated with that group as a result of The Fast and the Furious film. Result: failed product.



Here we have one of the greatest pitch men, a trusted face, one of the most popular men in America (at the time). Result: Failed product.



Many would argue that this failed because they tampered with something sacred. I think it was just an overblown ad campaign to sell more Coke, period. It worked I think.

Now here is one of the most revolutionary campaigns. The difference, no pitch man, no familiar songs or voices, just captivating imagery that turned the electronics world upside down, and re-legitimized a niche company.





Then the killer-bring in the superman, Bono. Sell records, iPods and eventually AIDS awareness.

And finally, Royalty, to do the same thing. Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Paul McCartney. I actually bought this crappy record too...





If you think advertising doesn't affect the news, I just implore you to watch 60 minutes over the next few weeks. See how many "guests" are pitching a book. Further research may turn up, as I've read, that these books are published by a subsidiary of CBS. News is entertainment folks. It sells ads, plain and simple. Just look at the also failing Katie Couric experiment. America's darling makes a newswoman not.

One final note, Twitchell discusses Easter, a candy holiday, and it's inability to compete with the beer holidays, such as New Years and Saint Pat's Day. You don't see ads like this promoting Hershey Bunnies...



Remind you of some other holiday? I love the shamrock jammies. Gotta get me some of those...

This is a good campaign too. I always chuckle watching this. Regarding 60 minutes, does this look familiar?









I particularly like the "horse doo doo" one.