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Shocker! American Apparel Uses Nudity to Sell Clothing!

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Once again, nudity in advertising brings back good old-fashioned American outrage. To which, we offer our standard reply: Why so shocked? Nudity is natural and beautiful. And, not to mention, normal.

Of course, using it to sell products is another story but still. Is it really so horrific to show nude people in ads? After all, given the length of time humans have been on the planet, clothing is a pretty new concept. This ad is just getting back to...ahem...the natural way of things.

by Steve Hall    Nov-20-08    
Topic: Racy



'Sibling Rivalry' Makes Artistic Contribution to Zune Arts

zune-arse.jpg

It's bloody disgusting. And knowing that, you can probably guess all that paint isn't coming from a Kelly Moore bucket.

by Angela Natividad    Nov-20-08    
Topic: Consumer Created, Online, Video



'Unworry' Brings 'Unclevers' Out of the Woodwork

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Riffing on some vague notion that Australia isn't sophisticated enough to conceive of "exotic" naturally-grown foods or handbags worth more than cars, the NRMA's "Unworry" ad invites simple Aussies to "uncomplicate, unstress and" -- naturally -- "unworry."

"We we once dubbed the Clever country, now I'm afraid we're the Un-clever country," whines the guy that sent this to us. "Our poor schooling has finally shown it's head in the workforce and is being broadcast without a comment."

...Was that supposed to be a joke?

more »

by Angela Natividad    Nov-20-08    
Topic: Commercials, Strange, Television



Crush, Dentsu Canada 'Visualize' Lexus IS F

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Provided with little more than an audio file of the Lexus IS F on the go, production company Crush was asked to visualize what the sound would look like. This is the result of that.

Pretty, and effective in its lack of language. I especially like the smoke circles. Last few scenes cut briefly to the car, the logo, the slogan: "The pursuit of perfection." Clean.

And infinitely more coherent than "F is everything you thought we weren't."

more »

by Angela Natividad    Nov-20-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Television



Watching Toyota's Saved by Zero Will Kill You

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Wow. Spoofs are getting better. Earlier today, we shared a hilarious rif on the Motrin babywearing commercial which highlighted the latest fad: really big boob jobs, the back pain they can cause and how Motrin can help.

Now, we have a great spoof of that incredibly annoying Saved by Zero Toyota commercial that's had everyone ranting for weeks. It's done ingeniously with scenes from the movie The Ring.

The Toyota folks must be loving all this hatred. Nothing like an annoying, shitty commercial that keeps going and going and going and...oh wait...that's kind of annoying too. And there's been plenty of spoofs on that one.

by Steve Hall    Nov-19-08    
Topic: Good, Spoofs, Video



Motrin Eases Pain of Women With Giant Breasts

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Motrin is getting its money's worth. In reaction to this past weekend's mommy blogger debacle which had babywearing moms rebelling against the company for its apparent belittling of the mommy/baby bonding practice, Motherhood Uncensored it out with a spoof of the notorious Motrin Babywearing ad.

The spoof, in perfect homage to the original, advocates for women adopting yet another "fad," the boob job. The bigger, the better. And no matter what kind of type of boob job a woman gets or how big she gets them, Motrin will be there for her just like it was for al those women who engage in the "fad" known as babywearing.

by Steve Hall    Nov-19-08    
Topic: Spoofs



Coach Tom Carries Staples into Social Media Scene

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Staples is running a campaign called Gift it for Free, where 10,000 people could "win" any purchase they make at the store between November 16 and December 24.

To promote an already-feeble promotional effort, the marketing team invented a fictional character called Coach Tom, who from what I can tell just wanders around dispensing advice on winning to people that aren't interested, like Tai Chi practitioners and the Kings. At some point in his didactic prattling, he'll toss in a ramble about Gift it for Free, which doesn't visibly spark any interest in his existence.

Feels forced and campy. Also, the videos are too long. But whatev, see requisite YouTube, Facebook and Twitter pages. (Remember how everyone used to build a MySpace page too, and now nobody bothers? Sign of the changing times.)

more »

by Angela Natividad    Nov-19-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Campaigns, Online, Promotions



Hey, Song Writer. Got a Hit? License It to the Porn Industry.

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Just another idea by our good (if lazy) friend Chuck, who hashes it out like so:


"Give adult entertainment production companies such as Evil Angel and Vivid Entertainment limited rights to music from upcoming video games for use in their adult films, six months to a year ahead of release.

"The soundtracks for most adult films are fairly pathetic, and I am sure that many companies would welcome free, quality music for their films."


Chuck's previous epiphanies have included porno product placement -- but lest you fool yourself into thinking he's a one-track kinda dude, consider this: he also came up with Hacky Snacks (complete with working prototype!) and, um, candy cane chopsticks. Better for the environment, I guess, but potentially also extremely sticky.


Goes to show there are still a few unturned tricks left in advertising. (Pun much intended.) So think like Chuck. Or steal his ideas. Which, oddly enough, is what he wants you to do. (Just send him a kickback once in awhile.)

by Angela Natividad    Nov-19-08    
Topic: Online, Opinion, Sponsorship, Strange



Facebook Advertising Isn't Dead

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In an open letter to Facebook dovetailing, in a way, with recent comments from P&G's Ted McConnell regarding the inappropriateness of traditional advertising on Facebook, iCrossing Senior Social Media Analyst Alisa Leonard Hansen explores the social graph, Facebook's place within it, the value exchange it offers marketers and consumers and why Facebook really does have the "golden ticket" to the perfect monetization strategy.

by Steve Hall    Nov-19-08    
Topic: Opinion, Social



Don't Just Talk the Grill; Rock the Grill.

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Pay close attention. The object behind the Grill the Goodness advergame is to put items on the grill, then use various tools (spatula, tongs, fork) to achieve two objectives: cook the food properly, and swat sticky fingers that try to steal the food before it's done.

Do those things with grace and poise, and maybe you won't be relegated to salad shaker when the reckoning happens.

Sassy stuff by Red Tettemer. Also one of the better advergames floating around right now, with the possible exception of Suicide Kittens. Hit the Grill the Goodness homepage for videos, tailgate tips and the Get Grilled Hall of Fame/Shame.

by Angela Natividad    Nov-19-08    
Topic: Games, Good, Online, Promotions



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