Browsing Tag

advertising

Ashley Madison Doesn’t Belong in Meme Generators

The latest campaign for the website designed for cheaters proves why “kindness” is not in their mission statement.

This may not be a sizzling hot story anymore, but it left its mark in print and online and I for one am even more appalled by Ashley Madison as a result.

Adultery with someone of any gender or size is not a case of ‘everything bad is good for you’ (a book that’s on my to-read list, thanks to curiosity and a friend’s recommendation), not even in moderation.

Promoting infidelity makes Ashley Madison a deplorable company of questionable morals and I know I am not alone in saying so. That there are enough unfaithful people to support Ashley Madison’s business model is a real shame in itself. Their latest advertisement, which promotes their already disgraceful business, while creating a hurdle for fat acceptance, is even more deplorable. The print ad implies that men should ditch their overweight or obese wives for a scantily clad thin seductress instead.

Ashley Madison’s advertisement raises several issues about pornography, sex, stereotypes and beauty, which you can consider while reading message boards (yes, those still exist) where people express their outrage.

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November 24, 2011 by

Death Loves Everyone. Make Death Wait.

When sharing the Cold, Hard Truth with Western students last night, Kevin O’Leary didn’t speak about non-profit organizations in particular, but rather focused on finding an organization that has great growth potential. If this commercial is indicative of the talent at Heart and Stroke Foundation, then that makes them an organization worth taking seriously as potential future employer – it’s incredible.

Watching TV tonight, there were several commercials that caught my eye as Tumblr Tuesday worthy, but this spot by Heart and Stroke Foundation made the cut.

There is a complementary ad about men, which you can see here. Both ads mark a rare occasion in which the YouTube video is overlaid by an ad that you should actually click.

Spreading their message requires no more than 3 words on the screen at once, and that’s really all it takes for a powerful call to action.

Watch. Donate. Support.

November 22, 2011 by

Barbie Dreams

When you’re young, Barbie dolls tend to be at the top of your wish list. Though there has been much criticism about the Mattel dolls’ proportions, in that they can potentially influence young girls to have misconceptions of what a beautiful body looks like, the brand is aiming to integrate social good into their marketing efforts, as evident in their Barbie I Can Be campaign.

On their new interactive website: barbiedreams.com, girls around the world are invited to share their career goals and aspirations. I know I had a dentist Barbie and Barbie versions of my favourite pop stars growing up, like the Spice Girls, so now the brand is engaging its consumers on the premise of Barbie’s multitude of career paths. The website is easy to navigate and is clearly integrated into their overall marketing strategy. Adolescence may be a time of innocence, but it’s nice to see Barbie encouraging young women to think seriously about the future. Likewise, it’s unnecessary for all campaigns aiming to empower young women to focus on body image. I commend Barbie for inspiring girls to consider their professional goals while browsing the web.

Remember, girls, it’s never too early to set up a LinkedIn profile, even if your profile headline changes from “Puppy Doctor” to “Public Relations Specialist” by the time you’re a college graduate.

Update (2025): This originally linked to barbiedreams.com, a YouTube ad and criticism about Barbie on Huffington Post, which are no longer available.

October 14, 2011 by

Driving with Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUHDFafqykI

I know there was already lots of hype about this commercial right after it aired during the Super Bowl, but it’s still an incredible new technology. I remember reading about some new gadgets that car manufacturers will be adding to the dashboard within the next few years (after I clicked a few links while researching the consequences of texting and driving), but it’s much more powerful when you see what’s already available. This Chevrolet video makes me wonder about what features I’ll have at my fingertips when I buy my first car.

The bachelor’s excitement about a machine reading aloud his friends’ Facebook status updates also demonstrates how much Facebook continues becoming a, dare I say, ‘fundamental’ part of our lives. Surely this will make people who have disabled their accounts second guess this choice and make those who have not yet created an account feel even more out of the loop.

Compared to how thankful I am for having a smartphone and Internet access to occupy me while in waiting rooms, I don’t think it’d be as enjoyable to have a robotic sounding voice tell me what people have tweeted.

You can already listen to whatever artist, song, or radio station you want in the car. Is it really necessary to mute the radio commercials long enough to learn that your friend just landed in Miami while you’re driving around running errands?

February 21, 2011 by