advertising

Moscow council is corrupt and xenophobic... they said so themselves

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:49:41 +0200

Muscovites were, on September 24, surprised to find adverts in the city streets suggesting that their council was corrupt, xenophobic and irresponsible. Carrying the council logo, the allegations seemed to be coming straight from the horse's mouth.

The posters only stayed on display for a couple of hours, but photos of the billboards appeared online a few days later. It was soon realised that the posters were a prank, put up illegally and swiftly removed by the local authorities.

The poster reads: "Tenders are supposed to be fair." Listed as sponsors are Moscow City Hall and Inteko. To an outsider it might seem quite innocent, but every Muscovite understands the hidden joke. Inteko, the capital's biggest development company, is widely believed to receive the most lucrative deals from Moscow City Hall.

Coincidentally, the owner of Inteko, billionaire Elena Baturina, is married to the head of the city council, Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

"Driver, give way to expensive foreign cars with flashing lights! We are hurrying to work, not to steal!" The logo is that of the Moscow Traffic Police," which is reputed as one of the most corrupt organizations in Russia.

"Smoke. Drink Give birth to freaks." Logos of Moscow City Hall and Jaguar energy drink. Jaguar is the most popular drink amongst youths in Moscow. It has an alcohol content of 9 percent.

"A Georgian is not a friend to a Russian," with the logo of state channel TV 1 and the Nashi youth movement. Both institutions are openly anti-Georgian.

"A Khokhol is no brother to a Russian," with TV 1 and Gazprom. Khokhol is derogatory slang for Ukrainian. The slogan refers to the recent natural gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the clear anti-Ukrainian position transmitted on Russian state TV.

Some bloggers took the posters seriously, but the majority of them got the joke and applauded the artist behind it for his daring. They thought that he or she was a political activist, but they couldn't agree from which side.

One of our Observers in Russia tells us that he knows who was behind the prank but that he wishes to remain strictly anonymous. A non-political young man who was simply fed-up with certain aspects of organisation in the capital, he pulled off the stunt with the help of a few friends, and for less than 100 euros in total.

Denmark, where girls are easy and sex unprotected

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:30:02 +0200

Image: "diogoflores" on Flickr.

The following advert was produced by the Danish tourism agency VisitDenmark. After the video had received 800,000 hits in just four days, the agency removed it from YouTube on Monday following complaints that it promoted promiscuity and unprotected sex.

Posted on YouTube last Thursday (10 September), the video was not attributed to any agency, leaving viewers to believe that it was a genuine appeal. Danish TV channel TV2 has since clarified that the scene was staged and that the woman is an actress.

Before its removal, the video was criticised by Danish Economy Minister Lene Espersen, (who's also in charge of the country's tourism portfolio), for presenting "a not very well-thought-out picture of the country." Danish sociologist Karen Sjoerup said the ad suggested "you can lure fast, blonde Danish women home without a condom". On the Web meanwhile, the ad has been labelled sickening, stupid, and just plain weird.

Pure plagiarism from Egyptian TV channel

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:52:16 +0200

On the left, an extract from The Benny Hill Show. Right, its Egyptian twin.

A few months ago we brought your attention to the advertising world's most outrageous plagiarists, exposed by a Kuwaiti blogger. This time, it's a young Egyptian showing up a local TV station for its unoriginal ideas. But he's treading on dangerous ground.

A couple of weeks ago, 22-year-old graphic artist Tamer Azab came across a Facebook group announcing the launch of a new Egyptian TV channel, Cairo Centric (Al-Kahera Wal Nas). Browsing the various promotional clips, Tamer noticed that one of them was almost identical to that of a famous car brand. Tamer looked them up on YouTube and found that the channel's promos were based entirely on old ads from the West, going back as far as 1970 and from clips as bizarre as British comedian Benny Hill.

Footage that will stop you texting while driving

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:41:47 +0200

"It's all about Cassie Cowan - a nice girl from a nice Gwent valleys family - who kills four people on the road because she used her mobile phone and lost her concentration for a few seconds."

It's with these words that the police force from Gwent, a region of south Wales, introduce their mini horror film. Directed by local lecturer Peter Watkins-Hughes and acted out by amateurs, the scene from a 30 minute educational video for school children, is soon to be broadcast on BBC Wales as an advert.

The somewhat radical strategy comes in response to evidence which proves that 18-24 year-olds' reaction times are 35% slower when reading or writing a text message, meaning that the effects are therefore potentially just as fatal as drink or drug driving. And half of young drivers do it. The message is not falling on deaf ears - the video has already got almost 1.5 million hits on YouTube.

Warning, you may find the video upsetting.

Insurers avoid me like the plague

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:46:32 +0200

This ad is aimed at people who are having difficulties in finding a willing car insurer - something which is obligatory in Russia. The message at the end: "If no car insurer will have you, come to us".

"Ambient adverts" gaining ground... literally

Emmanuel F24 — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:16:30 +0200

Coop's Paints'advert. Published by "hojimoto".

Paint pouring out of the walls, a drain that becomes a steaming cup of coffee... You may have seen adverts like this in your city or received them by email. It's a new form of advertising which is trying to look not too much like an advert.

Ambient media is a new form of advertising which belongs to the environment without agressively forcing itself on consumers who pass by.

Since 2003, these adverts have achieved real success. Seen first in big North and South American cities (Rio de Janeiro, New York), they have now started invading Europe and the Middle East. In major advertising agencies, whole departments are now dedicated to ambient adverts and even have their own category at the international advertising festival Cannes Lions.

US mail distributor Fedex. Published by "Avi Abrams".

Advert for pasta brand ‘Mondo Pasta' in the Port of Hamburg, Germany. Published by "dashowcase".

Advert for a conditioner in Bangkok, Thailand. "To untangle all this, use Rejoice conditioner". Published by "dashowcase".

Advert on a drain in New York City. "The city that never sleeps. Wake Up". Published by "dashowcase".

If you should really kick a ball over the separation wall…

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +0200

In response to the controversial ad from Israeli telecoms company Cellcom, in which Israelis and Palestinians strike up a game of footy across the separation wall, residents from the Palestinian side have come up with their own version. Unlike the original however, there are no actors; only real citizens. So what would really happen if Palestinians kicked a ball across the wall?

The scene takes place in Bil'in, where weekly demonstrations are held to protest the wall. The author of the clip, an Israeli citizen, explains the scenario to us.

Tell me which country you live in, I’ll tell you which ad to broadcast

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:57:15 +0200

Advertising in Saudi Arabia is a billion euro market - the biggest in the Arab world. In order to get a piece of the cake however, agencies have to customise productions so that women are covered up, and do not use their left hands - even if it's passing a sandwich to their young son.

There are two versions of the following ad, created by Independent Productions. The first is for most Middle Eastern Arab countries; the second, for Saudi Arabia. Watch carefully when the mother hands the sandwich to her son; in Saudi Arabia, it's considered dirty to wave, shake hands with, give or receive something with your left hand.

Separation wall - not a laughing matter

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:44:26 +0200

Light-hearted it may seem, but the latest ad from Israeli telecommunications company Cellcom is plain offensive for many in the region. The scene shows IDF soldiers playing football with (unseen) Palestinians, across the separation wall. A concept which, according to its critics, ridicules the Palestinians' situation.

Obama endorsing Chinese apartments?

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:44:43 +0200

The faces of Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Barack Obama have appeared in advertisements for upmarket apartments in the central Chinese city of Xi'an.

Posted on the Swotbbs forum.

According to the Danwei website, the astonishing campaign was picked up by Chinese daily The Oriental Guardian. The billboards, measuring ten metres by six metres, boast the merits of the swish apartments under construction behind them. Each uses the portrait of a celebrity along with a statement of endorsement. A picture of American billionaire investor Warren Buffett for example, is accompanied by the quote "This is the most important investment of my life".

A reporter from the Oriental Guardian contacted the Shaanxi province Bureau of Industry and Commerce in questioning whether it was legal to suggest endorsement from an unknowing statesman. Although the advertising specialist there was unsure, the query nonetheless brought the campaign to the attention of the local government. On July 14 the local authorities demanded that the campaign be removed.

As noted by Danwei, it's not the first time that Obama's image has been used illegally by Chinese advertisers. The US president also appeared on a poster for the "Blockberry" (a fake Blackberry).