Empowering or offensive?

Via Ads of The World

This ad was created by an all-male creative team over at MacLaren McCann, Toronto.

Clever visual concept, nice art direction... but is it good advertising?

On the one hand, it is lighthearted and speaks to a third-wave type of sexy empowerment. On the other, it could be seen as demeaning the athleticism of women golfers by representing them with an object that has nothing to do with their sport, and is more about their sexuality.

Yeah, I know I'm over-thinking it. That's just what I do.

But what do you think?

"Priceless" - Australian style

Celine shared this recent Master Card ad from Australia:



The comically "ideal" man thing has been done to death, since Old Spice, but this one is pretty funny. I'm not sure how threatened you'd really need to feel by such a douche, but nonetheless the product benefit is single-minded and front and centre. And the brand is pared down to its punchline.

Moral of the story: You can have an entertaining spot that is bang on strategy. Nice work.

Who was the agency?

Wikileaks advertises with a tired cliché and Assange self-love

What a missed opportunity.

Wikileaks has the world's eyes and ears. The banking blockade preventing e-donations from reaching Director Julian Assange's defence fund is controversial and therefore of interest.

To raise money more directly, they feature Assange in an online appeal, and what do they do?



"Priceless"? Seriously? A Master Card ad parody meme that had already jumped the shark before the close of the 20th century?

Plus, Assange is rather creepy. Even ardent Wikileaks supporters must feel a little uncomfortable about the nature of the charges against him — whether as a result of entrapment or not. Plus, the self-congratulatory nature of the ads in not endearing.

This could have been a really great viral opportunity for Wikileaks to gain supporters for their cause. Instead, it shows like a half-assed vanity job.

Next time, call a professional.

via Illegal Advertising