O O Ø O O O O
Mediated
There are a few trends in advertising that bear mentioning in this space.
First, have we all noticed the rotating billboards that drive around aimlessly promoting Budweiser? They’re from a company that licences its advertising vehicles in Ontario and Quebec, but they seem to trek across the country in search of large events. (I know this, as I had one follow me across three provinces the last time I drove from Calgary to Halifax.)
Is it me, or does it seem basely flawed to be driving circuits through a city, contributing to traffic congestion, air pollution and driving distractions, just to put forward another dumb ad for a crap, acetaldehyde-flawed beer?
Second, have we all had the chance to ride on a Calgary Transit vehicle entirely wrapped in perforated vinyl graphics? I love how we get most of the drawbacks mentioned in my first point—in attempting to service a mass transit need, mind you—while making the experience for riders darker and less enjoyable. (Government in action: everybody loses.)
My absolute favourite graphic is the one on the bus at the time of writing this rant: the picture of an old fashioned trolley bus, being ridden by cartoony people in period attire. Let me be totally clear: they put a picture of a bus on the bus, and where the windows are, they put pictures of transit riders, blocking the view of the actual transit riders.
What does this graphic advertise? Calgary Transit, almost unbelievably.
The scenario reminds me of the chapter in Catch-22, where Yosarian is ordered by the military to dig holes, then fill them back up, because “somebody has to do it.”
Pointless and nonsensical, in other words. In fact, it’s too sick to be surreal, or even post modern.
As demented as these advertising schemes are, you know for certain that someone out there is a defender of these strategies—which are costing us our senses of decency and urban engagement—as just one more innovative means of bringing to consumers’ attention products in which they might be interested.
This is the usual bromide of last resort for marketing weasels. Pretending individuals aren’t empowered enough to make their own purchasing decisions, and are wholly dependent on messages received by the host of benevolent advertisers.
This is the perpetual defence of spammers, and that’s what we have here: traffic spam.
There is nothing for it but to feel fully, completely mediated.
No, thanks.
No.
Evan Spence
November 15, 2005
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January 4th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
I’ve messaged before but what I wrote magically disappeared - something to do with jealousy regarding the people’s house from which I wrote - I’m in India currently so status-wise this is apparently a big deal…? All I wanted to say was that I appreciate all that you guys write especially regarding your personal problems regarding the federal gov’t - it makes me want to write my rants as well though I don’t have enough friends to make it so - nonetheless I am thinking of finally starting my own page that follows similar ideals especially in regards to letter-writing - I would be quite impressed if you actually wrote back though I don’t expect it in the least - what I really wanted to say was thank you for writing about political concepts as that is my degree - it is especially comforting to see I am not the only idiot pushing for triple-E - anyway I will be travelling the country in April - I wish I could meet you guys but the likelihood of that is minimal but life is short and chances happen - my name is Bhupesh Sondhi wo if you see a relatively large aggressive brown man in your bar it just might me be at that point in time - time will tell - until then, Bhupesh Sondhi.
January 5th, 2006 at 10:36 am
If it’s Tuesday, we’ll be at the Ship.