Is it just wind?
Submitted by crumb on Mon, 01/27/2003 - 07:15.
Ethics and this business is always an interesting mix. I think when you*re in the business to persuade people, there*s always going to be issues. It*s unavoidable.
I*d like to see some regulations on ads that all look the same. Why is it that every cosmetics ad has to look like every other one? Or fashion ads? Or car ads? Come one people, get some originial ideas out there smile
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Hey guys,
I*ve worked within the industry for several years now. I adore advertising yet I cant help feeling a little jaded from the unremittingly cynical and deceitful nature of the discipline.
I*ve reached the point where I can no longer stand the sheer lack of respect there seems to be - for the environment, the public, the culture, everything. No one really seems to think of anything wider than the meeting the clients marketing strategy.
I believe that agencies should be responsible for their actions and accountable for their lack of morals and ethics.
Is anyone else starting to feel this resistance building up inside them? Or is it just a bad case of indigestion?
What*s the next step?
confused
So repeating to yourself "I*m just doing my job," is no longer working?
I*ve often been blasted for taking the probably naive attitude of believing the audience is a hell of lot brighter than we give them credit for and that advertising is a game... a wink and a smile along with whatever message we*re serving up and the audience knows we*re not portraying reality; thanks to Super Bowl ad specials and movies, tv shows about the industry and constant social criticism, there*s not much mystique left concerning what we do. At least, unlike PR (not all PR is bad, I*ll say that now), we*re open about selling and honest about "this is a message to sell." We*re not trying to pass a marketing tool off as news.
Advertising is but a cog, the evil begins with the ones coming up with the marketing strategy. We*re just helping it along *cause that*s what we*re paid to do. Hopefully we can carry their strategy out in as un-reprehensible a manner as possible. And not lie because not only is it wrong, but, uh, like illegal or something.
For instance, this whole SUV thing that*s going on... I*m reading a book in which the role of advertising is blasted. Nobody really drives their Expedition out into the wilderness. Hell I know it, the audience knows it. We depict it with a wink and a smile; the potential car buyer winks right back. I*m thinking, don*t entirely blame the advertising, blame the marketing folks at GM who sent down the directive. And what about the car dealer? The salesman? He*s just doing his job and is one more cog right along with us. And all along the route, the shopper knows he*s being sold on something.
If you feel uncomfortable enough with a product, service, client, brief, don*t do the work. The professional can put aside his personal feelings to do the job well BUT if something so terrible is tied in with the job, just say "I can*t give this client 100%," (or bring up the issue of potentially damaging bad press, lawsuits, blah, blah, blah) that*s being a professional too. Nobody likes a naysayer but everybody loves the guy who keeps the company out of trouble.
That probably made NO sense (not enough coffee yet), did not address the issue you raised or convinced you that I*m going straight to hell. Sorry. It*s something I*ve been thinking about a lot, too... Just can*t articulate it quite yet.
Yeah, I know. Our industry is tough to work in. My advice is to accept the flaws in the advertising industry and if you can*t, then work somewhere else. I think every industry is evil in some way. The credit card companies temp people into bankruptcy. The fast food companies help people get fat. Pharmaceutical push drugs that people may or may not need. Heck, even relief workers are guilty of spreading propoganda to starving children!
I*m not happy with some of my clients, but I do like the freedom advertising gives me. I*m free to think and the money helps support my family. How many jobs let you do that? Every time I see a blue collar worker or an immigrant working for less than minimum wage, I appreciate my job even more.
Now, do you feel better? grin
And, you can also feel a little better about "plying your godless trade" by doing some pro bono work/ or freelance at reduced fees for local charities and organizations. The ones too small to reap the Ad Council benefits... better yet, figure out a way to bill it to a big client (I did not just say that).
Personally, I have even a little evil streak running thru that suggestion. Like ensuring that I don*t have to see another MS Publisher-produced piece with screen bean clip art or whatever the hell it is... yep, don*t leave those groups at the mercy of your local printer, newspaper or radio station. Help *em out.
Interesting advice…
Robblink The difference between advertising and those professions you mentioned are the critics. If a credit card company makes a mistake, it*s the governing body that regulates. With advertising are critics can be anyone. If our industry makes a mistake it has to answer to everyone.
Tlevitz I don*t think your naïve in thinking the public understands more than they are given credit for. But although they understand it doesn*t mean the desire we create can*t sometimes override their common sense.
What I*m trying to get at, is that I still love advertising. When I first got involved, I understood that there would be clients or projects that I didn*t necessarily agree with. I was prepared to put aside my own beliefs and opinions and work the brief, because that*s what we designers do. However, it*s got to the point where I don*t see why I should have to. It*s not the clients that I have the problem with; there will always be the tobacco companies and the oil spillers. What concerns me, are the practices in advertising that are readily accepted into our society. I think once we start questioning advertising regulations that seem set in stone, then we*ll start seeing some interesting developments. I don*t know about you but I*m ready for change.
Maybe it*s a little heavy for a Sunday morning...?
Crumb,
I think the problem can be easily solved. To hold agencies accountable for their work, consumers just have to sue them if they are misled! Nothing will change the practices of shady admen faster than losing a highly publicized, multi-million dollar law suit in court!
I can*t agree with you more there. The mere mention of the words court-action seem to send terror down the spines of even the toughest of ad-men. Of course this would be a very difficult case to prove. We have a governing body in place especially to ensure that the public are not mislead. If anything, agencies would blame the association for letting their work slip through. Surely it would be the association*s practices that would change, not the advertisers.
wow, you guys are deep for a sunday [superbowl] afternoon.. razz
if the credit card industry is bad because it tempts idiots who can*t count into debt - then the advertising agencies who make said ads are just as bad in many peoples eyes...
And regulation - oh I*d love some thankyou - can we please rid the world of Loreal ads where there is "a noticably more wrinklefree face in seven days**"
** tested skin cream on twelve homeless women where plain soap and water would make them look less wrinkled.
Because if there is something i*m damn sick of - it*s warping the numbers into pure lies.
Do people really listen to and retain the figures that show up in claims?
For instance, " 7-10" days ... it just sounds good, like an ad, something you*d hear...but how many people really believe their wrinkles are going to go away in 7 to 10 days? From what I*ve informally observed, it*s the sort of blather that flows right over the audience*s head. They seem to be zooming in on the visual and not necessarily listening to the details of the pitch... even if it*s reinforced with a graphic " In Just 7-10 Days!" Ignore the type, but look at the pores on that girl!!! Who the hell reads or listens anymore? Bright, shiny objects communicate better than I ever could in words.
Or, well, I dunno.
And Crumb, I think also, right along with advertising, in creating a want, entertainment is just as guilty. I do see these urban sorts and their worship of the brand (how many times do brands pop up in a song whether or not a placement deal was cut)? And I do wonder if it*s my beloved industry that is solely to blame. Or movies (look what the Godfather and Scarface did for urban, hip-hop, gangsta, whathaveyou culture), music videos and tv (the old primetime soaps, any other show where the characters are rich, sporting designer clothes and therefore happy)... these things that also help create a hunger for the products, excuse me, lifestyle. Which came first, Advertising or Entertainment, in driving a want? Do the two feed off each other? Did one pick up on the other first?
Again, I dunno. I guess both are guilty so that babble was irrelevant.
I*d cheerfully adhere to regulation. I have a degree in journalism and that always pricks at me when writing copy or what-have-you ... don*t say anything that you*re not prepared to back-up or prove. Even if it is carefully worded to not lie but imply... oh, I am always conscious of it even when working a manipulative art.
Somebody smack me. Happy Super Bowl, all!