Tuesday 19 July 2011

The Revolution Will Be Televised? Or Printed?


There is something quite revolutionary about the front page of todays i. Revolutionary in the most literal sense.
Grayed out are those most recently affected by the investigations of the intitial News Of The World hacking scandal; the resigned, the sacked, the arrested. Above these pictures rests the dramatic headline, calling imagery of The French Revolution to mind. The powerful, greedy and selfishly ambitious laid bare before the public.
Sitting in full active colour at the lower half of the page are James Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch and most ominously Prime Minister, David Cameron. Of course, after todays hearings in which Murdoch's James and Rupert, spoke publicly, making various apologies and denials where applicable, Cameron is the last to get that initial grilling. Afterall, he is in exactly the same position as Murdoch, he hasnt actively gone guessing answer phone passkeys, but those who have, have been in his employment. Labour must directly yet respectfully question Cameron, making sure he knows the public, his rivals and his supporters all have front row seats looking directly into his ivory tower. The same goes for Murdoch and co.

Remember many of those who have resigned have done so with integrity, and in the interests of the investigation. Many if not the majority of the staff who lost their job at the News Of The World, really wouldn't have had involvement in the scandal, and their redunancies are simply a cruel fallout of the actions of a man wealthy enough to disown Britain's former best selling newspaper just to try and save face.
Also, I would in no way wish the punitive measures of the French Revolution on anyone. But questions must be answered, by many of the people pictured above. This excellent front page above a fine reminder that no-one, even in the highest of places, is invincible.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

AdSlag: Talk Talk 2011

Well, well, after only two days since the opening of AdSlag, my creation to vent my anger against lazy modern advertising by way of celebrating the quality of old, I feel the need to let out a big cheer for this wonderful clip from Talk Talk.

What any communications company needs to do in these times of easy social networking is get us all gooey over the idea of why we use these systems in the first place. We contact somebody because they are not there to be spoken to. We feel to need to contact someone, because we have something to say to them. What the Talk Talk ad here really taps into is the concept of missing someone that you love.
With the combination of heart warming, stop motion- esque animations of cute household items, desperately hoping to hear from a loved one, played out to the wonderful Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers; in just one minute this ad gets right to the heart of the viewer.
Students living away from home, those in long distance relationships, people with friends they haven’t spoken to for some time would all be encouraged to get in touch with that other person.
Of course Talk Talk are not trying to get people jumping ship to their brand just on the basis of this advert, more just a way of using their brand to punctuate this beautiful advert. But by putting this advert out to the viewer they certainly reach people’s hearts and minds, giving their brand a caring, home based image. Put that next to BT’s rambling soap opera advert with the guy out of My Family, and Talk Talk really stand out. I am shocked to say, but this modern advert is a real classic.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

AdSlag: Wimpy 1987

I hereby declare the AdSlag project of Methods Of Modern Love open!
AdSlag will be a regular feature of the blog, combining both my love of retro culture and cynicism towards modern pap that counts as advertising these days. So expect to see lots of lovely heart warming ads from yesteryear, plus contemporary tripe that will make your blood boil. If you’re a modern ad man reading this then learn from the quality on show. If you’re a modern ad man reading this, scoffing your Pret A Manger panini, dropping crumbs over your company issue iPad, going “Well, could you do better?”, well, yes. I could.
To begin is this fun, super catchy offering from Wimpy in 1987.

What I love about this advert is it is so unashamedly nerdy, combining 1980’s cheese, with a certain nostalgic 1950’s feel, almost synonymous with classic fast food (see American Graffitti ). The pleasant barber shop type song a perfect complement to Wimpy’s red and white stripe uniform of the time.
The slogan “Come On Over” is also sweetly inviting, demonstrating just the right amount of friendliness, perhaps influencing the modern “Come Around To Our Place” Pizza Hut slogan of 2011. Without that aggravatingly chummy and uncertain “Max Your Chat - Pizza Hut” approach that is.
These days you are as likely to see an advert for Wimpy on UK TV, as you are to find a person eating in Wimpy. Yet here is a slice of 80’s advertising that will really raise a smile.