advertising

Article

The Late Movies: 10 International McDonald's Commercials

We all know McDonald's has a global presence. But what are their non-US TV commercials like? A quick trip to YouTube tells me that there's a LOT going on in the international McDonald's commercial landscape! Check out ten (often bizarre) international commercials...if you dare. India - Chatpata McAloo Tikki I have no idea what's happening here. There's slapping involved. Japan - McGrand Tomato A sexy lady version of Ronald McDonald, wind whipping through her red hair, flirts with a... READ ON

Article

What the Past Thought the Future Would Be Like

Taking a stroll through old Popular Mechanics and Popular Science-type magazines is always good for a few smiles. Here are ten images worth taking a closer look... READ ON

List

10 Famous Disembodied Voices

You know the voices, but who are the real people behind them? Meet 10 of the most famous disembodied voices ever recorded. 1. Amtrak's... READ ON

List

9 Medical Marijuana Ads

Unless you live in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont or Washington, you probably aren't getting a lot of medical marijuana ads in your local newspapers. (Did I leave any states off the list?) Because the ads are so ubiquitous, and so interesting, I thought a small roundup was in order for our friends living in all the other states, or in other countries where medical marijuana is illegal. Of course, long before... READ ON

Article

Cool Billboards

I know I'm not the only one who'd be extremely disturbed after seeing the above ad that was actually used in Germany. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it made a few children cry, even if the pigeons were only plastic. Regardless, it is certainly an effective ad, even in today's media-saturated world, and it's included in the Web Urbanist's list of Creative Billboard Advertising Campaigns. As cool as these billboards are, they aren't always consequence free. I remember when I was a kid and San Diego... READ ON

List

10 Futuristic Ads From the Past

There's nothing quite like old advertisements to give us a look-see at what the past thought the future would look like, taste like, talk like or sound like. Ads also act as a wonderful time capsule when it comes to fashion and technology. Here are 10 that either focus on predicting the future, or, alternately, remind us just how far we've come from the not-so-distant past. Most were culled from this wonderful site: vintageadbrowser.com. 1. Bell Telephone,... READ ON

Article

The Late Movies: Target Women (aka, TV Commercials are Stupid)

Sarah Haskins shows ridiculous portrayals of women in TV advertising in her "Target Women" web series for Current TV. It's full of jokes. You should watch it. It's not annoying or preachy. That is all. You Are Never Safe (Broadview Security) Not even when you're at home in broad daylight, playing soccer with your kids. "You may call these 'commercials,' but I like to call them 'rape fables.' You can buy an alarm system for only $99.99, or you, and your young, innocent daughter can be assaulted... READ ON

Article

National Flags From National Foods

The Australian advertising agency WHYBIN/TBWA was assigned to come up with a clever way to promote the upcoming Sydney International Food Festival. The end result was not only an effective advertisement, but also a great collection of art pieces made up of food arranged to resemble the flag of its country of origin. What's really great about the creations is how individual each one is. The South Korean flag made of sushi and dipping sauces looks nothing like the Brazilian flag made of limes, pineapple... READ ON

List

8 Retro Airline Commercials

The airline industry has undergone several upheavals and gut-punches in the past two decades. There was the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the Air Traffic Controllers' strike of 1981, and the tragic events of September 11, 2001, to name just a few. But once upon a time airlines competed for customers not by price, but by services offered. Of course, throughout the 1970s, airlines earned the bulk of their revenue from business travelers (who were overwhelmingly male at that time), rather than... READ ON

Article

The Late Movies: Creepy Commercials

I don't watch a lot of commercials, mostly because I DVR my favorite shows, but also because I usually flip channels or zone out whenever they come on. But lately, a certain thin, pale blonde woman has managed to hold my attention, the same way those dead twins got Danny's attention in The Shining. Creepy commercials just fascinate me, mostly because I always wonder how they get produced in the first place. Do the creative directors set out to make a Twilight Zone episode, or is it just bad luck? In... READ ON