A couple of months back, Saturday Night Live depicted Hillary Clinton hilariously morphing into Bernie Sanders. Now, the show is ribbing the leading Democratic candidate with a bit about “President Barbie”—the boring new doll nobody wants to play with.
A group of little girls star in the spoof ad, showing off their favorite toys and imagining themselves in space, Paris, and in a magical fantasy world they’ve cooked up.
But to the growing chagrin of the faux Mattel voiceover artist, none are particularly psyched about the blonde-bobbed figurine who comes clad in a blue pantsuit—even if she comes with a mini smartphone pre-loaded with Snapchat.
If crazy political ads are their own kind of art form, this one is something of a masterpiece.
Wyatt Scott is an independent candidate for Canadian parliament. And taking his new spot as evidence, his platform consists primarily of riding giant geese and then jumping off to slay dragons with a sword. In other words, he’s sure to have the J.R.R. Tolkien fanboy demographic locked up, along with more general appreciators of science fiction and fantasy.
But even if his policies seem on the well-intentioned and compassionate side, his ridiculous pitch also includes some imagery that could be construed as vaguely offensive. (“Alien” is not the most politically correct term for undocumented immigrants, at least south of the border, though at least Scott gives the extraterrestrial a friendly fist-bump while talking about social programs.)
Nor is it clear what an image that appears to ancient Mayan temple Chichen Itza, located in Yucatan, Mexico—some 3,800 miles away from Scott’s electoral district in British Columbia—has to do with the indigenous people of Canada. (Though it’s true you could get there pretty fast on the back of a 747-sized Canadian goose.)
Regardless, those minor factual details pale in comparison to the greatest threat Canada apparently faces—which is a 1960s, Mars Attacks-style giant killer robot. Luckily, Scott has superpowers beyond being able to grow an instant beard.
There’s nothing more infectious than good old fashioned enthusiasm from a presidential candidate. And what better way to project that political fervor than by adding an exclamation point to your campaign logo?
On Sunday, John Ellis Bush, known colloquially by a snappier acronym, did just that in unveiling his 2016 logo. It sure is enthusiastic, capped off by an actual exclamation point:
Many critics quickly pointed out that the logo is missing his surname, though given how politically charged the Bush name is, perhaps that’s not surprising. (Hillary didn’t even find it necessary to spell out her first name in her logo.) And anyway, Jeb has been using essentially the same logo—with the exclamation point—for 20 years:
Of course, everyone has an opinion about campaign logos, and the Internet had plenty of fun with this one as well. Here are some of the best reactions from the past day:
Now that I get the level of class the Jeb Bush campaign was going for in logo design, I’ve made something suitable pic.twitter.com/TurpxLAhgu
Now that the elections are over, just think about all the fun craft projects you can do with irrelevant campaign signs—at least, if you live in Brazil.
Civic nonprofit Mobilidade Urbana Sustenável and JWT are out with the Political Furniture project, a campaign in the wake of the country’s elections that shows people how to turn post-ballot sandwich boards into DIY home fixtures.
The project includes instruction sets for how to build coat racks, stools, towel horses, side tables and coffee tables out of discarded campaign materials. You still have to do a fair amount of work—the key element in the designs seems to be thee two-by-fours found in sandwich boards. The wood will need sawing and sanding and screwing, so don’t forget your toolkit.
Alas, campaign paraphernalia in the U.S. doesn’t tend to come with the plywood necessary to spruce up your foyer while you save the plant. If it did, the resulting hat racks would probably prove among the more useful things to come out of recent elections.
Buddy Cianci served as the mayor of Providence, R.I., for two decades and is running again this fall, despite having been convicted of two felonies over the years—for assault and corruption—and spending time in federal prison.
Providence ad agency Nail seems pretty impressed by Cianci and apparently wants to follow in his footsteps. But can crime pay for an ad agency?
Find out below as Nail takes some tentative steps into the shadowy world of “mobvertising,” and encourages people to vote in the process.
ICYMI: Saturday was a big day for Chrysler.
Its new advertising celebration, brought to you by Dallas’ Richards Group — the wunderkinds behind Motel 6’s left-on light and Chick-Fil-A’s chicken-loving bovines — kicked off the marketing campaign for the Chrysler 200 sedan.
Entitled “Born Makers,” the spot focuses on keeping American auto production red, white, and blue — a theme that hearkens back to the Eminem “Imported from Detroit” Super Bowl entry.
The end of the commercial, however, echoes a less successful campaign… continued…
If you thought the U.S. had weird political ads, check out this bit of insanity from Denmark: a 90-second cartoon that stars a character called Voteman, who isn't apathetic about voting, or about getting pleasured by five ladies at the same time at the 12-second mark.
The video also includes a decapitation, dolphin surfing, lots of violence as well as more sex—as Voteman goes on a 'roid-rage rampage, physically forcing Danes to vote in the upcoming European election (where they'll decide on weighty topics like climate regulation, agricultural subsidies, and chemicals in toys).
The video was posted Monday on the Danish Parliament's social media sites before being swiftly removed. The parliament speaker later told the Associated Press that the government should "be more careful with what we put our name to."
Sadly, there's still a Nazi presence in Germany. Recently, an organization named Laut Gegen Nazis, or Loud Against Nazis, decided to combat the hate with lots of love—or rather, lots of likes.
On International Holocaust Memorial Day, the group encouraged a diverse group of Germans (recruited by ad agency Jung Von Matt/Elbe) to like the NDP (the country's neo-Nazi party) on Facebook and then swarm the page with positive, anti-racist messages like "For a colorful Germany." According to the case study below, more than 100,000 protesters participated in the "Like Attack," and the ensuing coverage generated some 7 million media impressions.
While it's a little unfortunate that participants had to take an action that, on its face, expressed enthusiasm for an awful political presence, the irony is obvious enough to anyone with a brain, and makes for a relatively small evil as a means for raising broader awareness of the issue.
Plus, there's the rich history in social movements of loving your enemies instead of hating them, including the work of revolutionary giants like Martin Luther King Jr.—even if the "Like Attack" doesn't have quite as much depth as some of his thoughts on the subject.
Credits below.
CREDITS Client: Laut Gegen Nazis Agency: Jung Von Matt/Elbe Chief Creative Officers: Tobias Grimm, Doerte Spengler-Ahrens Creative Directors: Hans-Peter Sporer, Henning Robert Art Directors: Thimon Machatzke, Canhur Aktuglu Writer: Luitguard Hagl Agency Producer: Dennis Wendt Sound Designer: Steven Hofmann Digital Multimedia Artist: Joscha Kadegge Producer: Anna Liem
Palestinians living in an undetermined future would be housed inside a colossal high-tech skyscraper. Each city (Jerusalem, Nablus, Ramallah, etc.) would have its own floor. The building is surrounded by concrete walls but its inhabitants would be able to travel in and out of their country using a highly efficient subway system and go from one Palestinian city to another using an elevator. continue
If you were a miniature version of Abraham Lincoln, you'd be super excited about modern Illinois, according to the state's tourism campaign, which has brought back MiniAbe for another round of quirky sightseeing.
It sort of makes sense, if you're arrogant enough to compare yourself to one of history's (and the state's) great figures but also humble enough to think of yourself as merely a downsized plastic replica.
MiniAbe channels Joey Lawrence in the new spot, from JWT Chicago, as he utters "Whoa" wherever he goes. The approach also makes the footage of tourist locations a little more rewarding than your average vanity shots. It's hard not to wonder though, if MiniAbe isn't a distant relative of whoever's driving London's little yellow street-cleaning submarine.
The "Be More Whoa-ed" campaign launched Monday in 16 U.S. markets and will reach the U.K., Germany, Canada and national cable later this spring and summer. A second spot in the spring campaign will break in early May.
Credits below.
CREDITS Client: Illinois Office of Tourism Deputy Director: Jen Hoelzle Assistant Deputy Director: Jan Kemmerling Marketing Manager: Lisa Link
Agency: JWT, Chicago Executive Creative Director: Dan Bruce Creative Director, Copywriter: Gary Korrub Creative Director, Art Director: Terra Hambly Executive Producer: Alec Pinkston Agency Producer: Carolyn James Group Management Director: Erin Clark Senior Account Director: Brendan Riley
Director: Seth Henrickson Production Company: Odd Machine Editor: Steve Morrison Director of Photography: Seth Henrickson Sound Design: Eric Cauwels, Chicago Recording Media: Maxus
First, the Republican senator from Kentucky becomes the meme of the moment after releasing a baffling long-form ad with no words where he mostly just grins dumbly (birthing the hashtag #McConnelling). Then, he goes and releases a new ad that includes a brief clip of University of Kentucky archrival Duke winning the national basketball championship.
McConnell's people quickly blamed a vendor for the clip (at 1:09 in the video below) and scrambled to take the ad down, but not before every sports news outlet reported it. McConnell's staff then put up another ad with a clip of UK's Julius Randle, but neglected to get permission to use it. So, they scrapped the ad altogether.
McConnell's Democratic opponent has even jumped into the fray. She posted an online ad (see above) suggesting he's been in Congress so long, he doesn't know the difference between Duke and UK—and included a quote of hers from February that strangely predicted McConnell's gaffe.
In this episode we will talk about the ultimate cliché vacation but also about the Networks of Dispossession, the collective mapping of data about the relations of capital and power within urban transformation in Turkey. I also had plenty of questions about Graph Commons which seems to be a brilliant tool for reporters, researchers, activists, etc. continue
For the past few years, CAA’s founders Steve Lambert and Stephen Duncombe have been traveling around America (and increasingly Europe) to train grassroot activists to think more like artists and artists to think more like activists. The objective isn’t to replace traditional strategies with unbridled inventiveness but to use creativity as an additional tool that will help them gain more attention, make activism more approachable and that will, ultimately, make their campaigns more effective continue
Critical Exploits showed how a new generation of artists, designers and engineers are taking a highly critical approach to the development and use of the engineered systems and infrastructures that we increasingly rely on for daily life continue
The artist uses live art, interventions and new media to investigate social and political systems; and to find his position in and to these larger systems.
Some of his projects involved outsourcing the production of a written constitution for the UK to China and having 1,000 dolls voice it, using the price of an African financial index to control lightning in a Berlin art center, testing certain hypotheses about social behaviour in a dinner party. And building an outdoors spiral staircase for cats. continue
Sarah Silverman is no stranger to controversy stemming from her politically charged PSAs. In her latest polarizing video, released last week, she bonds with Jesus Christ while they watch an NCIS marathon and discuss the state of women's reproductive rights in America.
The five-minute video, predictably lauded by the left and reviled by the right, has surpassed 800,000 YouTube views in its bid to promote "V to Shining V," a national pride day for women scheduled for Sept. 27.
In a Q&A with AdFreak, Silverman vehemently denies the new spot is a rant against Christianity, and laments that there are haters who, in response to such videos, "call me 'Jew' and wish me murder and rape and it scares the shit out of me."
AdFreak: What was the genesis of the "Jesus" PSA? Sarah Silverman: I noticed that women's rights were being very quietly chipped away, a lot like the voter suppression stuff. I think the Right knows that making abortion illegal in this country would be a bear of a task, so they're kind of just knocking out the headlights of our car, state by state, and then saying, "Oops, looks like you can't drive, you got a broken headlight."
Were you worried about the possible backlash, or perhaps looking forward to it, because that would build buzz? I try not to read the angry tweets and threats. It's hard because there's so much of it. But if I let myself read it, I start to tremble and get really scared and I'm afraid it will make me stop doing this kind of stuff.
Are you pleased with the response it's gotten so far? Has anything about the response surprised you? Yes, I am pleased. I'm perplexed when I see the Breitbart and Tea Party headlines like, "Jew Sarah Silverman Makes Video Blaspheming Jesus, Attacking Christians."
I'll never be surprised, but it's just frustrating because that is most certainly not what this video is. To me, it's information that people need to know, with comedy. I can respect people who believe that abortion is murder. If you believe that, then you are not going to want people to have abortions. It's the politicians and policy makers who are so comfortable pitching laws that take away women's access to affordable healthcare, contraception and, should she choose, abortion, that gross me out. I think it's far more Jesus-y to do what you believe is right than to do what lines your pockets with money and promised votes.
It's just odd to me that a people who are so against big government are so willing to mandate what a woman can and can't do with her own body. They're so protective of easy access to guns, and are making it so hard for a woman to get contraception.
The actor playing Jesus was awesome… It's the awesome Michael Weatherly! He plays DiNozzo on NCIS—get the joke?
So, using Jesus makes a point about other groups that are using religion to make their points, right? Any groups in particular you had in mind? Look, I just love the idea of Jesus. Genuinely. This awesome hippy that knew that if you don't deal with your shit, your shit will deal with you. Gosh, I wish the people who are shitty to others in his name would be brave enough to look inward just a little. This is not a rant against Christianity! It's a rant against those who can't get their heads around the fact that there are people with different beliefs than them and that has to be OK. I have friends and family with religion that I love and respect and adore and look up to. I don't have religion personally, but that's just my deal.
Was there dialogue you left out, a scene deemed too controversial? You can't see it well, but in the end Jesus is wearing a T-shirt with one of those Jesus fish on it, but inside it says "Feminist." And there was a crude sex joke in there, but I didn't want it to be the thing people talked about. I didn't want to take away from the stuff I thought was more important.
What have you learned from doing social issues videos, and how do you gauge if they've been successful? I just put it out there and move on … I want people to sign up at ladypartsjustice.org and march with me and hopefully hundreds of thousands of women and men in their home-state capitals on Sept. 27.
Did any of your political videos get a positive response that exceeded your expectations? "The Great Schlep" was a big beautiful surprise.
Are you shocked by the amount of hate tossed your way because of these ads? Are haters on YouTube like hecklers at a comedy club? No, because you see hecklers. You can look right at them, right in the eye, and no matter how shitty they are, they are right in front of me and the whole audience, and they have to take responsibility for any shitty stupid thing they say. On the Internet their identity is often shrouded. Their avatars always seem to be some scary cyber monster or some masked and armed animated killer and they call me "Jew" and wish me murder and rape and it scares the shit out of me. That's why I try not to look. I don't wanna be scared out of doing junk like this. Especially not by the faceless boogymen that spew threats with no accountability. Pussies, I think.
Look, this couldn't be worse for my career—trust me, I get no money for this, no paid work comes from alienating potential movie and TV consumers. I do it because I'm like the scorpion from The Scorpion and the Frog. I may drown in the process, but I can't help it. It's my nature.
What recent issue-oriented ads do you respect? Any campaigns come to mind that make you say, "I wish I'd done that"? Not really. There are issue-oriented commercials? The one for Cheerios when the kid says, "When we have Cheerios it's kind of like we're having breakfast with Nana" makes me cry like a baby every time.
What's your favorite ad of all time, or your favorite ad character? There are so many great ads out there—some of the funniest stuff. I love the Skittles commercial where this girl thinks this man is so lucky because everything he touches turn to Skittles, and then he turns and is like, "I can't hold my own grandson!" Or something super serious. I can't remember exactly, but I loved it. And there was an ad for Imodium or something where this guy is in a hot tub with all these hot chicks and his friend walks by and is like, "Hey Jeff, how's your diarrhea?" I also like the ad with the awesome guy in a Speedo with a drink, and the only audio is, I think, a David Byrne song. I'm not explaining it well, but it's pretty perfect.
Historian Garrick Hileman, sociologist Nigel Dodd and financial activist Brett Scott reflected on the question “Is Bitcoin the new gold?” Shaking up online and offline worlds, the online currency Bitcoin has increased its ‘value’ at immense speed in the last year. Being immune from government interference and private manipulations, it has been celebrated as a new alternative currency by some and condemned as source of unpredictable risk by others continue
The main preoccupation of the exhibition is not the militant commentaries behind artworks but the effect that political values and social movements have had on the production modes, aesthetics and communication of visual culture. As such Art Turning Left stands out from other shows dedicated to political art or activism continue
Much of Treister’s recent work maps ways that human intelligence and military intelligence currently interact and work on each other. She explores how in a world increasingly determined by pervasive technologies and the demands of the military and security arms of government and state, new relations between the observer and the observed have been established and new subjectivities formed continue
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
