13 posts tagged “advertising”
Hey, all...
I'm traveling, so updates are hard to do at the moment. And while I don't generally want to comment on books -- there are enough people doing that, especially when it comes to Dharma books -- I did want to let you know my thoughts about "Unmarketable: Brandalism, Copyfighting, Mocketing, and the Erosion of Integrity," by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Got this book to pass the time while visiting with relatives in a particularly slow (and conservative!) corner of the world -- and I couldn't be more glad that I did. A.E.M. is an excellent writer (I knew her from the late great mag Punk Planet), and what she's talking about -- how independent and punk culture is being co-opted by the advertising and marketing industries -- is totally fascinating.
It's fascinating in and of itself, but also, the implications of what she's talking about are crucial in terms of what The Worst Horse examines via our "Dharma-Burgers," which are of course our looks at "Buddhist imagery and ideas in the marketing of goods, services, and schlocky crap." (You may also want to read the Horse's article touching on co-optation, here).
Reading "Unmarketable," you can pretty easily extrapolate from the original subject matter, and form a clear vision of just how deep and insidious the marketing-world's influence really is (or at least could be) becoming in the Buddhist world -- and even, vice-versa.
But the book is also just a great read. It might be a little depressing for all its Orwellian revelation, if Moore wasn't such a good and fun and honest writer. But she is.
Anyway... just had to tell y'all.
I'm traveling, so updates are hard to do at the moment. And while I don't generally want to comment on books -- there are enough people doing that, especially when it comes to Dharma books -- I did want to let you know my thoughts about "Unmarketable: Brandalism, Copyfighting, Mocketing, and the Erosion of Integrity," by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Got this book to pass the time while visiting with relatives in a particularly slow (and conservative!) corner of the world -- and I couldn't be more glad that I did. A.E.M. is an excellent writer (I knew her from the late great mag Punk Planet), and what she's talking about -- how independent and punk culture is being co-opted by the advertising and marketing industries -- is totally fascinating.
It's fascinating in and of itself, but also, the implications of what she's talking about are crucial in terms of what The Worst Horse examines via our "Dharma-Burgers," which are of course our looks at "Buddhist imagery and ideas in the marketing of goods, services, and schlocky crap." (You may also want to read the Horse's article touching on co-optation, here).
Reading "Unmarketable," you can pretty easily extrapolate from the original subject matter, and form a clear vision of just how deep and insidious the marketing-world's influence really is (or at least could be) becoming in the Buddhist world -- and even, vice-versa.
But the book is also just a great read. It might be a little depressing for all its Orwellian revelation, if Moore wasn't such a good and fun and honest writer. But she is.
Anyway... just had to tell y'all.
You KNOW you've got an advertising trend when even the biggest names get in the game.
In this print ad, Prudential casts itself as everyone's retirement guru, offering "inner peace" at its Retirement Red Zone website.
This is just one more step toward full-on co-optation, folks. (See #3, here.)
Is it bad? Is it good?
Well, it sure did wonders for the culture's mainstream acceptance of the so-called revolution that the 60's offered.
Or, at least, it did wonders for the ad-men and industries of the day, who made all that co-opting happen in the first place.
See our article, here, for a little bit more on this kind of thang.
In this print ad, Prudential casts itself as everyone's retirement guru, offering "inner peace" at its Retirement Red Zone website.
This is just one more step toward full-on co-optation, folks. (See #3, here.)
Is it bad? Is it good?
Well, it sure did wonders for the culture's mainstream acceptance of the so-called revolution that the 60's offered.
Or, at least, it did wonders for the ad-men and industries of the day, who made all that co-opting happen in the first place.
See our article, here, for a little bit more on this kind of thang.
The Horse has talked a few times about how often pot-culture makes reference to "Buddha" as a name for pot itself. Recently a MySpace "friend" posted this ad on the Horse's MySpace page.
It's an ad for "Big Buddha Bud." The copy recounts a very true-to-life conversation between dear friends. Ahem:
My buddy Mark stopped hanging out with me because he has to do a piss test every week. Just last week, though, I see him sparking up. I'm like "Dude are you smoking bud again???" and he is all "Yeah! I bought ONE POUND of legal bud at [website] and I don't need to worry, this shit doesn't come up in piss tests and it's some potent shit!"
Then, our unnamed narrator replies to his good friend Mark, "One pound??? Holy fuck dude you can sell this shit!!!" After seeing how good this bud was I decided to go to [website] myself and bought 8 ounces of Big Buddha Bud. I figured I might as well smoke this and be a local retailer in the neighborhood too."
Um, what's that advice that the Buddha gave about picking your friends? Oh yeah: choose ones who will be good Dharma-friends, who will help you uphold what you're trying to do in your practice. He even said that a poor choice of friend might be "a ready companion to frequent the streets at ungodly hours." And that's not even talking about the use of intoxicants!
Not that so many of us are perfect, but old Mark and our unnamed narrator ain't even tryin'.
As for the MySpace friend who posted this, thanks. Unfortunately, I don't think it was sent as a Dharma-Burger submission. It was actually one of several junk postings that she had posted in a row.
So I hope she doesn't mind that she's since been ...ahem... DE-friended.
It's an ad for "Big Buddha Bud." The copy recounts a very true-to-life conversation between dear friends. Ahem:
My buddy Mark stopped hanging out with me because he has to do a piss test every week. Just last week, though, I see him sparking up. I'm like "Dude are you smoking bud again???" and he is all "Yeah! I bought ONE POUND of legal bud at [website] and I don't need to worry, this shit doesn't come up in piss tests and it's some potent shit!"
Then, our unnamed narrator replies to his good friend Mark, "One pound??? Holy fuck dude you can sell this shit!!!" After seeing how good this bud was I decided to go to [website] myself and bought 8 ounces of Big Buddha Bud. I figured I might as well smoke this and be a local retailer in the neighborhood too."
Um, what's that advice that the Buddha gave about picking your friends? Oh yeah: choose ones who will be good Dharma-friends, who will help you uphold what you're trying to do in your practice. He even said that a poor choice of friend might be "a ready companion to frequent the streets at ungodly hours." And that's not even talking about the use of intoxicants!
Not that so many of us are perfect, but old Mark and our unnamed narrator ain't even tryin'.
As for the MySpace friend who posted this, thanks. Unfortunately, I don't think it was sent as a Dharma-Burger submission. It was actually one of several junk postings that she had posted in a row.
So I hope she doesn't mind that she's since been ...ahem... DE-friended.
A while back we shared with you the news of the new "Zen" green tea liqueur. (A new web-ad for it appears to the left.)
Those who love Dharma-Burgers may dig seeing this new SFGate.com piece from columnist Mark Morford, "Let us get drunk and meditate: Here is you Zen green-tea liqueur and your Enlightenment Visa card. Go forth and levitate."
(And yes, we covered the Enlightenment card, too. Scroll down to "Finally, a credit card for people like me," here.)
Those who love Dharma-Burgers may dig seeing this new SFGate.com piece from columnist Mark Morford, "Let us get drunk and meditate: Here is you Zen green-tea liqueur and your Enlightenment Visa card. Go forth and levitate."
(And yes, we covered the Enlightenment card, too. Scroll down to "Finally, a credit card for people like me," here.)
Thanks to reader Frank Dries, who sent this little gem. He writes:
100% Zen, in a Polish hotel -- thanx to Zen, a pair of clean pyjamas and little time. It's so easy, check the little fellow's lotus.His legs!
(Found this in on the bed of my hotel room in Poznan, Poland. I Like what your doing. So here's a small contribution.)
It's true -- the little fellow on this hotel brochure is in fact doing the "lotus position" incorrectly -- he has the soles of his feet together.
BUT, this particular Dharma-Burger is somewhat remarkable, if only because it actually encourages the reader to try to do a little meditation (see second image). They also suggest two stretches for toning and relaxing.
Perhaps they've discovered that those customers who take a little time for their bodies and minds are easier to deal with.
Thanks for sending it, Frank!
100% Zen, in a Polish hotel -- thanx to Zen, a pair of clean pyjamas and little time. It's so easy, check the little fellow's lotus.His legs!
(Found this in on the bed of my hotel room in Poznan, Poland. I Like what your doing. So here's a small contribution.)
It's true -- the little fellow on this hotel brochure is in fact doing the "lotus position" incorrectly -- he has the soles of his feet together.
BUT, this particular Dharma-Burger is somewhat remarkable, if only because it actually encourages the reader to try to do a little meditation (see second image). They also suggest two stretches for toning and relaxing.
Perhaps they've discovered that those customers who take a little time for their bodies and minds are easier to deal with.
Thanks for sending it, Frank!
Dig this ad for Wes Anderson's new comic "spiritual quest" film, The Darjeeling Limited.
In it, Owen Wilson (a fave) is depicted bandaged and with palms together in the Buddhist gesture of gassho, which is meant to convey gratitude.
I woulda gone and seen this anyway, but now my interested is extra-piqued.
If you've seen it, let us know!
In it, Owen Wilson (a fave) is depicted bandaged and with palms together in the Buddhist gesture of gassho, which is meant to convey gratitude.
I woulda gone and seen this anyway, but now my interested is extra-piqued.
If you've seen it, let us know!
Weird to see this on-line ad from Delta for their Sky Miles credit card, in which the most prominent element is someone who can't use any kind of credit card at all.
The figure in yellow is a Japanese monk, doing takuhatsu, which is a traditional form of begging. This allows the monks to live, and it allows the laypeople to experience giving, specifically in the form of contributing to those who have so dedicated their lives to upholding the Dharma.
It also seems to me odd to depict a monk commercially, especially given the public's current consciousness of Burma's monks.
I'm not saying "bad" or "good." But I'm definitely saying "odd."
The figure in yellow is a Japanese monk, doing takuhatsu, which is a traditional form of begging. This allows the monks to live, and it allows the laypeople to experience giving, specifically in the form of contributing to those who have so dedicated their lives to upholding the Dharma.
It also seems to me odd to depict a monk commercially, especially given the public's current consciousness of Burma's monks.
I'm not saying "bad" or "good." But I'm definitely saying "odd."
Just saw this online ad for Evian, the bottled water.
Very compelling, isn't it? After all, nothing says "taking care of your body" like meditating.
Outside, in the Alps.
Topless.
In panties.
With expensive water.
(And, not actually meditating -- just striking a pose.)
...by the way, there is a real-world precedence for something along these lines. Have you heard of the Skyclad Zendo?
Very compelling, isn't it? After all, nothing says "taking care of your body" like meditating.
Outside, in the Alps.
Topless.
In panties.
With expensive water.
(And, not actually meditating -- just striking a pose.)
...by the way, there is a real-world precedence for something along these lines. Have you heard of the Skyclad Zendo?
Found this ad in the Sept 3 issue of Business Week. It depicts a big glass Buddha, accompanied by a list of things you apparently need to do. Among them:
"Shop La Boqueria in Barcelona"
"Be seen upstairs at Repast."
"Fawn over the cheese cart at the Inn at Little Washington."
So what's with the big Buddha? Is the message here that we should try meditation? Practice compassion? Hear at least one Dharma talk?
Nope! Instead, the caption to the photo urges that we should "Be the first to rate the hippest restaurant on Zagat," which, we learn, we can do with the "complimentary access" to Zagat's ratings and reviews that comes with having a Visa Signature Card.
Of course! How silly of us not to immediately intuit that. After all, a close look at the ad reveals that what's being depicted isn't a temple (at least, not in the conventional sense). It's a "hip restaurant."
As regular readers of the Horse know, there's no shortage of Buddha Bars, Buddha Lounges, and other trendy big-ticket eatery/drinkeries that like to play the Dharma-Decor angle to bring people in. But when one shows up in a Visa ad? That means they're becoming common.
Stay tuned til next time when we show you the interior of P.J. McBuddha's Good-Time Emporium.
OK. Not really. (But then, you never know.)
"Shop La Boqueria in Barcelona"
"Be seen upstairs at Repast."
"Fawn over the cheese cart at the Inn at Little Washington."
So what's with the big Buddha? Is the message here that we should try meditation? Practice compassion? Hear at least one Dharma talk?
Nope! Instead, the caption to the photo urges that we should "Be the first to rate the hippest restaurant on Zagat," which, we learn, we can do with the "complimentary access" to Zagat's ratings and reviews that comes with having a Visa Signature Card.
Of course! How silly of us not to immediately intuit that. After all, a close look at the ad reveals that what's being depicted isn't a temple (at least, not in the conventional sense). It's a "hip restaurant."
As regular readers of the Horse know, there's no shortage of Buddha Bars, Buddha Lounges, and other trendy big-ticket eatery/drinkeries that like to play the Dharma-Decor angle to bring people in. But when one shows up in a Visa ad? That means they're becoming common.
Stay tuned til next time when we show you the interior of P.J. McBuddha's Good-Time Emporium.
OK. Not really. (But then, you never know.)
