Author Archive
State Farm’ll Be There
Posted by: | CommentsThis was too good not to post! I saw this commercial for State Farm today, and I absolutely love the message. State Farm has continually been highlighted on AdVirtues for their superior virtuous advertising, and this commercial carries on the trend. The agency is DDB. Both State Farm and DDB should be commended for bringing us all together once again as family, friends, citizens, and human beings.
“The anthem is a tribute to the power of human connection. Its people being there for people, unwavering in their loyalty and support. Finding strength in the smallest of gestures, like clasped hands that wont let go. Vulnerability in the largest of events, such as a soldier coming home to her child.” — quote from State Farm on YouTube.com
Agree? Disagree? Let me know!
Starbucks is Revamping Their Advertising!
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@Starbucks tweeted on Thursday that they are releasing a new campaign to highlight the “value and values of Starbucks.” See the post from their official blog here. The same day, AdAge released an article on the topic discussing the motivation behind Starbucks’ change as likely being an effort to preempt the new McCafe to be introduced by McDonald’s this year.
Hear the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, talk about the new campaign with several baristas in Seattle in the video below:
What seems most interesting to me about this campaign is Starbucks supposed want to emphasize the values or, if I may, virtues of their company. Many of us know of the various work Starbucks does with non-profits and other deserving organizations throughout the world even though Starbucks rarely publicizes this through traditional advertising. This campaign seems to be saying that Starbucks is ready to cash in on all of their do-gooding. While I am not a huge fan of the typical cause-related marketing (I find it a little pathetic to publicly announce every good thing you do as a strategy to increase sales), if Starbucks wants to tell their story and encourage virtuous behavior, that could be awesome, right?! Well, I have to admit I was a little disappointed after viewing the ads themselves. Instead of emphasizing Starbucks’ virtues as an extremely social responsible company that does so much in communities all over the world, many of them seem to highlight cost, quality, or just random humor! Where is your story Starbucks? The one that should be told? As more of the ads come out, I hope we see their virtuous efforts fore-fronted because I am bored by the whole “Beware of a Cheaper Coffee. It Comes with a Price” line!
Thoughts? I want to hear them!
The AdVirtues Team’s New Favorite Ad
Posted by: | CommentsHere is our new favorite ad of the week:
It is so great so see a company like Lenscrafters, with such an everyday product, doing advertising that is both interesting and inspiring! Now, I want to wear glasses! Oh, and get them from Lenscrafters! Thoughts? Comment below!
Mastercard’s “Priceless”: Do Virtues Translate?
Posted by: | CommentsWe have featured several commercials from Mastercard’s “Priceless” campaign on AdVirtues. In fact, the campaign was featured on the Getting It Right page as an example of a consistently virtuous, heart-warming, and inspiring campaign. However, one of my favorite “Priceless” spots has not yet been mentioned and taking another look at the ad brought up some interesting questions for me, namely can virtues, or more specifically virtuous advertising, translate across cultures?
Take a look at Mastercard’s “My Favorite Things,” and below I will consider some of the implications in the relationship between international or multicultural and virtuous advertising.
In my opinion, virtuous advertising could present itself as either one of the most problematic forms of advertising, in terms of translation into international or ethnic markets, or as one of the greatest opportunities for advertisers to gain a true understanding and connect with those markets.
GreenPeace’s “Forest Love”
Posted by: | Comments*Warning: some of the video content below may be distasteful to some and unsuitable for younger audiences.
Last summer Greenpeace released a campaign called “Forest Love”. This video served as a call-to-action, asking fans and activists to participate by submitting photos and videos of themselves performing “acts of love” in a forest environment.
See GreenPeace’s original video below:
From this video’s call-to-action, GreenPeace recieved thousands of photo submissions and created the video below as a plea to European President Barroso to end the EU’s purchase of illegally logged wood.
This project was primarily targeted to European audiences (I first heard about it from France’s TV5). The video serves to promote a great cause, but at what cost? Does the extreme method detract from the message? Or am I just being a prudish American?
I want to hear your thoughts! Comment and let me know your reaction!
Ready to be intrigued?
Posted by: | CommentsWelcome the AdVirtues Team’s exclusive forum to share our rants and raves. It’s sure to be an interesting read, full controversy, witty banter, and occasional taudry subject matter. Join in and comment!
Colossal Pinata + Giant Beach Balls= “Fun For All”
Posted by: | CommentsCarnival Cruise lines has a new campaign, and with the tag “Fun For All. All For Fun”, you know it’s going to be something interesting.
October 26th 2008, Dallas, TX: Carnival broke the existing record in the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the world’s largest beach ball. Carnival released three of these giant beach balls in downtown Dallas, dropping them into the streets from high-rise buildings. See the official commercial of the event below.
November 2nd 2008, Philadelphia, PA: Carnival made it into the Guiness Book of World Records for constructing the largest pinata EVER in downtown Philly. See the official commercial below.
This campaign emphasizes two virtues I think we could all use a little more of: Common Ground and Laughter. Find out how below…. Read More→
Amnesty International has Faith in Obama
Posted by: | CommentsIf you have faith…
Amnesty International released the above video on Inauguration Day 2009.
The text in the ad reads:
Day 1: Global Economy Fixed
Day 20: Global Warming Reversed
Day 83: World Peace Established
Day 94: Meteor Defense Shield Created
Day 100: A walk in the park
The message goes on the say that “we don’t expect the impossible in his first one-hundred days in office, but Barack Obama has said that he would close Guantanamo and end torture.”
Going to the site tied to this campaign, obama100days.org, you see a checklist of things Amnesty deems possible and hopes Obama will be able to complete during his first one-hundred days in office.
I thought this was interesting, especially in relation to the post below about the Bank of Obama. It shows how different organizations and individuals are dealing with these tough times and how all eyes are turned on President Obama. Obviously, as this video was created by Amnesty International and the Bank of Obama by three young guys in Austin, TX, it is comparing apples to oranges. However, although their methods are extremely different, I do feel both are intended to make those who come into contact with them feel better about the current world state. One does this through humor and the other through a more serious tone that carries the message of keeping faith and inspiring action to be taken where possible. In my opinion, the virtues promoted in the Amnesty International ad, Inspiration, Hope, and Making a Difference, are what distinguishes it as “virtuous” advertising.
“Dream in Color” with Target
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Target has come out with a new campaign for Black History Month: “Dream in Color“.* The television ads showcase the personal hardships and accomplishments of now famous and successful African American women. The goal of the campaign is to inspire others to work hard and never give up on pursuing their dreams (similar to the stories about Tyler Perry and Michael Jordan seen in earlier posts on this site). The four amazing women featured in the TV ads include Holly Robinson Peete, Bethann Hardison, Thelma Golden, and India.Arie. These women speak to the issues of Legacy, Beauty, Education, and Community in several short video interviews posted on the site.
In addition to the ads showcasing these four women, Target has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution and Scholastic to provide free Black History Month lesson plans to teachers.
Throughout this campaign Target seeks to celebrate, educate, and inspire others, specifically within the context of diversity. An extension of the “Dream in Color” campaign (which is intended to run for an entire year), also found on the website, includes video interviews with other successful artists, designers, and community leaders including John Legend, Emilio Estefan, and Sami Hayek.
All of the videos in this campaign emphasize ambition, believing in yourself, common ground, determination, encouragement, hard work, hope, inspiration, living your dreams, overcoming, perseverance, strength, etc, etc, etc… through the personal stories of these individuals. Basically, they hit on a lot of the virtues we promote on this site. I think the overarching theme here, and one we so desperately need to hear in these difficult times, is to take personal responsibility and LIVE YOUR DREAMS, a.k.a. “Dream in Color”.
*Unfortunately, I am not able to post the videos directly onto the blog because of Target’s restrictions. However, all videos are available through the link above.
NEW: Intense Debate Added to AdVirtues
Posted by: Ashley Bruckbauer | Comments (2)Just added the Intense Debate comment plugin to AdVirtues. Let us know if it is a thumbs up or down! We would love to hear any comments/concerns.