textbook ads

In chapter 4, I'm most drawn to the top left image on page 61. This is probably because I saw Anthony Burrill give a lecture at the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis, so I immediately recognized his work. In his lecture, he discussed his process, which involved photocopying; in fact, he placed those cut-out paper bricks by hand. I enjoy the simplicity of the ads and I think they are still effective even in this simplicity. The above image is another ad for the same budget hotel, but it emphasizes eco-friendliness. It uses this same sense of humor without the same minimalism, and while I appreciate this ad for its more modern look, I prefer the minimalist and simple approach of the ad featured in the book.

In chapter 3, the pair of images on page 35 seem like an effective ad campaign. They are straight-forward and simple, and it's an interesting approach in an industry where the competitors probably advertise their bags strictly with images of them. The presentation of just the contents of the bag could prompt a person to find out more about the bags and what they look like after viewing the ad. This Coach ad is a contrasting example of what a typical high-end purse ad would be: a representation of the purse as well as a young, fashionable girl.

In chapter 2, the Chick-fil-A advertisement garnered my attention but mostly because I find it kind of confusing. I feel like the message of this being the best chicken isn't really conveyed. Instead, my mind goes to animal cruelty causes. To contrast this image, I chose another image from a German McDonalds ad for a veggie burger. It's not as humorous, but it does contain an air of humor, and it also depicts the animal cruelty issue in a way that advocates vegetarian choices, unlike the Chick-fil-A ad.

In chapter 1, I most responded to the Mini Cooper images on page 7. They convey a level of playfulness and cuteness that is inherent to the brand. This brand/product already has enough recognition to modify their images and keep the product recognizable. For contrast, I chose this image of the VW beetle, which uses a similar idea of accessorizing the car, but this one differs in that this beetle actually appeared in a Hollywood film. I find this one more effective because it's playful, but it also inspires people to see the film.