The Persuaders

"Every effort to break through the clutter is just more clutter. Ultimately, if you don’t have clean, plain borders and backdrops for your ads, if you don’t have that blank space, that commons, that virgin territory, you have a very hard time making yourself heard. The most obvious metaphor is a room full of people, all screaming to be heard. What this really means, finally, is that advertising is asphyxiating itself."

-Mark Crispin Miller, from the PBS's Frontline documentary, the Persuaders.

Sounds about right, no? Although the documentary is about 4 years old, the argument presented seems roughly the same as we're having today, except with fewer references to social media, of course. Which on some level makes today's argument seem a little stale. But maybe that has more to do with Frontline's depiction of advertising folks. You'll probably feel a little dirty after watching this.

As a side note, check out the PBS library of content for some cool stuff. There isn't shit on TV this time of year, so if you want to get all learned up, this is probably a good place to start. You might also check out The Merchants of Cool if you'd like to get a gander at a short-haired Malcom Gladwell.

Comments

[Someone Anonymous]

I don't agree to this simplicity thing. It's too done. It smells like "ad". If it smells like ad, then you're not going to taste it. The eyes are not like the ears. That metaphor leads down the wrong alley. Doing it different, keeping up curiosity, giving the mind something new that cannot be put in a container, something that makes your mind go "what the heck is this?" will stop you. Why? Cause the mind has a hunger for understanding. It needs to know it's surrounding. Feeding upon newness, since learning gives us a buzz. Figuring it out, gives us a buzz. When everyone shouts the same way, none are heard. But hold up a sign in the midle of the choir, and all eyes will be yours.

(Pardons for my poor english. Since I'm not)

[Paul McEnany]

Actually, I think you said it very well! The basic point is that if we're all saying the same damn thing in the same way, it doesn't matter how loud we say it. We'll just end up stepping on each others' toes for attention that we'll never receive.

Thanks for the comment!