Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crescent]

Yep. Just as I predicted. I think i'd rather watch some SouthPark now.

[Steelrails]

[repeatpete]

Well the Chateau Yeungdeungpo is just coming into its own, a cheeky little number with just a hint of gasoline to take the edge off.
While I'm at it...what's that line on Erskine Brown; his infidelities involve the minimum of titillation and the maximum of embarrassment for all concerned?
But I digest...now, come off it, Steelrails, you are now decidedly in a corner. You seem to feel compelled to defend the advertising industry saying global warming must be highlighted by any means necessary and the human horrors of advertising are the ones to do it.
If that is the case, then we are truly finished as a species. What's next, the cast of Glee has a go at 'Sophie's Choice, the musical!'?
You can't take a serious issue and then get someone patently unqualified to do it with the justification 'it's a serious subject damn it!'
Yes.
It is.
Performing open bypass surgery is a serious subject but I have no right to be involved at any stage of the operation.
And I cannot justify my resulting cack-handed incompetence by yelling 'but it's an emergency!'
Now, for me, the ad industry produces jingles and logos which half the people ignore and the other half find annoying. They sell myths that somehow my relationships, goals, lifestyle, desired hairline and desired sixpack will all be achieved if I buy their migraine inducing stupid phone, drink their life shortening beer or wear their crippling shoes.
And so, to up their game, one ad company is exploring suicide as a meme. They are breaking the final taboo.
Our engines are so non-polluting, good luck you human failures trying to gas yourself with one!
It doesn't really work does it?
Is it shocking and edgy? Yes.
But before it is either, is there anything else that comes to mind?
Well, it is subjective but for me I'd choose 'grossly offensive' and 'disturbing.'
I think I'd agree with you to a point when you refer to smoking ads, but there is a direct correlation between smoking and dying now. If you smoke, you expose yourself to greater risk and I think we all accept that.
But cars killing us and the planet. Yes.
Cars being used to kill ourselves.
And vicariously as a metaphor.
Hmmmm.
I only see the suicide.
Also, as an aside, I think it would be very bold indeed for Philip Morris, in your hypothetical ad, to advertise a cigarette as 'carcinogen free' since not smoking does not guarantee not developing one of those bloody awful diseases. (Hence, they probably wouldn't take such a tack.)
However, I'm probably being pedantic on that one because I appreciate your overall point.
That being said, I just don't see this ad and a tobacco campaign in remotely the same league.
I just had another look at said ad;
The guy walking away looks more miserable than ever.
The slow build up and preparation with the taping and feels almost voyeuristic and is very uncomfortable to watch.
the focus on the pipe in the window
the fact he tried to kill himself for several hours (starts in daylight, finishes at night.)
the empty house at the end. Has he already 'taken care of' his family?
There's no number for the Samaritans or local equivalent at the end. It's just very, very dark.
It looks like the guy will try something else.
And there is a case to be made that the message of the ad is ambiguous;
if you want to kill yourself, don't use this car, use something else you stupid loser.
if you're garage/house looks like this, you should kill yourself
what kind of message is being communicated?
if you drive a Hyundai you'll want to gas yourself but you won't succeed?
there are some good ads that do make you think, but I'd say they are rare and I'd say this definitely isn't one.
Or, is this a case of premature adjudication on my part?
PS. Is it ok to call my boss 'old sweetheart'?

[Weigookin74]

Freedom of speech. Let's stop being so PC and getting offended by every little thing. Let's ban right wing and left wing PCism. Some of the most annoying, irritating, small minded, and opinionated douchbags around. As long as you're not talking violence and death to each other, go nuts. As for the ad, talk about suicide, talk about the environment, talk about sexy and non sexy cars, or whatever you want.

[stevieg4ever]

haha well said
this should be a disclaimer for all of this guy's posts imo.

[Steelrails]

[Koharski]

[repeatpete]

Hey Steelrails,
I'll follow your point, if only to continue the Rumpole stuff.
The advert is tasteless.
Your analogy of; 'we are killing ourselves with pollution and therefore as a metaphor the advert works.' This I feel, albeit with some hesitation, gives far too much of the benefit of the doubt to the advert maker.
I think they just got too excited and ticked the boxes marked 'edgy' and 'shocking' without turning the page and seeing the line about 'offensive.'
For example, I am sure we could employ to equal edginess and shock the phrase 'raping the environment' but an advert exploring that metaphor ......

If a line is crossed it has to serve a better purpose than simply hawking products. Ads showing the direct danger of smoking or drink-driving have a direct link between action and consequence which provides the justification. This one does not, it is more tenuous and that's where I think is the problem.
If more people drive this car, will suicide stop? Unlikely.
Well, anyway, that is my position.
'You think that's a very dignified position?'
'Oh you can't be born or die in a dignified position... now how the hell can you live in one, old dear?'