The city first introduced to me by the musical stylings of Eminem, the socio-economic implications of it's former automobile industry explained to me by Michael Moore in Capitalism: A Love Story and illustrated for me by this informative diagram, seems like a post-post-apocalyptic film set.
A part of me thinks that the end is nigh, not in a 2012 Mayan calender kind of way but in a change of social consciousness. A sort of reversal of the 1950s, 1960s consumerist identity. A quick look at the TV guide shows this redirection of public interest with a increasing number of self sufficiency programming like Grow Your Own Drugs, Kirstie's Homemade Home,Edwardian Farm,Born Survivor and even celebrity chef shows like Escape to River Cottage. Although the other part of me just thinks it is all just a trend what with the recession and that.
I watched the first episode of these a few years ago but stopped due to disrupted internet connection. In fact, I never completed the book they are based on. I am adding both to my to do list. The youtube videos are of poor quality, though I think that is partially because they are old productions. (The old BBC logo after ad breaks has a warming nostalgia). It seems fitting that this book was made into a audio visual programme, fitting that we can be shown how we "see".
Tonight on tv3's The Apprentice the arts, and their cause, was represented by two scruffy classical musicians. The task involved a formal presentation to a luxury company, in which, the losing team had hired the two to provide a musical introduction. However, right before the performance the team realised that they had make a error with the budget and were unable to pay the musicians the agreed amount.
They assumed that the musicians wouldn't mind. Unfortunately for them, the musicians would not accept this and immediately launched into an argument mentioning that they were in a upmarket hotel that was getting paid and that they were expected to work for less than agreed. And rightly so, at over €40 short they were being asked to take an almost 50% cut on a modest fee when €40 would be pocket change to the companies involved.
Although I didn't necessarily agree with how the musicians had made their point, it was without a doubt a valid argument and the situation was telling of society's view of the arts. The women were dressed in the stereotypical artsy style and used the word "posh" in reference to the companies involved. I do not like that word as it is more telling of the person using it than what they are speaking about but I am glad that they were so quick to stand up for themselves and their profession. Upon surprise that they were not appreciative for the scraps from the table the project manager agreed that the musicians would receive their full fee. Apparently the scowled at Bill Cullen throughout the entire presentation probably demonizing him as "the man".
The Apprentice tv3. Campaigning for the arts, musicians demanding fair pay.
In the after show aftermath the, now fired, project manager made a Freudian slip when attempting to justify her error. She claimed that she simply forgot that she would have to pay the musicians and hadn't realised that she would have to pay for music for the ad campaign, of which she ended up blowing the budget on. I think the arts are taken for granted, wanted but undervalued. The team had earlier tried to hire a busker from the street who turned out to be an illegal immigrant and perhaps would have been happy with anything. The whole error was caused by a failure to realise that music needs to be paid for and problem was attempting to be solved by short changing the live musicians.
The culture of arts grants allows for a certain level of freedom by removing the commercial aspect and free entry to galleries makes the arts more accessible to all. The downside to this is that people expect it for nothing and do not realise the level of talent, skill and professionalism that is required of any arts worker.
P.S. Of course the adverts produced in this task were horrific and most involved had excessive confidence levels and outlandish impressions of their own creativity. It makes me hate the word "creative".
I am finding myself thinking about advertisements a little more than ever before. I think I thought I tuned them out, but of course that is what everyone says, either way they never really bothered me.
Increasingly they have been p*ssing me off and sparking a sparkling variety of emotions. Perhaps it is because I am curious as to how media influences people not only in what they purchase but in who they are, particularly in regards to gender based identities. Perhaps it is because I watch Mad Men which is set in a New York 1960s ad agency. Perhaps it is because I watch The Apprentice which usually has tasks involving the development of ad campaigns. This causes me to imagine the thought process behind the things I see. (I am not sure if it is even a semi accurate portrayal of how things get done but I suspect the shots of cringing graphic designers copying and pasting up the stereotypical ideas of idiots-with-egos might be realistic.)
I hate being sold a lifestyle and I hate being told what it is to be a woman but somehow I love this John Lewis ad. I first learned of the campaign at the Guardian a while back. John Lewis is a British department store that is known as an old reliable. It is unique in that its employees are referred to a partners as they all have a share in the company. It's selling point is that it is a fair, consistent and people orientated company. The developers Adam & Eve communicated this with emotive success.
Usually women in television adverts are very one dimensional. They are often characters informed heavily by Sex & the City style lifestyles. Shoes and bags and cocktails with the girls kind of thing. Although the female lead in the advert is not challenging stereotypes, she is portrayed as a complete human being. She is an innocent child, a beautiful wife, a caring mother, an ambition career woman and a stylish elderly person. Woman are too often dehumanized in the media by being represented as incomplete people. I think this plays a huge role in the objectification of woman and so, in violence against women too.
Or perhaps it is the golden light, the Billy Joel cover and the stylish elderly lady that has me.
Nestle is bringing back the fond favorite Milky Bar kid with the great and catchy slogan "Ungrown up" and the introduction of a bar with raisins. That's all shit obviously, but look, don't these milky bar grown ups look like they are in an Andy Warhol costume? Hah!
I am finding myself increasingly aware of advertisements on television. It is hard not too since they seem to be broadcasted louder than the programmes. In the past I did not pay too much (conscious) attention to them. Perhaps now that I increasingly spend less time with people I am becoming more aware of my own thoughts and less accustomed to popular culture. The latest ad to catch my eye is for a new car. The Volvo advertisement heavily features scenes from the newest installment of a certain vampire tween franchise. Now unless you are even more detached from society than I am, you will know that this is the book come film saga Twilight.
The ad is blatantly made for an American audience that is more familiar and less sensitive to cringy television. I am not entirely sure what the message is (I am not entirely sure there needs to be a message), it is all too American style cheese to sink in. I think it is a lifestyle advertisement, the kind where the adverts sums up who you are and tells you how to live yours life with purpose and for the moment. The feel of it really is not suitable for a European audience.
However the more pressing question is "who is this advert aimed at"? I have a few adult Twilight fan friends but it is my understanding that it is a tweenage to teenage sort of thing. How many teens here are in the market for a new car? I do not drive and do not know many who do drive, but media has taught me that Volvo is thought of as a reliable car. Just the kind a middle class (or what I would consider very wealthy) American parent would buy their sweet sixteen daughter. The main teen market interested in cars here is the seventeen-year-old boy racer. Since they like to drive by my apartment at night I know that they like to mess up ten-year-old cars with noisy sawn off exhaust pipes and 1000 euro body kits that cause the car to get stuck on speed bumps.
I can't quite find the exact advert played here but here is a link to a similar one.
For the record I do not dislike Twilight. I have never seen or read it. It seems "too much"
for me though. I like to get my sexy vampire kicks from the shocking (it shocked me), more adult and very clever True Blood.
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