Tuesday 3 July 2012

Top 10 Controversial Billboards

Though you may not know it, the billboard has been around since 1867, but today it’s probably not what you think of when you hear the word advertisements. You probably think something more along the line of a pop-up or those annoying commercials that come on the radio. While many of them are still simply used as advertisement or as a way of letting people know that the next rest stop is in 20 miles and that McDonalds is 5 miles away on the right, some have really caused a lot of controversy with the messages they spread. Of course with freedom of speech being thrown all over the place, in many locations there is no way to say what can or cannot be put onto a billboard.
 
Below are 10 Billboards that have definitely caught the eyes of many. Most of them get the word out about some of today’s most controversial topics while others are just plain wrong.

10.  Embarrassed Yet?

obama_texas_billboard
With every president often comes some sort of disapproval; actually, with any type of politician there is always opinions, both good and bad. And of course Barack Obama is no exception to this long standing way of political life. With so many opinions, two very different political parties, it’s no surprise that someone won’t hesitate to speak out against the president. Across the country there are plenty of people who don’t approve of Obama’s course of action but in Texas, a man named Ellis Miller decided to take it to the next step. To show his high disapproval of the direction of the health care bill, he decided to purchase a billboard that simply said: “Voted Obama? Embarrassed Yet?”
Miller thought that by putting the board up, more people would reconsider their votes and choose to not re-elect Obama in the next elections. He also wanted people to realize the actions Obama is taking and how his choice of words such as “spreading the wealth” could be a lean towards Socialism. Though this billboard definitely isn’t as bad as it can get, I’m not sure of many 69-year old men who would spend $500+ to express their presidential disapproval.

9.  My.  My Death.  My Choice

my life my death my choice
 
Blame Jack Kevorkian for this one! Another hot topic that is often debated in today’s world is assisted suicide and whether or not a person has the right to commit suicide when they see fit. The billboard has been posted in various locations including San Francisco, New Jersey, and Florida. It reads “My Life. My Death. My Choice.” and advertises a website entitled Final Exit Network. While the company only claims that they are getting word out that there are other options, such as suicide, when one is confronted with terminal illness, others say the billboard is just immoral. The fact that everyone no matter their age can see...Read More
‘Shockvertising’ has been defined as a particular form of communication designed with the attempt to awe and shock the target audience by using taboo subjects and emotion/thought provoking words and images. The issue with shockvertising is that what one person hails as brilliantly creative another sees as offensive and vice-versa. Here are ten of the most controversial print ads:

10. Nike – St. Rooney

St Rooney
Nike launched in 2006 a highly criticized ad campaign. One of the print ads depicts England’s best football player, Wayne Rooney, with the Cross of St. George painted on his chest.
Rooney fractured the base of his 4 th metatarsal before the 2006 World Cup finals, but he made a full recovery in time to play at the World Cup. Therefore, some notable British journalists claimed that Nike cynically portrayed Rooney part Woden, the Anglo-Saxon god of war, part the suffering but triumphant Christ . According to them, “ Nike has exploited him almost as blatantly as it is alleged to exploit its laborers in the Third World who make its costly footwear .”
Several religious groups complained to the Advertising Standards Authority within hours of the print ad being released. They said Nike’s ad was blasphemous and offensive to Christians because it trivialized Christ’s sufferings. Nike’s spokeswoman declared that they simply wanted to celebrate Rooney’s return to Manchester United, it had nothing to do with the crucifixion. Moreover, “the red paint is not meant to be blood, it’s just echoing the body paint which fans cover themselves in ,” she said.
Advertising Agency: Wieden+kennedy, United Kingdom
Creative Directors: Tony Davidson, Kim Papworth
Copywriters: Chris Groom, Stuart Harkness

9. Sisley – Fashioin Junkie

junkie
A group of advertising professionals produced in 2007 a pretty controversial ad, “Fashioin Junkie”. Although Sisley declared that the advertisement wasn’t authorized by the company and that they had nothing to do with the print ad, it remains suspicious on certain matters.
The word fashion was intentionally misspelled – fashioin – to make it rhyme a little bit with cocaine. The advertisement depicts two young women snorting cocaine. A white dress has been arranged to look like cocaine, but there’s also a white powder similar to cocaine on a  JPMorgan Chase card.
Portraying and promoting fashion addicts as drug addicts is totally inappropriate, but this is the goal of shockvertising, to blow it in our face and attract tons of attention  by any means.
Advertising Agency: Zoo Advertising, Shanghai, China
Creative Director: Alex Sean
Copywriter: Sandy Sang

8. Burger King – It’ll Blow Your Mind Away

bk ad
This suggestive Burger King ad leaves little to the imagination. Burger King ran a special promotion in Singapore for a limited edition of burgers: the Super Seven Inchers. Although it contains references to oral sex, the advertisement was not banned. Come on, let’s get real! Singapore banned the sale and import of...Read More

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