August 14, 2008

Life In The Post-Advertising World

On several occasions I have commented on the blindness of the "advertising is dead" crowd.

They declare that we are in a "post-advertising" age.

Meanwhile, every square inch of the fucking planet is covered in advertising. Every dry cleaning bag, urinal, bus stop, gasoline pump, supermarket floor, stick that divides your groceries from the smelly guy in front of you, hat, t-shirt and license plate.

Advertising has become so pervasive, these pundits can't even see it. It is the air we breathe and the murder weapon hidden in plain sight.

I was reminded of this recently when re-reading a book every advertising person should read -- Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton. It will make you feel a little uncomfortable about your job, but a lot better about your life.

There is a chart in the book that should be very instructive to the "advertising is dead" bunch. I have taken the liberty of reproducing it here.

So if advertising is dead, I'd like to know what is driving all this consumer desire? User generated content? Permission marketing? The "conversation?" What?

Pathetic Whining Pays Off:
Since our hysterical rant a few weeks ago, several bloggers have had the decency to include your favorite blog and mine on their blog rolls. This week, I would like to acknowledge three erudite bloggers who have "rolled" us: Sell Sell, FreedomPictures, and the wonderful ad broad. Please patronize our advertisers.

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