April 15, 2014

The Sadness Of Sameness


Here's what a once-great agency looks like when it turns its message over to jargon-monkeys.

This agency used to awe us with wonderful ideas. Now it can only bore us with the same dreadful drivel we've heard a thousand times before.

It's a very sad thing.

25 comments:

Chip Haskell said...

a) "Need state"? "Need state"? My need state is that I need to never hear any of their voices ever again.
b) Thank you, oh 20-something Yoda-Douche for explaining to us that "humans are complex". We are in awe of your intellect.
c) "I'm with my friends on the beach and we're really enjoying this product" said no person ever in the history of mankind.

Thirsty said...

I want water.

Carl Zetie said...

I experienced brainweep, the sensation that your brain is bleeding out through your ears because of the stupidity of the things you are listening to.

timorr said...

I think it's a sign of my good mental health that I couldn't bear to go past 2 minutes. A bus, a beach and a bunch of yahoos. 4:48 with any of Ogilvy's books would be time better spent.

davidmacgregor said...

Take away the jargon and some of the thoughts are interesting and relevant. How do you maintain the semblance of a one-on-one relationship with 7 million people? It may not be possible in practice but in principle we have always tried to talk to the person watching or reading our ads - rather than a theoretical 'target audience'. Danielle Strle makes the same point Bob Hoffman did in his London talk - it's still about ideas and how they are expressed. Doing it digitally will mean a shift in executional thinking - just as TV stopped being radio with pictures as the medium matured.

Also - jargon has always been a part of advertising (or any specialised craft) - when I started out I got sent to the art supply company my agency used to get an emergency supply of 'squeakers' - I just hoped they'd know what I was talking about and that I wasn't being hazed - my predecessor got caught out when she went to the litho company to collect a bag of halftone dots.

Marcie Judelson said...

I'm HAVING A MOMENT. Of heartburn.

not thirsty said...

I'm not thirsty now.

Peter said...

"I'm with my friends on the beach and we're enjoying this product." I wonder if he forgot to take his meds before the shoot.

Jimi Bostock said...

Me need state is to cry at the banality of this

sirdouchebag said...

Some people, like that guy in the middle, need a high-five. In the face. With a chair.

Anders Bisgaard Madsen said...

It must be sad sad people who have nothing better to do than engage in deep conversations with their favorite washing powder brand on Facebook.


Another possibility is, that they are not having emotional conversations, are just passing time or are trolls. What a waste.

Jim said...

So let me get this right I only want water sometimes not all the time. That must be where I was going wrong. So i want different things at different times, oh okay, sounds interesting. Go on. Tell me more


Hang on people have different opinions about stuff, really, okay go on, tell me more it's like the scales are falling from my eyes.


"How are people talking about me on different platforms?: Err how do I break it to you dude, its not all good I'm afraid, sorry to say that but hey we all have differing opinions right?


So how many different uses are there for a pair of Adidas trainers? I'm almost embarrassed to say this but I have just thought of another one but I am not sure that was their intended purpose.


And I am not convinced they'd want to showcase it either in their content. Maybe there should be a warning label on the trainers, 'Not to be used for choking hipsters on the beach.' Dear Adidas, I am on the beach really enjoying your product, pictures attached. I may need a few more pairs.

bob hoffman said...

Nice job, Jim!

Martin said...

Probably the most meaningless discussion I have ever seen.

Martin said...

Chips all your comments satisfied my need-state.

frankscavo said...

I got through the whole thing by reading the comments while it was playing.

Clare Lynch said...

Could have been lifted from this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjY0784vHN8

DuBOISTEROUS said...

Us humans are so complex with our need states. Sometimes we want to want water but not all the time do we want to want water. Chea brah, like totally.

BrendaKilgour said...

Ad people and microphones. A bad combination.

Steve Allan said...

How can a brand facilitate someone expressing their identity? Oh, I don't know - maybe by cutting your price. No, wait, a clever meme. that's what people are yearning for. More clever memes that express brand identity and allow me to develop a relationship with them. After all, brands are people, too! Every single stinkin' morning i wake up looking for more brands to have a relationship with. While that may be illegal - or, at least disgusting - it IS what I want! So, please, Land O Lakes butter and Sharpie - I want to be your friend!!

Shaun said...

I applaud The Onion for this great piece of 'content'. It is from The Onion, right?

DuBOISTEROUS said...

A hit of brand acid is a psychedelic need state

Charlotte said...

Well, my mindstate is for tequila. Definitely tequila, not
water.

The water is for my shower – it’s emotionally relevant.

Stephen Eichenbaum said...

Where is a good suicide bomber when you need one?

Mark Pilipczuk said...

These nitwits couldn't sell a glass of ice water to a guy dying of thirst in the Sahara. My need state for the brands they represent can now be represented with one word. Zero.