Blog #5 Sisley Controversial Ad

http://www.fabsugar.com/Fab-Ad-Sisley-Fashion-Junkie-1-388065

This printing ad is from Sisley, a Paris high-end fashion clothing brand. As seen in the ad, two girls, who are wearing glamorous, are doing “fashion” drug. This advertisement really concerns me when I first saw the campaign. This Sisley “Fashion Junkie” ad not only publicizes on illegal actions but also propagate materialism.

I understand the advertiser wants to advertise on fashion obsession. However, the approach they used is extremely unappreciated. Drug abuse is illegal action, no matter what kind of artistic effect one wants to achieve, it should not be used. Also this ad is advertised on a lifestyle, which is fashion. The main target consumer is young people or even teenagers. I believe their priority should be their school work instead of fashion. This advertising is extremely unethical. The advertiser should and have to realize their ethical responsibility in social society.

I personally think the advertiser change the whole approach. I think the “Fashion Junkie” concept is great, but they do need to change the theme of the advertisement.

Blog #5 Levi's Controversial Ad

source: http://youtu.be/KT16DcHcjRA

This video is Levi’s global ad campaign which tries to describe the life style of youth. The people showed in this video were dressed in Levi’s. They danced, held party, made love, and matched in the streets to against the police.

In my view, the violence scenes like smoke bombs in the street and the mass gathering are not good to the public. It might induce the youths, for example, college students, to act the same way as the youth did in the video. It will lead to crimes and violence in the real life. It has negative social impact about the mass gathering and matching.

The advertisers might say they were trying to describe the image of the young people. These kinds of people are lively and not likely to listen to the elders. It is common to describe the target customers’ life in the ads. But this ad is crossing the line and controversial. Many people post negative comments about this ad. Finally Lev’s announced it temporarily postponed the campaign, but this video is still on the YouTube and has hits of 3 million.

The data told us the ad is popular. The ad is affective, though it is inappropriate to talk about the young rebel period in this way.