July 29 2009
Adsploitation and Other Choice Links
posted by Ana Samways at 11:14 am
Unsexy product sold with sex: We wondered what wearing no undies while sitting on a 70s wicker chair had to do with New Zealand brand Widex hearing aids… Nothing apparently: just attention seeking, or cut through as they say in the ad game. According to Paul Catmur, from Barnes, Catmur & Friends who made the ads, people who need hearing aids drive their families mad by refusing to get one. He tells Admedia: ”We wanted people to to talk and confront the issue rather than turn a blind eye (or deaf ear)”. Haw, haw, nice pun. Still, logic would suggest the demographic breakdown of New Zealander’s who require a hearing aid and would respond well to this ad, i.e. deaf hipsters, would be very small. Surely?
In other female exploitation news, here’s High Glitz, a photographic exhibition of “the extravagant world of child beauty pageants”.
John writes: “The superb Youtube video of the guitar player ‘getting back’ at United Airlines who damaged his guitar and refused to compensate him became an internet hit. However, using the Internet to score points against corporates has been around for a few years. Here’s a brilliant production made over 10 years ago by a Canadian who couldn’t get money out of his bank. Every bank employee reading this needs to see this video! “
Strange products #1: Lose weight while you eat with this knife and fork set.
Strange products #2: The most suggestive piece of exercise equipment since the Thigh Master.
Video: Ameican children don’t want healthcare…
July 29th, 2009 at 11:59 am
The Child Beauty Pagents: no amount of fake smiling can hide those sad eyes.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
You’d be surprised how many people in NZ, in their 30s, who are now suffering from Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Noise from walkmans, clubs and concerts, iPods, traffic, aeroplanes, etc has increased exponentially from previous generations and we’re all going to lose our hearing much younger. There is an epidemic coming and Widex are positioning themselves at the front of the pack, it’s quite smart marketing – making hearing aids edgy, young and sexy – though I doubt (sorry Dan and Paul) BC&F came up with the strategy as this is a global issue and most hearing aid brands around the world are doing this kind of activity.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:19 am
I urge all women to purchase the Shake Weight.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I want a Shake Weight. And a hearing aid.
See, advertising works!
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Come on Gideon, NIHL is not just an issue for those “stupid kids and their ipods”. My parent’s generation is struggling with industrial noise related hearing loss (heavy machinery), and hearing loss from disease (eg: Measles). My grandparents generation had to deal with industrial noise, diseas related AND coming back from wars with destroyed ear drums.
Hearing loss isn’t more romantic if it’s ok for the older generation – it affects us all.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Sorry Biscuit but I think you misread, or at least misunderstood, my post. I never inferred that NIHL is a ipoddy yoof issue merely that it’s surprising how prevalent it is becoming – certainly more so than the industrial, political or biological issues of previous generations – and that hearing aid marketing is targeting younger people.
It does effect us all. Everyone knows someone with hearing loss and most try and hide it or pretend it’s not a major issue. I’m guessing the stigma attached to hearing loss is similar to that of glasses in the middle of last century.