The Inevitable Consequences of Capitalism
Over the weekend, I saw the movie Weatherman and I wasn't sure if I was watching a movie, or a two hour commercial. I can not recall a single scene which did not have at least one corporate advertisement. The ads took various forms, ranging from fast food logos everpresent in the background (but still in focus), to characters drinking from cups from a particular hot dog restaurant*. In the worst instance, the advertisements were actually worked into the plot, when the main character was repeatedly pelted with name-brand fast food items. This running joke only minimally served the plot, and although it did provide some comic relief, it seemed to exist primarily for the sake of selling ad space.
This phenomenon is hardly limited to movies. On The Office, scenes are actually written into the script which serve no purpose other than to promote other shows on the network. Advertisements have so invaded television that they are often no longer just worked into the plot, but instead actually pop up on the bottom of the screen in the middle of the programs. Lately, they have begun to incorporate sound as well.
So, what is this all leading to? Will television programs eventually have a streaming ticker of corporate logos throughout all programs? Will films eventually pay for their entire budget before they are even released simply by working covert ads into the script?
There will likely be a backlash against such intrusions eventually, but I doubt that it will be strong enough to outweigh the official American religion - Free Market Capitalism - where nothing is worth doing unless it is profitable.
*I deliberately withheld the names of the corporations in order to not further help to promote their products.
posted by Immoral Majority at 9:20 AM
3 Comments:
The rise in "product placement," at least in TV shows, is a response to the Tivo phenomenon, which has led to a decrease in commercial effectiveness because of the ability to skip them. It is particularly obvious in reality shows in which the reward for winning is often a particular brand of car, or certain aspects of the show are directly sponsored by corporations and are mentioned frequently during the show. It is much more jarring in my opinion when it occurs in fictional series, where the art becomes compromised. I'm not sure what the solution is to declining ad revenue in the digital home recording age. Maybe they should just stop spending so much damn money on things and concentrate on original concepts for a start.
Wednesday, 22 March, 2006
In the past 10 years, our society has seen the edges blurred on what's artistry and what's a product. Moby finally was lifted above underground status when he sold literally every song in "Play" to commercials. Although he has said that he often will use the money to donate to a cause, which might actually conflict with the corporation that paid him. At the time he began to sell his songs, it helped him subsist since his records weren't selling. It brought his unknown work to the masses. Then you have other cases -- such as U2 -- who don't need the money but will jumpstart campaigns such as iPod so they can sit on cutting-edge technology. As you've stated, the rise in commercials in TV shows and in movies has started a very irritating wave of commerce in programs we're supposed to be "enjoying." I remember being annoyed of the first commercials in movie theaters but then we live in a society that enjoys the commercials on Superbowl night. In a movie such as the "Weatherman," it was damn distracting and took away from the movie.
Tuesday, 04 April, 2006
I think it's more than just an annoyance. I believe that extensive advertisments has had a very negative effect on society. It helps to promote monopolies and prevent new market participants by making consumers untrusting of non-brand-name products. Advertising these days is no longer just about selling a product, its about selling a lifestyle of unbridled consumerism.
Wednesday, 05 April, 2006
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