There are so many scenarios in our lives when you just need a break, that it's no wonder there are so many people who practice substance abuse.
It's 8:00 PM on a weekday. You look at your email. There's a message received on 7:56 PM.... it's another revision... you need a beer.
It's Friday and you see your Creative Director twitchy after a meeting with the head of client services. It's gonna be a long weekend. you need a beer.
You've just finished an artwork. It's the last job of the day and it was the worst since you had been in a block and didn't know how to deal with it. Suddenly your back up battery dies.... you need a beer... or heroin.
Your significant other calls you for the 8th time. The dinner is cold, their tone is not pleasant and words are not spoken as your side of the bed is cold yet again... you hope. you need need a beer.
The only time you see the sunset is through the bathroom window... you need a beer.
You see your inbox and all the emails are for sex pill offers, parties you're never going to and other agencies saying that you're an excellent candidate but they're not currently hiring. you need a beer.
The scenarios are endless. But the desire are often similar enough. You want something to numb the pain... something to make things more bearable. You can use a beer, pot, xanax, sex, comfort food or oxycontin... the point is that you wish upon an external agent, because what you have inside doesn't fill you up. You are not satisfied and you need every resource to justify you staying in a job you don't like... You find yourself reading and writing about things to see if other people relate and you're surprised to find more than just a few people as company... It's a nation of apathy and we are its embarassed citizens.
Here's to having a beer in celebration rather than frustration... just like I did last night.
Cheers friends.
Aug 6, 2010
Aug 5, 2010
Aug 4, 2010
Beauty Ads and Unrealistic Expectations: Why I hate our Job.
Three pages in one of my monthly magazines in and I had to close it and write this post. Why? If there is one thing, just one little thing that makes me angry about advertising in general, beyond the douchebags that think they are creative geniuses (look up our review of Art & Copy), beyond being overworked and underpaid, beyond knowing full well that advertising is, basically, manipulating information... or lying... If there is just one thing that I am deeply ashamed of, is this: beauty ads are the worst.
Take your garden variety mascara ads, facial creams, rejuvenating balms or any other item that requires a face and you will end up with such a retouched image that you can't even recognize a human being anymore in it!
This angers me, hard core style. Why? Women are starving themselves. Women are wasting money on makeup, creams, facial systems and many other things with unrealistic expectations that if they use them, they will have that dewy glow that they see in the magazines.
I know this is a blog mainly dedicated to advertising people (well, at least it started out that way), but if there is by any chance normal people out there, who don't know the ugly details about how low us advertising people can go to make you buy the shit we're bullshitting you about, or if you know someone who wastes her money at Sephora, Bloomingdales, Macy's or any other store, please, send her this post. At least, send the following paragraph, will you? Here we go:
Hi. I'm Me. I write at Why Advertising Sucks. I would like you to know that if you are buying beauty products left and right looking for that amazing skin, those really little pores or those amazing eyelashes... close up that magazine. Really. While any beauty product can be beneficial for your face or skin, please, don't believe the hype. We retouch to hell every little photo that you see on any of our ads. To the point of bizarre. Eyelids are completely redone. Irises are colored so you see two to three tone eyes. Skin is sometimes replaced COMPLETELY with a different skin from a database of different textures and colors. Faces are put on other necks (watch The September Issue closely). Waists are made slimmer. Thighs are shaved to look smaller. Those amazing eyelash tv ads that promise you longer lashes are bullshit. Even if you pay a bottle of Monthly Latisse every month, the moment you stop using it, the moment your lashes start to become smaller again. IT'S ALL BULLSHIT.
If you really want change, make an appointment with a very respected and highly recommended dermatologist. Trust me, been there got a tshirt. The only way I purchase any beauty product is by researching it in various forums. Word of mouth (or internet?) is more powerful than any ad you can almost believe.
Why do we do this? Why do we retouch the bejeezus out of celebrities to make an image that the product will never really accomplish? I have no idea. Maybe to lie to you, maybe to manipulate you into believing the bullcrap.
So, what would be a rule of thumb? If you don't see freckles, if you don't see slight imperfections, if you don't see the folds beneath eyelids, if the skin is impecabbly perfect, 95% of the time it will be a better idea if you just look the product up and see what the women are talking about in the internet.
And most importantly. I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry. I know how much young women are getting the wrong impression seeing all these campaigns left and right. I might be just one angry chick snitch, but you can join me in my anti-bullshit beauty ad campaigns. Simple. Every time your daughter, sister, niece or friend tells you how beautiful that celebrity looks for using product X, just repeat this line: Retouched is not beautiful.
Beauty comes from within... and with a little help from your friendly dermatologist! Much Love, Me.
Take your garden variety mascara ads, facial creams, rejuvenating balms or any other item that requires a face and you will end up with such a retouched image that you can't even recognize a human being anymore in it!
This angers me, hard core style. Why? Women are starving themselves. Women are wasting money on makeup, creams, facial systems and many other things with unrealistic expectations that if they use them, they will have that dewy glow that they see in the magazines.
I know this is a blog mainly dedicated to advertising people (well, at least it started out that way), but if there is by any chance normal people out there, who don't know the ugly details about how low us advertising people can go to make you buy the shit we're bullshitting you about, or if you know someone who wastes her money at Sephora, Bloomingdales, Macy's or any other store, please, send her this post. At least, send the following paragraph, will you? Here we go:
Hi. I'm Me. I write at Why Advertising Sucks. I would like you to know that if you are buying beauty products left and right looking for that amazing skin, those really little pores or those amazing eyelashes... close up that magazine. Really. While any beauty product can be beneficial for your face or skin, please, don't believe the hype. We retouch to hell every little photo that you see on any of our ads. To the point of bizarre. Eyelids are completely redone. Irises are colored so you see two to three tone eyes. Skin is sometimes replaced COMPLETELY with a different skin from a database of different textures and colors. Faces are put on other necks (watch The September Issue closely). Waists are made slimmer. Thighs are shaved to look smaller. Those amazing eyelash tv ads that promise you longer lashes are bullshit. Even if you pay a bottle of Monthly Latisse every month, the moment you stop using it, the moment your lashes start to become smaller again. IT'S ALL BULLSHIT.
If you really want change, make an appointment with a very respected and highly recommended dermatologist. Trust me, been there got a tshirt. The only way I purchase any beauty product is by researching it in various forums. Word of mouth (or internet?) is more powerful than any ad you can almost believe.
Why do we do this? Why do we retouch the bejeezus out of celebrities to make an image that the product will never really accomplish? I have no idea. Maybe to lie to you, maybe to manipulate you into believing the bullcrap.
So, what would be a rule of thumb? If you don't see freckles, if you don't see slight imperfections, if you don't see the folds beneath eyelids, if the skin is impecabbly perfect, 95% of the time it will be a better idea if you just look the product up and see what the women are talking about in the internet.
And most importantly. I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry. I know how much young women are getting the wrong impression seeing all these campaigns left and right. I might be just one angry chick snitch, but you can join me in my anti-bullshit beauty ad campaigns. Simple. Every time your daughter, sister, niece or friend tells you how beautiful that celebrity looks for using product X, just repeat this line: Retouched is not beautiful.
Beauty comes from within... and with a little help from your friendly dermatologist! Much Love, Me.
Aug 2, 2010
Love this! Diablo Cody's Red Band Trailer: The Jason Bateman Interview
Go to her RedBandTrailer YouTube Channel for more...
Aug 1, 2010
Another Sunday Playlist
It's simple, click the link, watch the videos and share any suggestion.
Cheers
1. Ani Difranco - 32 flavors
Ani's catalogue is so full of songs to choose for a lazy Sunday that it wasn't easy to just pick one for today.
2. Matt Costa - Yellow Taxi
Songs we sing is definitely an album to put on when you want your ears to make you smile. This is the opening song.
3. Nick Drake - river man
Floating down a river... I promise to do that at least once during a Sunday of my life
4.Jack Johnson - Constellations
When's the last time you laid down to look at the stars? Here's a version of one of my favorite Jack songs in duet with Eddie Vedder.
5. Soda Stereo - Luna Roja
Excellent song from the Argentinian epic trio. Get well Gustavo.
6. Counting Crows - Round Here
Though their last album was extremely good, I had to put an oldie but goodie.
7. Dave Matthews - You and me
Going to the end of the world doesn't seem like a bad thing with this song.
8. Pink Floyd - Goodbye Blue Sky
Few songs can be that beautiful and creepy at the same time. But I loves me some Floyd.
9. Buena Vista Social Club - Candela
A veces sólo hace falta darle un poco de candela a las cosas.
10. Ben Harper - She's only happy in the sun
Ben Harper likes shiny suits and great music. Definitely someone I'd like to meet in my life just to say thanks and shake his hands.
11. Collective Soul - She Said
An often overlooked Collective Soul song.
12. Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl
Tori Amos is weird... but very good weird. A very dear friend of mine is to Tori what I am to Pearl Jam... but that doesn't mean we don't listen to each other's favorites. :)
13. Eddie Vedder - Throw your arms around me
An excellent song by the Hunters and Collectors covered by Maestro Vedder.
14. Gustavo Cerati - Puente
Gustavo Cerati is to Latin Rock what John Lennon was to British Rock. Recently he fell into a coma which is a shame... unlike his catalogue which is beautiful, varied and timeless.
15. The Beatles - Here comes the Sun
Hell of a way to start your day up.
16. Pearl Jam - Thin Air
One of my favorite songs to listen on one headphone while Mrs. Joker joins along on the other
17. Seal - Fast Changes
One of my favorite orchestra arrangements in a song. And also a song that brings back a lot of good memories.
18. Mercromina - Chaqueta de Pana
I'm proud to say that I've yet to meet anyone who knows this band.
19. Jorge Drexler - Todo se transforma
Jorge Drexler is from Uruguay, he won an oscar for best original song and delivers in every outing. If you're looking for something good in Spanish, look no further.
20. Led Zeppelin - Friends
We can definitely get by with a little help of our friends.
Cheers
1. Ani Difranco - 32 flavors
Ani's catalogue is so full of songs to choose for a lazy Sunday that it wasn't easy to just pick one for today.
2. Matt Costa - Yellow Taxi
Songs we sing is definitely an album to put on when you want your ears to make you smile. This is the opening song.
3. Nick Drake - river man
Floating down a river... I promise to do that at least once during a Sunday of my life
4.Jack Johnson - Constellations
When's the last time you laid down to look at the stars? Here's a version of one of my favorite Jack songs in duet with Eddie Vedder.
5. Soda Stereo - Luna Roja
Excellent song from the Argentinian epic trio. Get well Gustavo.
6. Counting Crows - Round Here
Though their last album was extremely good, I had to put an oldie but goodie.
7. Dave Matthews - You and me
Going to the end of the world doesn't seem like a bad thing with this song.
8. Pink Floyd - Goodbye Blue Sky
Few songs can be that beautiful and creepy at the same time. But I loves me some Floyd.
9. Buena Vista Social Club - Candela
A veces sólo hace falta darle un poco de candela a las cosas.
10. Ben Harper - She's only happy in the sun
Ben Harper likes shiny suits and great music. Definitely someone I'd like to meet in my life just to say thanks and shake his hands.
11. Collective Soul - She Said
An often overlooked Collective Soul song.
12. Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl
Tori Amos is weird... but very good weird. A very dear friend of mine is to Tori what I am to Pearl Jam... but that doesn't mean we don't listen to each other's favorites. :)
13. Eddie Vedder - Throw your arms around me
An excellent song by the Hunters and Collectors covered by Maestro Vedder.
14. Gustavo Cerati - Puente
Gustavo Cerati is to Latin Rock what John Lennon was to British Rock. Recently he fell into a coma which is a shame... unlike his catalogue which is beautiful, varied and timeless.
15. The Beatles - Here comes the Sun
Hell of a way to start your day up.
16. Pearl Jam - Thin Air
One of my favorite songs to listen on one headphone while Mrs. Joker joins along on the other
17. Seal - Fast Changes
One of my favorite orchestra arrangements in a song. And also a song that brings back a lot of good memories.
18. Mercromina - Chaqueta de Pana
I'm proud to say that I've yet to meet anyone who knows this band.
19. Jorge Drexler - Todo se transforma
Jorge Drexler is from Uruguay, he won an oscar for best original song and delivers in every outing. If you're looking for something good in Spanish, look no further.
20. Led Zeppelin - Friends
We can definitely get by with a little help of our friends.
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