Is this (banned) advert in bad taste?

[Artoo]

Or does it have a valid point?

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[drewskee]

Very bad taste. And not even in a good way.

 

[♡AimLEE♡]

There are better ways to get that point across. Much better ways.

 

[Artoo]

Note of interest: This wasn't actually an official advert - it was made by a Brazillian advertising company for a competition, and WWF immediately rejected it.

I find it interesting though (not the advert itself particularly, moreso the intent behind it), as it shows a fair amount of disparity as to how the rest of the world views 9/11, and how US citizens view it.

 

[RUNOFFSTAGE]

I find it interesting though (not the advert itself particularly, moreso the intent behind it), as it shows a fair amount of disparity as to how the rest of the world views 9/11, and how US citizens view it.

This, pretty much.

 

[asutickler]

There are better ways to get that point across. Much better ways.

This.

I can't even begin to describe how poorly that ad would have been received in America had the WWF chosen to use it. As it is, they're probably going to have minor PR problems just because that thing showed up on Youtube with their logo on it...

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

Words can't even begin to describe how tasteless that was.

 

[Fluffie]

*puts on flame retardant armor*

Well, here I go. I question the use of this imagery by the WWF to evoke a response because it is almost childish in nature. Just like a toddler will do something they know they're not supposed to do to get attention, they use the negative attention tactic. With that said, however, you have to take into account that this is a sore spot with Americans even though there have been far worse things happening throughout the world than this single tragedy. (and yes, i do realize that there's no such thing as a single tragedy, i'm just using this in a world view).
I think that the point this advert is trying to make is rather admirable, despite the questionable way they've gone about it. We are well willing to grieve for tragedies on home soil, yet how many Americans will see a story about another world tragedy and barely be moved? In a sense, we as Americans have become somewhat desensitized to such global issues. Replace footage of the twin tower tragedy with footage of Darfur.

Sudanese authorities claim a death toll of roughly 19,500 civilians while many non-governmental organizations, such as the Coalition for International Justice, claim over 400,000 people have been killed.

Would you still find it as offensive?
Turn the TV on in the middle of the night and chances are you'll find an advert for some Christian Organization helping the hungry overseas. While I'm sure watching footage of barefoot children with distended bellies is rather unnerving, I'm sure it doesn't cause such uproarious action as the OP's advert did.

In the Asian, African and Latin American countries, well over 500 million people are living in what the World Bank has called "absolute poverty"

We're Americans. We love our country. We're also guilty of being rather shortsighted and lost in our own world. This advertisement decided to take a jab at our shortsightedness, but not at the actual tragedy itself. For that, I really can't take too much offense to it. How many other American's asked themselves "what tsunami in 2005?" . I'm guilty, I honestly can't remember but then that event didn't get near the worldwide media coverage the Twin Towers did. This is simply their way of bringing it to the table in an effort to drag us kicking and screaming out of our own shortsightedness. It worked, at least for a moment.

 

[Artoo]

SNIP

Good answer, Fluffie, and thanks for putting on the flame retardant armour; it's not my desire to begin a flamewar. 🙂

I guess the advert is poignant for me because several members of my family lost everything in the Asian Tsunami, not to mention the political ramifications it had for Sri Lanka (the country destabilised to the point where the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE was essentially thrown out the window). The event had far-reaching consequences, that just didn't happen to involve the United States.

As a way of grabbing the attention of US citizens...well, if you can look past the slap-in-the-face nature of the advert, I think it raises a valid point. That's not to belittle what happened in the US eight years ago - it was a great tragedy, and (on a personal level) one which changed the way I viewed the world around me.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

We're Americans. We love our country. We're also guilty of being rather shortsighted and lost in our own world. This advertisement decided to take a jab at our shortsightedness, but not at the actual tragedy itself. For that, I really can't take too much offense to it. How many other American's asked themselves "what tsunami in 2005?" . I'm guilty, I honestly can't remember but then that event didn't get near the worldwide media coverage the Twin Towers did. This is simply their way of bringing it to the table in an effort to drag us kicking and screaming out of our own shortsightedness. It worked, at least for a moment.

Valid point. While I think that the WWF was correct in rejecting use of it, I do agree with the point it makes. Reality can be harsh...very harsh. But, that doesn't change the fact that it IS reality.

So, what's the alternative? Well, they could use footage of a beautiful sunrise over a gently flowing river and then cut to a rampaging flood. That would show the power of nature. Or, they could use footage of a pristine field of flowers with cute little animals scurrying around and then cut to a polluted and litter ridden area...perhaps with said animals dead in the mess. That would show the destruction of our mindless overuse and disregard of our natural resources. Or....

Wait a minute! Those have been done before. I guess we need more of a kick in the teeth to get the point across.

I also agree that we as Americans tend to be pretty myopic. We seem to have the (collective) attitude that, if it doesn't effect us, it doesn't matter. That really needs to change. The add in question makes that point better than it does the intended one of respecting nature.

 

[Redmage]

I find it interesting though (not the advert itself particularly, moreso the intent behind it), as it shows a fair amount of disparity as to how the rest of the world views 9/11, and how US citizens view it.

I think it shows how a Brazilian ad agency views it, but I wouldn't expand that to the world.

Bad taste, yes. Bad reasoning, even. I don't know that "respect for the planet" has anything to do with awareness that natural disasters are often more damaging than manmade ones. And really, do they think that if all the nations of the world went green tomorrow, we'd stop having tidal waves?

Silly all 'round.

 

[Artoo]

And really, do they think that if all the nations of the world went green tomorrow, we'd stop having tidal waves?

Astutely pointed out.

You're right of course. I don't personally think that the commercial works in favour of the WWF for those who have an ounce of common sense, but it does have a point in, well, pointing out the collective myopism of US citizens (to paraphrase Ann).

So, a point unintended perhaps, but poignant nontheless.

 

[Eyeshine]

Extremely offensive. No need for that EVER. That was a god damned attack on my country. A tidal wave was a natural event, as that was already pointed out. Not to make it any less important or its effects less severe, but why some shit heads try to feel the need to compare the two is beyond me. Loss is Loss, no matter which way you look at it. Trying to make an entire COUNTRY of people feel bad over theres is not the way to get there point across.

 

[venray]

As Red pointed out so well, it was like comparing apples to kumquats to make a point....or I think it was to make a point.....the point really was lost there..

And I must point out that many Americans are also affected by natural disaster...

Katrina anyone-- and oh....California appears to burn down at least twice a year....

I dont see other countries rushing to send a 10'th of the aid that we Americans provide to the rest of the world when disasters such as these occur...

The ad was ludicrous....as are the folks that tried to push it on the WWF....

 

[Raytheon]

I think its a brilliant advert. Aimed at an American audience the message is very clear, just Americans will mask their understanding for it with anger at the use of 9/11. The very fact that it is being discussed here champions the adverts success. I also love the subtle dig at Americas perception of 'disaster'.

Its just unfortunate that in todays politically correct American led world no one has the balls to run adverts such as this because the backlash (as seen above) would break them.

I'm a British graphic designer.

Ray

 

[Mister Scruff]

I think it shows how a Brazilian ad agency views it, but I wouldn't expand that to the world.

Obviously not in the case of this advert because it wasn't made by the world, but it is indicative of the way in which the WTC attacks are viewed by some folk as an event in history rather than the beginning of the Righteous War On Terror That Must Be Prosecuted Or Else We Will All Die Hail To The Chimp God Bless This Mess Etc Etc. I think in general Americans find it hard to believe that not everyone gets as choked up about the Towers dropping as they do (evinced by the responses to this thread) and choose to believe that it's because such people are foul, deviant ghouls who lack a soul or the ability to empathise with human pain. Rather than, because, y'know... people die in such circumstances every day in their tens of thousands, which is horrific, but there's not much we can do about it except keep on keeping on.

Mind you, I remember not long after the WTC attacks when the USA started requiring foreign nationals to be fingerprinted on arrival on American soil in the name of "national security", and Brazil reciprocated by requiring all American citizens to be fingerprinted as they entered Brazil. Maybe the Brazilians are just anti-American? Maybe they're part of the axis of evil or something? We must form a Coalition Of The Willing and exterminate them immediately!...

I dont see other countries rushing to send a 10'th of the aid that we Americans provide to the rest of the world when disasters such as these occur...

"What myopia, you stupid Commie bastards?!", asked Mr Magoo as he skidded into a telegraph pole.


A quick question; if instead of the WTC attacks, the advert had used the Madrid Train Bombings, the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, or a battle from World War 1 to illustrate the death toll caused by the Asian Tsunami, would you have found that distasteful?

 

[venray]

A quick question; if instead of the WTC attacks, the advert had used the Madrid Train Bombings, the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, or a battle from World War 1 to illustrate the death toll caused by the Asian Tsunami, would you have found that distasteful?

I did not say the ad as it was is distasteful...I said it was ludicrous...so I would feel the same way about any such type of man vs man attack being used in such a way...tis pointless and counterproductive to what the ad was trying to accomplish if indeed it was trying to illustrate the power of nature...

As for Hiroshima, that is a perfect example of carrying things too far just because the power to do so was there. Millions of innocent lives were taken then in the name of self defense and protecting national security. It was a black spot on our history....we have many.....as do most other counties across the planet....

topic for another thread though.....violence in response to violence....

 

[Mister Scruff]

So if it had been an advert for Tsunami Aid which used the WTC attacks to demonstrate just how much death and devastation the Asian Tsunami caused, it would've been okay?

 

[venray]

So if it had been an advert for Tsunami Aid which used the WTC attacks to demonstrate just how much death and devastation the Asian Tsunami caused, it would've been okay?

using attacks such as this to illustrate natural disaster makes no sense in any case.....Now usint the WTC attacks in an ad against dropping nuclear bombs and killing millions might have been a bit more topical.....

An ad that illustrates that killing millions in response to thousands being killed my be a little more topical.....

 

[Raytheon]

using attacks such as this [9/11] to illustrate natural disaster makes no sense in any case

But thats the beauty of it Venray! 9/11 is to the Americans the biggest disaster they will ever witness. This advert says if we don't stop abusing our planet the result will be like hundreds of 9/11s. Its a hard hitting well thought through ad.

edit: i reason from a graphic designers mind set... 🙂

 

[c7_assassin]

I think it's a very powerful ad. I mean, any of us could've told the Brazilians that it would be rejected, but that's not because it doesn't work. It's because it works too well.

280 000 dead...that's hard to even imagine, especially when it happens halfway around the world to people you'll never meet in countries you'll never visit. But the visual of a fleet of planes descending on Manhattan, that's something Americans can understand.

 

[vladtickleman22]

First off, of course it's in bad taste. It would be in bad taste if it took ANY event throughout history that was man killing man to demonstrate what a natural disaster does. Why not use images of people being gased? Or mass graves in Iraq when Saddam used chemical weapons to kill people? I could go on and on.

The only thing this ad does is point the finger at the US to say we don't care about the rest of the world. Which is the only thing any of the people who think this ad is good are saying. This ad has NOTHING to do with saving the planet at all.

But thats the beauty of it Venray! 9/11 is to the Americans the biggest disaster they will ever witness. This advert says if we don't stop abusing our planet the result will be like hundreds of 9/11s. Its a hard hitting well thought through ad.

edit: i reason from a graphic designers mind set... 🙂

Whether or not we stop abusing the planet the Tsunami will still happen. It was caused by an earthquake deep inside the earth.

 

[Mister Scruff]

using attacks such as this to illustrate natural disaster makes no sense in any case.....

Well no, using a tragedy wrought by man upon man to demonstrate the power of nature is silly. But say they weren't; say it was a pure comparison of the death and destruction caused by the Tsunami, rather than the power of the forces unleashed by it. Say they were using the WTC as a visual aid to comparing the death tolls so as to make people see why Tsunami Aid NEEDS their donations; would that be okay?

 

[..Glamorous..]

I was extremely offended by that ad for personal reasons. I'm sure the makers had the best intentions but, really didn't think it through. They could have used other examples of natural disasters to get their point across, instead of comparing it to a different kind of disaster.

 

[badreligion]

I get the point they are trying to make and it is a valid one . However using a tragic event like 9/11 to get that point across is in poor taste .