It's time to call out a few copycats for their work in ad campaigns circulating around the globe. The fact is, great ads do exist - and they are quickly copied by agencies that are, for one reason or another, too busy to create original work of their own. This concept concerns and confuses me.
Everyone recognize this classic?
You can easily see how the Mac vs PC ads evolved from this series.
But now that the Mac ads have become so popular, other companies are attempting to use the same exact format against Apple:
This just makes T-mobile look extremely unoriginal (and worthy of being bought out by AT&T)
Advertising is the art of creating a pliable framework for your company's unique selling point to thrive. Where's the excitement, thought, or integrity in rearranging aspects of existing campaigns to fit your needs? I believe that individuals in the advertising industry shouldn't thrive on the originality of their peers or simply revamp existing campaigns. I acknowledge the merit that exists in browsing current trends, but I think that outright copying an existing ad's theme is just cheep and sad.
Recently, I noticed another series of ads reminiscent of the unequivocally popular Old Spice campaign, as seen here:
Direct TV has created a sadder and slower version of the randomly funny Old Spice commercial with their new ads:
Although I think that the comparison of Direct TV to Old Spice does not create as clear of a connection, I think it's important to show that Direct TV hasn't come up with anything significantly moving or relevant to this particular product. They are trying to use current trends in humor to promote a product today, in a style similar to the Old Spice campaign that was recently made so popular.
Old Spice and Apple have campaigns that will be talked about years from now because they're the ones that are truly original. I believe that the remaining ads are what cause people to mock advertising as an art and as a career - so, with any luck, I will be striving to dispel these stereotypes in my own work.
I agree. Even though the new ones are also funny, and interesting. they will never live up to the originals. But, even though they are different in concept wise, and imagery wise, you can still blatantly see where they got their campaigns. Good job Casey. Call those suckers out. :]
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