Adbusters Media Foundation: An Active Space for Participation
explanatory Essay
2483 words
Adbusters Media Foundation:
An Active Space for Participation
We live in the age of consumerism; we are constantly surrounded by advertisements in our everyday environments. Through television, print, billboards, radio, the Internet and countless other mediums, it seems as though we cannot escape ads. We have become so accustomed to advertisements that most of the time we are unaware of the impact they can have on us. To help us become more aware of the effects of advertisements and consumerism, activist groups like Adbusters has helped bring more attention and awareness to how information and meaning gets generated and transmitted in our society today.
Adbusters is labeled as a media activist group, that is a non-profit organization that aims to change mainstream thinking by replacing these mainstream messages with alternative narratives through various communicative practices (The Canadian Press, 2011). Adbusters targets two main areas of resistance, capitalism and consumerism. It is dedicated to help us see the truth about our surroundings behind the shadows of advertisements and large corporations. Adbusters’ largest communicative medium is their magazine, Adbusters. Adbusters also challenges mainstream messages through a practice called culture jamming. By taking popular ads from the media Adbusters challenges corporations and mainstream media by interrupting the consumer experience by revealing the underlying message and meaning behind the ad. This essay will argue that through Adbusters’ communicative practices, like the use of technology, print media, culture jamming and campaigns, the media activist group is making a significant impact in moving people from spectators to actors by providing us with an alternative...
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...e in a world of advertising clutter: The case of adbusters. Psychology & Marketing: Wiley, 19(2), 127-148.
Sandlin, J. A. (2007). Popular culture, cultural resistance, and anticonsumption activism: An exploration of culture jamming as critical education. Wiley InterScience, 115, 73-82.
Sandlin, J. A., & Milam, J. L. (2008). “Mixing pop (culture) and politics”: Cultural resistance, culture jamming, and anti-consumption activism as critical public pedagogy. Wiley Periodicals Inc., 38(3), 323-350.
Sommer, J. (2012, December 22). The war against too much of everything. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/business/adbusters-war-against-too-much-of-everything.html?r=0
The Canadian Press. (2011, October 14). Adbusters founders cheer their occupy idea. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/adbusters-founders-cheer-their-occupy-idea-1.1063405
In this essay, the author
- Explains that we are constantly surrounded by advertisements in our everyday environments. adbusters has helped us become more aware of the effects of advertisements and consumerism.
- Describes adbusters as a non-profit organization that aims to change mainstream thinking by replacing mainstream messages with alternative narratives through various communicative practices.
- Describes how kalle lasn founded the adbusters media foundation in 1989 in vancouver, british columbia, to counteract advertising, consumerism, and the way meaning gets transmitted to the public.
- Explains that we are constantly surrounded by advertisements in our everyday environments. adbusters has helped us become more aware of the effects of advertisements and consumerism.
- Describes adbusters as a non-profit organization that aims to change mainstream thinking by replacing mainstream messages with alternative narratives through various communicative practices.
- Describes how kalle lasn founded the adbusters media foundation in 1989 in vancouver, british columbia, to counteract advertising, consumerism, and the way meaning gets transmitted to the public.
- Explains that adbusters' largest communicative practice is their magazine, which is not-for-profit and is supported by their readers and donations.
- Explains that adbusters' culture jamming is a form of resistance to consumerism and capitalism.
- Explains adbusters' successful campaigns, including the occupy wall street movement, which spread across the world through technology and social media.
- Explains that adbusters' "buy nothing day" campaign advocates people to stop overconsumption and encourage americans to stay out of shops on black friday and christmas.
- Explains the significance of adbusters in our contemporary era by providing an alternative way in looking at what is accepted as mainstream in society.
- Explains that adbusters faces many challenges and limitations as a media activist group.
- Explains adbusters' communicative practices like the magazine, culture jamming and campaigns are providing opportunities for people to move from spectators to actors that allows them to see the society in a different perspective.
- Opines that adbusters is making a significant change in driving people from spectators to actors by providing them with an alternative medium for information and opportunities for active participation.
- Explains harold's pranking rhetoric as media activism. critical studies in media communication, 21, 189-211.
- Analyzes how occupy wall street uses social media to spread nationwide.
- Cites rumbo, j. d., "consumer resistance in a world of advertising clutter: the case of adsbusters."
- Explains sandlin, j. a., popular culture, cultural resistance, and anticonsumption activism: an exploration of culture jamming as critical education.
- Explains that cultural resistance, culture jamming, and anti-consumption activism are critical public pedagogies.
- Cites sommer, j. (2012, december 22). the war against too much of everything.
- Explains that adbusters founders cheer their occupy idea. retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada.
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- Analyzes how advertisements are widely used throughout the advertisement world due to their consistent effectiveness. the advertisement targeted in this essay is by "u lucky dog."
- Analyzes u lucky dog's advertisement in a denver and colorado exclusive magazine. the word "new" is defined by the oxford english dictionary (oed).
- Analyzes how the content of the advertisement and its placement have a direct connection with the audience, which is the communication and discourse of people in denver.
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- Explains that media and culture are of central importance to the maintenance and reproduction of contemporary societies. they explain how media controllers wield extreme power and influence over the lives of everyday people.
- Explains that marxism is centered on ideas in economics, stating that the superstructure dictates to the base, which produces society goods, and produces intellectuals and culture commodities. burger king has used marketing techniques to commoditize itself and the hamburger.
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- Argues that cultural industry theory suggests that all forms of cultural media are tools for the continued reinforcement of the status quo.
2025 wordsRead More - Reclaiming Public Spaceanalytical essayAlthough it can seem that the invasion of advertising in public space is inevitable, there are media activists who 'baldly reject the idea that marketing – because it buys it's way into public space – must be passively accepted as a one-way flow of information.' (Klein, 2000, p.281) Countercultural networks of culture jammers, billboard liberators and some street artists, use various subversive strategies to intervene against the invasive presence of outdoor advertising. They exhibit the strong belief that the streets should not belong to corporations. The act of culture jamming has been widely influenced by the Situationists practice of détournement, which used techniques to divert or subvert the context of imagery to create new meanings. Adbusters, the anti-cosumerist media foundation, is described as the culture jamming 'headquarters' with an objectives to change 'the way information flows, the way corporations wield power and the way meaning is produced in society.' (adbusters.org) Kalle Lasn, co-founder of Adbusters, claims that the process of subverting advertisements can be used as a powerful tool which 'cuts through the hype and glitz of mediated reality and momentarily reveals the hollow spectacle within' (Lasn, 1999, p.131) Culture jamming can therefore be used as a protest to expose the truths which are hidden behind the spectacle of advertising. A common jamming technique involves using humour and parody, with the simple alterations of billboards 'Coca-Cola becomes Killer-Cola, Shell becomes Hell, Just Do It becomes Just Screw it' (Bell; Goodwin, 2012, p.6) Adbusters, as an example, notably created a campaign (Fig. 5) which featured the fictional character 'Joe Chemo' to humour and 'unco...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that countercultural networks of culture jammers, billboard liberators and some street artists use various subversive strategies to intervene against the invasive presence of outdoor advertising.
- Explains that the billboard liberation front focuses on the hijacking of billboards, describing them as 'larger than life, subtle as war, they assault your senses with a complex code of commercial instructions.
- Argues that the act of resistance through liberating billboards and jamming commercial imagery can be questioned in terms of its effectiveness.
- Explains that countercultural networks of culture jammers, billboard liberators and some street artists use various subversive strategies to intervene against the invasive presence of outdoor advertising.
- Explains that the billboard liberation front focuses on the hijacking of billboards, describing them as 'larger than life, subtle as war, they assault your senses with a complex code of commercial instructions.
- Argues that the act of resistance through liberating billboards and jamming commercial imagery can be questioned in terms of its effectiveness.
- Analyzes how the unintentional 'branding' of adbusters has grown in popularity. technology and software have enabled culture jammers to recreate sophisticated replicas of familiar advertisements, which when combined with subverted messages has the ability to shock.
- Analyzes how graffiti and street art can be considered as transgressive acts which challenge and resist the intrusion of outdoor advertising. the elusive street artist banksy challenges and critiques social and political themes such as capitalism and consumer culture.
1085 wordsRead More - Evil Is For Good Men To Do Anything Analysisanalytical essayA balanced look at the arts and popular culture will quickly reveal that they are also sites of domination and oppression where citizens are misled and their interests distorted; where various undemocratic ends are pursued, often successfully; where the possibility of resistance is systematically erased; and where the notion of authenticity is hopelessly obfuscated. The arts and popular culture represent a terrain in which new spaces can be opened for political action. By cultivating the imagination, citizens can increase their capacity to understand that they share the world with others who are different from
In this essay, the author
- Reaffirms edmund burke's claim that evil succeeds when good people say nothing. they feel their duty as an artist to craft messages in an attempt to provoke change.
- Opines that abortion remains one of the most emotionally charged political controversies, despite the supreme court ruling of roe v. wade.
- Explains that anti-abortionists call themselves pro-life and see abortion as murder, violating the rights of the unborn. they vocalize that there is inherent value in life and abortion is murder for destroying that value.
- Reaffirms edmund burke's claim that evil succeeds when good people say nothing. they feel their duty as an artist to craft messages in an attempt to provoke change.
- Opines that abortion remains one of the most emotionally charged political controversies, despite the supreme court ruling of roe v. wade.
- Explains that anti-abortionists call themselves pro-life and see abortion as murder, violating the rights of the unborn. they vocalize that there is inherent value in life and abortion is murder for destroying that value.
- Argues that it is a woman's private right to make decisions for herself and her body, decisions that they don't think any woman would take lightly.
- Argues that the arts and popular culture are sites of domination and oppression where citizens are misled and their interests are distorted.
- Describes how they employ found footage/compilation/collage or ‘archival’ cinema to radically re-contextualize the content for the purposes of conveying their beliefs.
- Explains that their work is dependent on their research abilities. they need to research both histories and positions on the abortion debate, in great depth, and find and collect footage.
- Explains that they are still working to find appropriate precedents and other artists working in the realm of found footage video work as political critique and commentary.
- Opines that they feel a profound sense of urgency to make work on this topic, to hopefully compel someone who is skeptical or give an anti-abortionist an opportunity to reconsider.
1415 wordsRead More - Analysis Of John Fiske Popular Cultureanalytical essayThe purpose of this essay is to firstly explain what John Fiske means by ‘popular culture lies not in the production of commodities so much as the productive use of industrial commodities’ (Fiske, J. 1990 p.28). Secondly this essay will go on to compare Fiske’s interpretation of popular culture to MacDonald’s theory of mass culture.
In this essay, the author
- Explains john fiske's interpretation of popular culture and compares it to macdonald’s theory of mass culture.
- Argues that popular culture is not governed by those responsible for the production of commodities but by the people.
- Explains that fiske's theory argues that there are two markets: the monetary economy and the cultural economy where the audience buys the commodity to gain and pleasure from the product.
- Explains john fiske's interpretation of popular culture and compares it to macdonald’s theory of mass culture.
- Argues that popular culture is not governed by those responsible for the production of commodities but by the people.
- Explains that fiske's theory argues that there are two markets: the monetary economy and the cultural economy where the audience buys the commodity to gain and pleasure from the product.
- Analyzes how mcdonalds argues against fiske who believes there are two markets economies and that there is only one the financial market.
- Analyzes how mcdonald views mass culture as a venomous plague on society, taking away the natural resources / riches of high and folk culture.
- Compares fiske's theory of mass culture theory to mcdonald’s theory, stating that people do not behave or live like masses, and that popular culture is created by the people.
- Analyzes mcdonald's view on mass culture as debased trivial culture that voids deep realities. he argues that the people cannot produce culture but it is forced upon them.
- Analyzes how fiske's argument demonstrates that people are not mindless consumers and modify the commodity for their use. he rejects that audiences are helpless subjects of unconscious consumerism.
- Concludes that the two theories clashed, with fiske arguing for people rejecting that culture can be critiqued allowing the people to feel responsible for their actions. mcdonald makes it clear that if people are not choosing high culture they are halfwits.
- Cites fiske, john, f., guins, cruz, oz, and stranati, d.
1180 wordsRead More - The Power of Advertisinganalytical essayAdvertising has been defined as the most powerful, persuasive, and manipulative tool that firms have to control consumers all over the world. It is a form of communication that typically attempts to persuade potential customers to purchase or to consume more of a particular brand of product or service. Its impacts created on the society throughout the years has been amazing, especially in this technology age. Influencing people’s habits, creating false needs, distorting the values and priorities of our society with sexism and feminism, advertising has become a poison snake ready to hunt his prey. However, on the other hand, advertising has had a positive effect as a help of the economy and society.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that advertising has been defined as the most powerful, persuasive, and manipulative tool that firms have to control consumers all over the world.
- Analyzes how businesses have taken advantage of this and created false needs to consumers. leiss states that people can live without television, internet, ipod, etc.
- Explains that commercials work through human emotions and vanity and it appeals toward the psychological domain turning into a temptation for weak mind people.
- Explains that advertising has been defined as the most powerful, persuasive, and manipulative tool that firms have to control consumers all over the world.
- Analyzes how businesses have taken advantage of this and created false needs to consumers. leiss states that people can live without television, internet, ipod, etc.
- Explains that commercials work through human emotions and vanity and it appeals toward the psychological domain turning into a temptation for weak mind people.
- Explains that human satisfactions take place in nonmaterial things just to please their unlimited wants. without advertisements, people would not try to satisfy such needs in misdirect ways.
- Analyzes how advertising creates new demand, but also produces unsatisfied costumers, who are more likely to look for products to fulfill their happiness, even though they don't reach that point.
- Explains that advertising encourages people to think of themselves as a consumer rather than as producers, while creating demands to solve the problem of production.
- Explains that children have been victims of numerous impacts of commercials. competition is the force which has caused business people to have children as their target.
- Explains that advertisement has had many positive effects in today's society. hiv commercials keep people informed about how to protect themselves from that disease and many others.
- Opines that advertising is a powerful tool to move large mass of people. it is essential to persuade voters because of their uncertainty about who is the most appropriate person for the position.
- Explains that america lives in a dynamic economy world, which is emphasized in consumption, and that advertising is important to develop our economy life.
- Argues that advertising is a powerful mechanism that distorts our whole society's values and priorities. it educates people about several issues.
1367 wordsRead More - Advertising: Modern Day Brainwashinganalytical essayAdvertisers and corporations are liable for using modern and sophisticated forms of mind control to the extent level of brainwashing consumers, in order to manipulate their choices and their spending habits. Our society is being negatively impacted, by becoming a consumer driven society constantly distracted by overwhelming persuasive advertisements, as opposed to ideal informative advertisements. The most vulnerable and negatively impacted targets of persuasive advertising are the younger, less mature, and/or less knowledgeable and self-directed consumers. Ironically, it was once said “An advertising agency is 85 percent confusion and 15% commission” (Allen). It is quite clear that social benefits are not part of this equation. The harm and severe social related costs far outweigh any economic growth and benefits deemed necessary for advertising and marketing companies.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that advertising causes materialism concerns and the assumption that material objects lead to happiness. educators equate advertising with propaganda, which is a form of mind control.
- Explains that the average child views more than 50,000 television commercials each year, and 80% of all ads to children fall within 4 product categories.
- Argues that society can have control and be proactive when making choices about advertised products and messages, and that it is possible to avoid others attempting to program their subconscious mind.
- Explains that advertising causes materialism concerns and the assumption that material objects lead to happiness. educators equate advertising with propaganda, which is a form of mind control.
- Explains that the average child views more than 50,000 television commercials each year, and 80% of all ads to children fall within 4 product categories.
- Argues that society can have control and be proactive when making choices about advertised products and messages, and that it is possible to avoid others attempting to program their subconscious mind.
- Analyzes how advertising can be harmful to society. advertisers use unethical, controlling, manipulating strategies to target helpless and vulnerable consumers.
- Analyzes how the book 1984 shows how brainwashing and mind control don't let a person make their own decision and that it does more harm than good.
- Explains that mind control and brainwashing play a huge role in the advertisement world. advertisers can easily take advantage of the weak - minded individuals such as children and young adults.
- Analyzes children's exposure to television advertising, their understanding of television advertisements, program-commercial discrimination, and their age.
- Explains lechnar, dr., "subliminal advertising and modern day brainwashing."
- Explains tellis, gerard j., and tim ambler's the sage handbook of advertising.
- Explains winder, ted, "subliminal influence at the supermarket: part one." a new take.
- Explains that brainwashing and mind control are used to shape a person's perception, cognition, emotions, decision making, and behavior to such an extent that they have lost their freedom of choice.
- Explains the negative effects of advertising methods on society: excessive materialism, negative stereotypes, and false values.
- Explains that "advertising, the good with the bad." johns hopkins bloomberg school of public health.
- Analyzes hartman, jon, and kapoor, amul. "is it marketing or brainwashing?" institute for purposeful excellence llc.
- Opines that mind control today is much more sophisticated than the original brainwashing techniques.
3188 wordsRead More