Motorola has posted a teaser for its upcoming Super Bowl commercial for the upcoming Xoom tablet (Google Android). Once you get past the fact that it’s more than a little ridiculous to post a teaser for a commercial, the spot is actually pretty clever. Remember that classic “1984” Apple commercial? The Motorola Xoom commercial uses it for…inspiration.
Give it a look and let me know what you think (please)!
The power lies with the proles.
With that said, I really like that teaser and I really am looking forward to that ad. In all honesty I have always had those kinds of thoughts with regards to Apple and their 1984 commercial. 1984 was a great commercial, and considered in the advertising world to be the greatest of all time. That hasn't made the points that Motorala made in this teaser any less true though, and I am very happy to see someone call them out like that.
The problem here lies with the proles, just like Huxley and Orwell have said before me. Motorala can make some great points and make complete sense in their argument, but that doesn't mean the proles will be smart enough to listen.
I still can't get over the fact that I just watched a teaser for a commercial. What's next? A sneak preview of a "behind-the-scenes" making of a documentary for a game demo?
-M
Indeed. The world manages to find new ways to become more ridiculous.
That's not ridiculous in advertising, it is progressive. They are capturing our attention aren't they? We are online talking about this and you have an article about it. In this instance, it works because it touches on a subject that we are all interested (tech) and will probably manage to get other people talking about this advertisement too.
Also, this is the superbowl—the E3 of the advertising world. I've had multiple classes for a week after the superbowl simply discussing and talking about the techniques used in the particular year.
It's already ridiculous that some people watch the Super Bowl for the commercials and not the actual game. This takes it to a new level.
It can be ridiculous, yes. I don't think that is always true though. And also, don't take it out on the advertisers and media planners for being good at what they do—blame the people for buying in to it all and paying more attention to it than you think they should.
Also, and I'm not 100% on this, but I don't remember the commercials being the biggest part of the whole ordeal before Apple's famous 1984 commercial spot. That is what made the super bowl commercials such a big deal and really started that trend. If you look at the history of advertising you don't see big ad campaign budgets allotting for super bowl time pre-1984.
For some people, this teaser for a commercial is bigger than the Affordable Healthcare Act being declared unconstitutional. For a lot of people, Super Bowl commercials are a bigger deal than the unemployment rate. The advertisers and the consumers are being ridiculous.
If the consumers want to be ridiculous about it that is their right. I agree that it can be ridiculous, but no one is forcing them to watch the super bowl for the advertisements only. People willingly do that, and if they find it enjoyable then that is their right to be able to find enjoyment in it. The advertisers and media planners are simply doing their jobs.
Of course it's a persons right to be ridiculous. You think that justifies it? Advertisers are taking advantage of human weakness. You make it sound noble.
Not noble, perhaps. But it is a job. No one is forcing people to do anything here, advertisers and media planners are simply performing a job. If people really had such serious issues with these people for doing their jobs, then they would speak with their dollars. The problem is that they want a scapegoat for their inability to control themselves with their over the top spending, lack of saving ability, and lack of sound mind when it comes to frivolous spending. If you really want to look at people who are really taking advantage of people take a look at the pharmaceutical companies who push psychotropic drugs on America, or credit card companies who trap people on a daily if not hourly basis.
I'm not trying to make advertising sound noble, but I don't think they are the problem here. There are far bigger problems if you want to look at corporate America.