Advertastic

The Adbusters Media Foundation has created many print and commercial spoof ads that are hard hitting and controversial.  Their goal is “to galvanize resistance against those who destroy the environment, pollute our minds and diminish our lives”. To achieve this goal, Adbuster spoof ads use humor and satire , as weapons, to expose the faults, weakness and falsities of the world.

Purpose of Spoof Ads

• to persuade

• to satirize

• to expose

• to inform

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1: FASHION SPOOF ADS

Notice that each of these spoof ads is satirizing a popular brand name/product.   The objective is not to sell the product, but to persuade the consumer to stop buying the brand/product identified.

1. The Obsession ads play on the brand name.  What is an obssession?
2. According to the spoof, what is the obsession for men?
3. According to the spoof, what is the obsession for women?
4. Who created these obsessions? Where did they come from?
5. What message is presented about people who wear Tommy clothing?
6. What message is presented about people who wear Gap clothing?
7. What message is developed about the manufacturing of Nike products?

ACTIVITY 2: TOBACCO SPOOF ADS

Tobacco advertisers often try to promote smoking with macho man images, idealized life-styles,  social popularity, and popular cartoon icons.   They neglect to tell the true facts about smoking.

1. Notice that the Joe Chemo ads pun the original brand name, Camel cigarettes.  Why is the name Joe Chemo particularly effective?
2. What is the message of all three Joe Chemo ads?
3. Marlboro ads always use the macho man, cowboy image and the setting is extremely important. The setting is always outdoors, usually in a vast expanse of wilderness. The setting for Marlboro 1 is outdoors, yet the mood is very different than the original Marlboro ads. How would you describe this mood?
4. How does the setting in Marlboro 2 develop the message?

ACTIVITY 3: ALCOHOL SPOOF ADS

Advertising for alcohol is very similar to tobacco advertising emphasizing wealth, popularity, good times, and success.  As in tobacco ads, advertisers try to attract particular segments of the population by flattering the consumer into thinking that a specific brand of alcohol actually makes the consumer a unique individual.

1. The ad puns the original brand name, absolut,  by replacing it with “absolute”.  Why is the term absolute so effective?
2. Notice that the image of an alcohol bottle is used in each absolute ad.  Where do you find this image in Absolute on Ice?
3. According to the spoof ads, what are the effects of drinking absolut vodka?

ACTIVITY 4: Analyzing SPOOF ADS

Now that you have learnt about spoof ads, you are ready to analyze any of them. Look carefully at the spoof that you’ve been assigned and write a short text in which you answer the following:

– What can you actually see?

– What do you think that means?

– What is the point of the advertiser?

– Where is the pun?

Find your spoof here: http://www.adbusters.org/gallery/spoofads

ACTIVITY 5:  In pairs CREATE YOUR OWN SPOOF AD.

SEE SOME OF OUR SPOOF ADS