Gossip Girl ads
I love Gossip Girl. The books and the show. (Especially the show.) So I'm more than a bit amused at the blatent, giving-the-finger-to-morality-and-all-that's-decent-in-the-world marketing campaign the show's promoters use to get attention. At the same time, I can't believe they can get away with some of this stuff! :)
Here's the ad that first caught my attention. We all know what OMFG stands for, right? And yet it here it is - smack dab in the middle of Times Square.
But if you think that's bad, take a look at what they're doing this time around. These ads were just released. (Courtesy of Gawker.)
I always kind of secretly enjoy when a book or film or television show flaunts reviews that are supposed to be negative - waving them in the air with a fierce sense of pride. I've never written books controversial enough to take advantage of this type of promo, but I do kinda love the idea of working it if I ever did.
As far as what this teaches our kids - that's a debate for another day. I'm looking at this from a pure marketing standpoint.
Do these ads make you want to watch the show?
Mari
5 comments:
You know what I find interesting, is that there are probably lots of people out there who would be offended by those ads (I am not...although I am surprised to see it...lol!). But yet, many of those same people would think nothing of the other billboard that is in the background of the Times Square Photo that shows an ad for a movie or TV show I think (can't quite make out the title, Tropic something), showing 3 crazy men, one with a HUGE gun pointed at you, looking like they will kill you. But you know, sex is MUCH more dangerous to our society than violence...right? ;)
That totally reminds me of when I used to work in a movie theater in high school. Parents would come in with their kids and ask why a certain movie was "R" rated. They'd say, "It's just violence, right? No sex or nudity?" They'd never have any problem allowing their kids to witness people's heads being blown off, but heaven forbid the kids catches a glimpse of a breast.
Ugh. I'm ripped right in two. Being a mom, ick. Being a teenager at heart, yes!
BTW, I can handle the sexiness a lot better than the OMFG.
I'm with Wendy on this ripped and in 2. Part of me thinks they are sexy and provocative and I think they are a sure seller.
The teen mother in me is sick over them. I think it just promotes kids as mindless sex object and makes it what high school is all about and that break my heart a bit. This does have an impact on the kids. I've heard of freshmen girls being talked into giving oral sex to seniors who are their "boyfriends" and that it's no big deal. I have to think this has some impact.
It really kills me that I sound like an old lady as I write this. UGH! I may have to steal this topic from you for a blog post. I hope it's ok. I think it's so important. You're really got me going. Thanks.
Go ahead and steal away, Kwana. I know what you mean. It is a hard issue. You want to protect your kids but they're constantly being bombarded with these kinds of messages.
I've watched the entire Gossip Girl series thus far and am halfway through the books. It is NOT something I'd necessarily want my teen (if I had one) to read or watch. But it's damn good entertainment for adults and I'm very much looking forward to the second season come September.
On the other hand, all my friends and I read V.C. Andrews books as kids...
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