contrary messaging
I mentioned before, the ridiculous Sobe Life Water Lizards-acting-like-Philippine-inmates ad. It’s a shitty ad, but at least there’s a vague attempt at a point. When you drink this Life Water I can’t vouch for the taste, as I haven’t tried it you’ve got the energy of a small lizard, or a zombie, or an under-fed, bitchy model. But the stuff gives you energy. I guess.
Then there’s GE. I watched their “house hugger” ad like someone watching that chick on the View debate whether the world is flat. I’ve embedded it below:
I’ll get to the pathetic attempt at science in a second, but first… what? It’s a bit much. The wide country expanse that exists because we clear-cut the tree’s cohabitants. The white fence. The matter-of-fact farmer. Where did this house come from? No one with money moves to the middle of nowhere and no one in the middle of nowhere has money for a new house. yay, corporatism! The whole scene plays out like some sort of Republican circle-jerk. yay, xenophobia!… err, patriotism!
note: I’m about to go into science. It may get a bit complicated, but remember that I’m with you the whole way. If you need me to slow down… well… read slower? It’s a blog. Copy the terms you miss into an online dictionary. Also, none of this is complicated and I’m not with you. Moving on.
You have here, a tree hugging a house that reduces carbon emissions. Um? I’m not a fan of science if you try to force it on me you’re an elitist. That said, let’s have a survey of the third graders out there: What do plants and trees live off of? … No, sorry Trent, water isn’t what I’m looking for here, but close… Air? really?? Thanks “No child left behind.” How about… same question, for you fifth graders: Right, carbon dioxide.
It would be different if the house was made out of some super polymer that replaced wood. Or if GE would plant a hundred trees for every appliance that someone bought. Or if it showed the tree was suicidal like the GM auto-bot. But GE is apparently using a marketing team full up on moron. Cutting down the CO2-absorbing trees to build the house is half the problem, you fucking idiots.
This goes right along with their fishing ad. Desalination destroys marine life at an alarming rate, killing off plankton and other microorganisms. If you adjust the intake method, it costs more and you use more energy. Once the sea water’s at the plant, it takes energy to make it fresh water. The waste from the process is heavily concentrated and considered industrial waste. It’s an irreversible trend. Coca-Cola can only exploit so many impecunious nations before the global well dries up.
The iconic boatmen, like the surprisingly mobile tree, are apparently mocking their own in this case (at least directly), occupational demise. Even without the added destruction from desalination, the oceans’ ecosystems are being pillaged. There are estimates that the only viable product we’ll glean from them within fifty years is the water anyway. yay, farm-fresh salmon/cod/shrimp/anything that swims! I guess that tree is right in giving that two-story a bear hug. Plants will likely be among the few things left after we take most of the planet’s species with us. yay, mass extinction!
Other marketing mixed-messages: showing active kids in video game ads, skinny kids in fast food ads, bustling people in donut shop ads, or rich, happy people in Wal-Mart ads.
side note: while “researching” this post, I came across this gem. Classic.