Award winning stuff?

Yesterday at the award ceremony at Golden Drum Mister Ami Hasan (president of the jury) was shocked in he’s speech, because there were two entries that were as he said: “A disgrace for all the advertising industry.” The two print ads were for Sony Playstation and the motive was the concentration camp in Auschwitz. I didn’t see the controversial ads because I arrived at Wednesday when they already removed them. Mr. Hasan was shocked and so was the whole audience, and yes, so am I. But what I noticed was that there were at least several ads that were also controversial.

Especially THIS ONE (please follow the link because I couldn’t post it here)

I admit that the ad is somehow funny and it delivers the message. But hey, hold on! What really is the message? If you watch it carefully (hell, you understand the message even if you look at it very quickly) the message is simple: If you got acne problems you can become a Muslim. But if you don’t have the problem, then you could show your face and therefore “don’t have to convert”. You can call me conservative, which I’m definitely NOT, but I think the message here is blurred and some kind of controversial. Especially if you look at the creative’s: McCann Tel Aviv (Israel). You could easily take this ad as a joke carried to far, a joke on Israel Muslim neighbor countries. And the news of the day is, that this add was awarded yesterday. Hm… I’m really confused where the lines are, where is the ethics or better said: Should we stick to it or not?

But hey, don’t take me wrong, I like new controversial ideas. All I meant to say was that I think you shouldn’t proceed with your idea (motive or whatever drives your creativeness) at all costs. Especially when the matter is delicate as in the before mentioned ad. But, McCann Tel Aviv was awarded also for another great (this time even appropriate ) ad in category self promotion.

Well done guys!

Here are some other winnig TV spots… Really great. And funny. Enjoy it!

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22353/details.html

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22421/details.html

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22632/details.html