Cannes Lions 55th advertising Festival

During my experience at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, I had the privilege of listening to, and learning from, some of the best producers of advertising in the world. As they characterized themselves by stories of redemption, accolades, and innovation it became increasingly clear that these companies were not solely dependent on cash, or cleverness, but passion. These are the great businesses of our time and they are alive. Each technique or creative strategy was implemented to live another day. As life is to an individual, I am convinced that success is to every business - it cannot be formulated.

The most riveting experience I had at the festival was listening to the speakers on activism. They strived to connect with all walks of life, and do so freely and with such care. I am guilty of imagining marketing as a self-righteous, profit driven, sin machine. So these activist messages intrigue me. They are so closely related to the Christian message I hold so dearly. I believe we are meant to breakdown the ugly, corrupt, jaded, and unbelievable moments of our lives to find ourselves, and these people were helping others find themselves. Christianity and advertising alike try to hide these dilemmas in their attitudes, and in ignorance. These activists, however, have become martyrs for causes that I believe the Bible inspires. Among the chaos of sinfulness and injustice of organization they create an escape, reveal truth, and offer love as a peace offering.

The truth is always harder to believe, but we can learn to care. The most successful companies care about their consumers, just as activists do, and their consumers knows that they care by deliberate acknowledgements and involvement. This is where the novelties of interactive media come from. These ideas are important because it is activism of human life and just as the message of activism targets passion, the truth will always transcend the criticism of mankind.

Their greatness is obvious, but their notoriety, wealth, and achievements did not inspire me. It was their passion, the vibrancy of their words that made me wonder how their activism was related to me. I am amazed at how something as complicated as an individual’s passion could be explained through metaphors of business.

Links:

FoundationRawanda.org

TapProject.com

Unsubscribe-me.org

tapproject.org

Fancy-jane.blogspot.com

Cannes Lions 55th advertising Festival 1

Advertising Activism: New Secrets For Going Beyond Propaganda

Presenters - Lewis Blackwell, Markus N. Beeko, Sam Roddick, Ted Royer, Tom Savigar, Jonathan Torgovnik

Briefly described beliefs:

Peoples’ inherent laziness inhibits their inherent goodness.

We all decide the world we live in – it’s up to us, it’s about empowerment.

What does advertising mean to activism?

Activism is a declaration of human rights and ordinary people making change; advertising has the ability to spread awareness, convey urgency, and remind us what we believe in.

Unsubscribe-me.org

Trend Research

Consumer: If you are inspiring me to do something, show me what you are doing.

Inline- Blur of online and offline

Increased multi channel

Increased collaboration

Constant “.com”

Immersion- Engaging all parts of the consumer (No Logos)

Reciprocity- Giving back to future generations.

There is an increased difficulty in the publication of many activist movements. However, media outlets are more likely to support content if subject is link to a cause, content, and resources.

Links:

Mediastorm.org

FoundationRawanda.org

Pampers.com

Activism:

Have worked to create a program that gives school age children a cell phone; this cell phone is programmed to be an element of the learning process. With earned minutes for good grades and scheduling capabilities this cell phone is a revolutionary idea to get kids focus on the classroom.

TapProject.com

UNICEF’s largest fundraiser ever! Restaurants gave customers the option of buying tap water for 1 dollar, all across the world, to benefit those who do not have access to clean drinking water.

Listening to the passion and vibrancy of their words, made me wonder how their activism was related to my faith, and how they could similarly stimulate change.

They strive to connect with all walks of life, and so do Christians. So how is it that activists are able to convey their messages so passionately and, although many are passionate, Christians often struggle? How can we show the truth and still be respectful of the often ugly, corrupt, and jaded moments of our lives? These are the things that advertising often tries to hide, and we hide in our attitudes, and because of their unappealing attributes are hardest to accept. We need to show the truth, which in good adverts are always conveyed. The great thing about activist media: it is what it is. They don't need to appeal to an audience; they just have to get their attention: the cause speaks for itself. Much like the selflessness of scripture it is difficult to support in activist media efforts.

There is a point of enlightenment, that activist and Christians both meet (of coarse not the same, but similar) Similar in the fact that their actions reach out in love - their whole live become "love centered" by their activism. This is the diligence, love, and passion I believe the Bible encourages.

So, what do we support and accept/ what is acceptance? Jesus says love above all. When you love it is not about conscience act of acceptance - it is what it is. When you resort to acceptance is when you have established in your mind that your idea are right and their actions are wrong. This is not love, it inhibits love. Then, how do we love in this capacity? Be a voice for them, despite their differences they deserve pure love, and we cannot give that to them, but we can introduce them to it. These causes are not distractions of faith they are signs of it because no matter what you will have God to bring you to the place of wholeness that others have not found.
This is the activism of human life and, just as an activist advert, the truth will always transcend the criticism of mankind.