I agree with Banksy's view on Advertising

I was in Niagara Falls, Ontario on this past Saturday and I felt overwhelmed and repulsed by the egregious assault on my senses by the over the top advertising in the public realm.

I think that there is waaayyyy too much advertising around us these days and I am disposed to supporting Banksy's view. For those that don't know who Banksy is, here is some of his art / work.


BANKSY ON ADVERTISING
“People are taking the piss out of you everyday.
They butt into your life, take a cheap shot at you and then disappear. They leer at you from tall buildings and make you feel small.
They make flippant comments from buses that imply you’re not sexy enough and that all the fun is happening somewhere else.
They are on TV making your girlfriend feel inadequate.
They have access to the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen and they bully you with it.
They are “The Advertisers” and they are laughing at you.
You, however, are forbidden to touch them.
Trademarks, intellectual property rights and copyright law mean advertisers can say what they like wherever they like with total impunity.
Fuck that.
Any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours.
It’s yours to take, re-arrange and re-use.
You can do whatever you like with it.
Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head.
You owe the companies nothing.
Less than nothing, you especially don’t owe them any courtesy.
They owe you.
They have re-arranged the world to put themselves in front of you.
They never asked for your permission, don’t even start asking for theirs.”
~ Banksy

Christmas Decorating by the way too Politically Correct City of St. Catharines - 18 November 2011

I was at the main library in St.Catharines yesterday, November 17th. Then as is my habit, I was walking across St. James St. to the Farmers Market when I saw the scene below on the east lawn of City Hall.

I guess that is how we are seen by the politicians and the senior municipal bureaucracy, little square taxpaying voters.
Well, this taxpaying voter is not at all amused by this display of political correctness by some bureaucrat. Why not just put up a sign that says Happy CMHJ Festivals, that is Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish. 
 Then there are these signs below by the vedors who aren't signing Christmas Carols but rather are chanting the merchant's mantra "Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus!".

This one by "Horizon", our electric utility

 

 This one by the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation

Both of the above insult us all, not just Christians, by by using Christmas and other religious festivals as an advertising gimmick - shame on them.

By the way, has anyone ever had a good look at the level of service provisions in the agreement between St. Catharines and Horizon Utilities? I would appreciate a copy - please mail it to my mail address in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Below, we have a photo of the Nativity Scene that is on the same lawn, why haven't the animals and the rest of the figures been displayed? Well at least there is no advertising on the creche - maybe next year.

Branded Trash #3

This series documents branded trash. Pictures of items are taken as found. This trash looks to be branded by McDonald's, Tim Horton's, Starbucks and FritoLay.  Don't you just love these impromptu advertising billboards? I wonder if that advertising is unintentional?  I wish people would use waste baskets!

Branded Trash #2

This series documents branded trash. Pictures of items are taken as found. This trash looks to be branded by McDonald's.  Don't you just love these impromptu advertising billboards? I wonder if that advertising is unintentional? It appears as if someone had a take out meal and discarded everything but the napkin and burp.  I wish people would use waste baskets!

Branded Trash #1 - advertising WE pay for - and we pay more than once

This series documents branded trash. Pictures of items are taken as found. This trash looks to be branded by Tim Hortons.  Don't you just love these impromptu advertising billboards? I wonder if that advertising is unintentional? I wish people would use waste baskets!