Strange

French Anti-Ad Insurgents Target Billboards

by TDH | February 6, 2009 at 09:31 am

278 views | 14 Recommendations | 3 comments

The Dismantlers, a French nationwide anti-advertisement group, has taken to the streets of Paris armed with the elegant disruptive power of spray paint. Saving the loud rallies and violent protests for lesser causes, The Dismantlers are targeting billboard ad campaigns by tagging them with their slogan of discontent.

"We challenge the mercantile society that destroys all human relationships, professional relationships, health, the environment," said Alexandre Baret, 35, a founder of the group. "It's a message that proposes to attack advertising as the fuel of this not very healthy society."

The Dismantlers, though, prior to all of their ad-protests cordially invite and inform the proper authorities with the intention of getting arrested, earning a court case, and thus drawing some public attention.

With a copywriter's flair, one of their slogans warns: "Attention! Avert your eyes from ads: You risk being very strongly manipulated." The goal of the Dismantlers is to get arrested, argue the righteousness of their cause in court and, you guessed it, gain publicity.

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Maireid Sullivan

at 21:06 on February 6th, 2009

Good for them.

Back in my early 20s, I was often the driver for several anti-billboard ad campaigns.

We weren't so brave - we went out in the middle of the night.

it's our duty to exercise freedom of speech against ads that promote toxic products.

Fred Miller

at 21:33 on February 6th, 2009

Brings to mind the artist Ron English

English's M. O. is pirating billboard space by posting his own hand-painted designs over the existing ads. Ron has created his own anti-ad campaigns in Texas, New York and New Jersey. Camel's "Old Joe" has often found himself replaced with 'The Cancer Kids" , while those lovable "Kool" characters have found themselves "Forever Kool", six feet under. In addition to these works of anti-advertising , billboards comment and reflect upon current events and social conditions, some are just fun and or carry personal messages without overt social commentary.

Here's a YouTube teaser for his documentary film entitled 'Popaganda'

cestmoi

at 12:48 on February 15th, 2009

This is a billboard at an Underground station in London. I do not find these billboards offensive: they help pass the time while waiting for the train, and it would certainly be worse to stare at bare walls. However, some of the Underground stations have a lot more creative approach, like Charing Cross, for instance, with murals referring to the National Gallery. Baker Street Station is another good example: the corridors are tiled with Sherlock Holmes designs which are particularly apt.

cestmoi has contributed a photo to this story.