My Fab Faves: Commericals

I’m taking a class called Visual Culture and it’s caused me to think about many things we take for granted about the image-based world we live in. I’ll spare you all the dense philosophical bs (although if you’re into that kind of stuff I would recommend reading Guy Debord’s The Society of the Spectacle), but it got me thinking about the concept of commercials and the point at which they transcend advertising to become their own source of entertainment and cultural influence. It’s actually really tough to make a good commercial - you’re not just selling a product, you’re selling a lifestyle and a brand - and the more you can accomplish in less time in making that impact the better.

So in acknowledgment of the artistry of commercials, here are some that I think are pretty memorable. Of course I can’t remember every great TV commercial I’ve ever seen, but these five in my YouTube favorites because they’re totally worth rewatching every so often. If you don’t want to watch all of them (but trust me, you do), they are vaguely in order from funniest/lighthearted to most serious/intense, so you can pick which to watch based on what you’re in the mood for.

1) Isenbeck Beer: Ballet

One of TBS’s top rated funniest international ads. I took ballet for many years and always wondered why more guys didn’t do it… where else do you get the same kind of opportunities to grab girls in inappropriate ways with no consequences?

2) AMP Energy: Walk of No Shame

Quirky, light-hearted, and funny twist on the infamous “Walk of Shame”. It’s vaguely Dr. Horrible-esque in the sense that I can’t get the song out of my head no matter how silly the lyrics.

3) Honda Accord: Cog

A legend in commercials. Apparently it took 606 tries to get this.

4) Coca Cola: 2004 Refreshing Filmmakers Award Winner

A little gem of a film as well as a great commercial piece.

5) Louis Vuitton: Core Values

Totally gorgeous and basically spells out the mantra of my current take on life (read: dense and emo)