Happiness and Advertising

Mar 1, 2010 by Mandy    No Comments    Posted under: Communication, Other Things

“Advertising is based on one thing: happiness. And do you know what happiness is? Happiness is the smell of a new car. It’s freedom from fear. It’s a billboard on the side of a road that screams with reassurance that whatever you’re doing is OK. You are OK.” – Donald Draper, Mad Men

Happiness. It’s elusive to many of us yet we all strive to achieve it. So what the hell does it have to do with advertising?

Well, I have no idea what it means to you, but if you ask me, advertising makes me happy. I love looking at ads and critiquing them. Sure, I don’t have the vocabulary or experience of a seasoned veteran of the industry, but I can hold my views on what’s a good ad and what sucks, and let’s face it: most of the ads out just suck.When I see an ad that breathes and lives and makes me feel, it’s not just an ad anymore – it’s art.

When I see an ad, I wouldn’t say that it reassures me that I’m “OK”. Just thinking about being described as “OK” makes me feel uncomfortable. I want to feel a little skip in my heart when I see a good ad. I don’t want to feel like I have a head cold.

What makes you happy in advertising?

For me, it’s when ads are clever, smart, and clean. Like they used to be when guys like Draper ran the world.

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