Food Advertising In Kaohsiung

Yum. Maybe not. Some food advertising in Kaohsiung seems to make the real thing much less tempting than perhaps it is already. Truth in advertising maybe could have actually helped.

Noodle salad caramel sundae?

Rice, green bean, etc...burger. Meat, every which way.

Food truck graphic.

A look at chicken. This bird is concerned about her burned feet. Leg and thigh in a gift box.

Getting cute. At a museum, a banquet display includes pictures of food instead of the real thing or models.

Selling The Western Fantasy In Yangon Ads

Big, modern picture ads are everywhere along the streets of Yangon, promising a modern, exciting world to waiting consumers. This world tilts toward the west and light complexions.

There's also a bit of an incongruity in how one would expect the usual marketing campaigns to be. High glamor models better suited for a liquor ad pushing bullion?

A peek at modern living, airline travel and a cell phone.

It's all transient, yesterday's aspiration is today's table wrap.

Young women are always good salespeople, pushing insurance and travel. The gentleman has seen it all before.

Wishful thinking at a street stall.

Selling The Life In An (Un)Real Estate World

Forget a big sign that says, "Now Leasing." That's not going to get your big, new apartment building filled. In the Arlington, Virginia area, landlords show sought-after renters what their life will be like if they choose a specific building. They need to push the fantasy.

So what is the fantasy?

Plaster the ground floor with images of a perfect life.

OK, so what specifically is the fantasy? You want to know? Evidently, women working on laptops.

Maybe also a hunky guy. So that's the life, on your laptop.

Wait! All that sitting and finger dragging means you're going to have to exercise. Feeling the fantasy yet?

Right, there must be kids. There's no life without family, kids. Right?

Slow down, slow waaay down. OK, let's go with the dog, you can handle the life with a dog. Still too fast? Back to work, always work. Hey, it's your life.

Is it a life or just a ghost of one?

Outrageous Indian Ads

India's a modest place. Long pants for men, women cover their shoulders and everything else (except a little midriff when wearing a sari, soooo sexy). No hand holding, or kissing in public. Arranged marriages. Somehow, in our neighborhood, an underwear company was able to erect these two billboards.

The images seem straight out of Maxim or Details, maybe normal for the West, but radical for India. The content, coupled with the larger than life placement on a public street, makes for quite an impression.