Billboards Everywhere

We've all seen them as we pass by in our cars. Sometimes we read them, but most of the time, we pass them by without even paying attention. Billboards are a medium that have been the subject of controversy over the years. One such controversial billboard is this one:

This provocative billboard has the power to affect the way that we think, live, and interact. The one billboard that gets me every time is the one that is outside of Fenway Park, as you drive along the Mass Pike. This is what it looks like:

Someone who has never seen this billboard before would find it hard to digest at first sight. After further review, one would realize that it is actually an anti-gun advertisement, and that the billboard is meant to be sarcastic and witty. This reminded me of our discussion in class about advertising and its negative and progressive effects on society. I think that the first image above is an example of how advertising is often forced upon us, and subjects us to propaganda. The second image shows a progressive example of how advertising can be used to do good. In this case, both billboards are not corporate, and are not advertising products or services. But I think that billboards that do not advertise a good or service are the most effective because they force us to observe something out of the ordinary. Billboards are a quick, cool medium that force us to make split second decisions about how we are going to interpret its message. When I think of billboards, I think of a concept called "thin slicing" that was coined by the author Malcolm Gladwell. Thin slicing refers to a series of processes that occur in your subconscious that allow you to make mental connections. The thin slices of memories and experiences that we have been through allow us to connect with the media that we see. In this case, we use this concept every time we look at a billboard because we are forced to make a split second decision. That's what's so great about these giant postcards; they are subject to individual interpretation. I think my favorite billboard has to be this one:

Until next time...