Mixed Messages: a shop dropping intervention

Mixed Messages is a shop dropping intervention that critiques absurd and manipulative advertising language by re-labeling products in supermarkets and stores

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• shopping
• shopdrop
• shopdropping
• supermarket
• store
• culturejamming
• adbusting
• subvertising
• labels
• products
• marketing

[nuclearbox2]

this sucked.

i like meat, and i don't need vegetarian nazi's complaining about meat. there's nothing wrong with being vegetarian, or eating meat, so STFU.

and corn flakes? there were how many cereals with ungodly amounts of sugar and marketing hype next to that? and you chose CORN FLAKES. massive failure.

a 10 year old could have selected more unhealthy and bogus products from a supermarket but you couldn't, for your thesis?

this doesn't even deserve a link on adbusters.

it's shameful.

[pixielex]

The point was not to comment on how good or bad a particular product or brand is, but to critique how ALL advertising uses language and rhetoric. Our consumer choices are influenced by absurd and meaningless "new and improved" texts, like "30% shinier hair" or "now with Boswelox!" The purpose of the project was to draw consumers' attention to the ways in which advertising rhetoric is completely empty, and to encourage people to look more critically at the messages that influence what they buy.

[blueoverblue]

At least pick products that are really bad for you and make a statement, like Twinkies or Red Bull. Corn Flakes? Come on. What a waste.

[pixielex]

See my response above.

[sharkycwb]

good idea about shopdropping only stickers in the products.

easier and cheap than change all the label.

btw, what song is being play?

[pixielex]

The song is called "Consumer Riot" and it's by a band called The Brat Attack. You can find it on the iTunes store..

[thetexasdandy]

hilarious

this is a great idea, it combines vandalism and activism, i love it

[bringyourownbombs78]

not the best way to fight back but it gives a laugh and scares stupid consumers

so love it!

and <3 for u doing this

[Ahksmar]

You are just adding novelty to the products and ading interest to the dull activity of shopping; pherhaps you are unintentionally encouraging consumerism.

[wjc133]

Love this, great idea. Really inspires me ^__^

[djcondra]

Great video and finally a video about culture jamming which actually features culture jamming, not just standard activism. Shame about all the haters, most of them don't get it though.

[Flowerpowernluv]

I am sure the manufacturers didn't do this, but some people who are protesters doing things in an underground fashion, the way PETA members do, buying their stickers and then sticking them on KFC doors, etc. But I don't get this one. Why put on a bottle of beer a stickers that reads, "Fights agressive persperation." The stikers don't make sense to me, if you are trying to get people not to buy so much.

[geekxlove81]

@thetexasdandy the money the stre (if its a big chain like walmart) looses is pretty nominal. They can write off all those items that have been "defaced" - but they will be throwing them out - which is wasted products and food that will go in the garbage whilst there are people who are in need. The time and effort doing this type of thing would be better spent donating time and effort to helping people in need.

[rainydaygames]

So what, Wal-mart loses a little money, wait who cares, isn't that the point?

[olihill101]

Whatever it was that got you a minus 6 rating, FUCK YOU.

[Contradiction11]

This is brilliant. I use little pieces of cardboard and just prop them up in front of items, but they have nothing to do with shopping or products. They might say "How many minutes do you have left?" or "Breathe."

[BlacklitFloater]

i'm so glad i'm not the only one who does this weird shit. It kind of spontaneously started wit hme in 06.. I just figured.. "I gotta get something out there!" and where better than where everyone is? At the store!

[aemarsfan]

Awesome!!