I’ve already discussed ‘heartstopper’ ads on the blog, and how I don’t think they really have any effect on the target audience. There’s a new Ad being shown in cinemas, this time from ‘Women’s Aid’ and it’s about domestic abuse. It’s probably one of the best I’ve seen from a visual point of view and it’s one of the most hard-hitting I’ve seen as well, in more ways than one.

Although this latest Ad seems to me to be moving up a level (quality wise at least) I still have problems with their usefulness. Certainly there may be more women who will seek help because of it and it may increase financial donations to Women’s Aid but will it stop someone committing the act? I doubt it.

Since looking at this genre of Ad for Design History at University I’ve become really interested in the effectiveness of this type of advertising. I can’t help wondering if the money spent on the Ads wouldn’t have been put to better use on research into why people commit these acts. If it was solely about fund raising for Women’s Aid I’d understand but I can’t help thinking that part of the campaign is to get men to stop being violent toward their partners and as I said about the thisisnotaninvitationtorapeme Ads, someone with the mind set to commit the crime isn’t going to be put off by this type of Ad.

A BBC news article on it is HERE

The new Ad is HERE

The Scottish Government have announced some new anti-smoking measures, mainly in a bid to curb the habit take up in young people. Part of the measures involve the banning of cigarette vending machines. I think this is a progressive step because the machines can’t be policed in the same way as retailers, however, is the retailer display ban progressive or will it, as some of those affected claim, lead to shop closures? And, will the threat of license removal made to retailers who flout the law be taken seriously?

As I’ve said I agree with banning the machines, I also supported the smoking ban, I actually think it doesn’t go far enough in some ways, for instance, in Dundee bus station you obviously can’t smoke in the building but when you’re out side waiting for a bus a smoker can light up wherever they like, I think the ban should extend to the confines of the bus station and not just the buildings.

The thing is, are we doing enough to stop people smoking? Are we trying too hard to prevent rather than cure? As in the previous post, does advertising work? I doubt it. I think more research into the causes of cigarette take up is needed to find out just why some do, some don’t and some do – some of the time.

Here’s a mind map type of thing, again it was done for part of my course at Dundee and the beeb news article on the new measures is HERE