Here is a link to the Periscope story in the current issue of Newsweek.  http://www.newsweek.com/id/114737

\It is about scary/shock ads that are being pulled from the television.  The interesting thing is, that they are available on YouTube and are being viewed by high numbers.  I am interested to know what the class thinks about these kinds of shock ads as a tool for policy education.  Are they really making a difference in how individuals behave at home or work? 

Also included is a link to five of the Canadian workplace safety ads.  When searching for them, I got the impression they were used for comedy, not reference. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHTkzwJI9k4

Brandi 3/3/08

Interesting finds. There’s so much more competing for an individual’s attention today than there has been in the past. I don’t have any facts or numbers, but I would think that these wouldn’t be effective for those already committing/involved in the problems shown, but that they may be able to deter some individuals who were in a contemplating stage or considering behaviors. Some of the topics are those that are not considered appropriate to talk about or are those that we may not think would happen to us, like the Canadian video where she slips and spills hot water on her face. In a way they are getting people to talk about the actual issues, but then again, there is also a lot of talk about whether the ads should be allowed to be published or not – talk not directly related to the issue that the ad tried to address in the first place.

Christie  3/3

I'm not sure how much difference these are making, but they are definitely attention getters.  That tells me that at least some folks will pay attention.  Not sure how much behavior change that translates to, nor how you could measure such change.  They are all kind of creepy, but also give pause, especially the Canadian ads.  I got more of a weird sense from them, then comedic.   But again, they are unique and that makes them stand out at least a little.

tc  3/3

What I think is strange about them is that although they are disturbing and creepy some are rather artistic as well.  They remind me of some photographers from the 1980's and 1990's whose work centered around capturing their drug and sex crazed lifestyle on film.  Nan Goldin was well known for this sort of photography and she had a retrospsective around 2000.  Her work showed her in abusive relationships, using drugs, and drinking.  It essentially explored the aesthetics of suffering.At the time it was considered to be on the cutting edge and now that style has infiltrated the popular media to the extent that it is used in ad campaigns. 

sc 3/3