Star Ship

I admit it, I’ve found TV love.

Every time I hush my roomies up to hear the music and at times sing along they just roll their eyes and give those little knowing smiles that say “Okay Jenny, but just cuz we love you so much.”

I guess it would be understandable if I’m halting their conversions to hear the theme song for a good show, but it’s actually something that is…well not as accepted as a TV love.

I have a thing for car commercials.  To get more specific, Lincoln car commercials.  With the Cadillac as second place.  I am so far gone I have not only downloaded the songs used in these 30 second shorts, but seeing as it is only one band who does the music for Lincoln I snagged all the songs done by them that I could.

I really am hopeless.

But there really is something beautiful and wondrous about those Lincoln commercials. I blame it on the fact that the cars are linked with something I have a fascination with, space.  The cars are all displayed as space ships; a silver vehicle against a backdrop of stars and song lyrics talking about lift over.  And after that incredible “Sexy Trek” movie that came out this summer who wouldn’t want to not only ride in, but control a space ship?

I guess the real artistic beauty here is the success of the ads for making us love them, if not the product (I come from a Ford family). I can’t think of anyone who cannot think of an ad they enjoy, whether it be the Mac ads or a billboard for McDonald’s reading “Our curfew is later than yours”.  And fess up, I know you only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials.

But very rarely are ads seen as an art form.  Granted, they certainly are not hung up in art galleries but you can find them in museums.  They are snapshots into the past cultures of America, from Rosie the Riveter to 80’s hair products.  Most ad designers actually have a degree from some type of art program, most likely Graphic Design.  Lots of work gets put in them and just like paintings or film they tell a story and make you feel a certain way, even if it is just that you now really want a Coke.

So while they don’t capture the beauty of nature or the essence of being human, ads do have a grasp on capitalism and the consumer culture that is a very big part of our lives.  And isn’t art supposed to be something we can relate to for it to have meaning?

Your desperately wanting a star ship blogger,

Jenny