« May we suggest | Main | Fear, Courage, and the Expanding of Life »

Superbowl Ads

Tomorrow is the Superbowl, which is famous as much for its commercials as for the football. Although Superbowl ads are usually a cut above typical advertisements, it's still useful to recognize them for what they are and to think critically about them.

So today's activity comes from Australian author Max Barry, who apporpriately writes:


Here’s something to try: spend the next day actually noticing every ad that features a photo of someone looking at you. Magazine ads, bus station posters, billboards: all these. Now think about what kind of situation you’d have to be in for this person to be looking at you like that in real life.

If where you live is anything like where I live, you’ll find that for a very high number of these, the situation would have to be one of:

1. They want to have sex with you
2. You just told them the funniest joke in the world ever
3. You just told them the funniest joke in the world ever and now they want to have sex with you

This is an entertaining exercise not just because it’s amusing to think about Kate Moss wanting your body, but also because it reminds you how far the arms race between advertising agencies and your brain’s perceptual filters has advanced. The more ads there are, and the more they try to get our attention, the better we get at not noticing them, so marketers have to continually up the ante. Apparently we’re now in a state where most ads are full of people looking at us in a way that would heat us up down to our toes if it happened in real life, and we don’t think anything of it.

So as you watch the multi-million dollar Superbowl ads tomorrow, ask yourself: what did I do to deserve that look?

Posted by michael on February 4, 2006 04:54 PM |

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.unnumb.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/35

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Superbowl Ads:

» the room store in houston from the room store in houston
[Read More]

Tracked on November 26, 2006 09:45 AM

» car stereo accessory from car stereo accessory
[Read More]

Tracked on December 4, 2006 10:18 PM

» error and omission insurance carrier from error and omission insurance carrier
[Read More]

Tracked on December 4, 2006 11:21 PM

» mitosis in animal cell from mitosis in animal cell
[Read More]

Tracked on December 5, 2006 09:15 PM

» best carrier cellular phone from best carrier cellular phone
[Read More]

Tracked on December 6, 2006 11:35 PM

» nuvio service voip from nuvio service voip
[Read More]

Tracked on December 6, 2006 11:48 PM

» cvs dallas pharmacy tx from cvs dallas pharmacy tx
[Read More]

Tracked on December 17, 2006 06:12 PM

» cheapest viagra from cheapest viagra
[Read More]

Tracked on December 17, 2006 06:16 PM

» snyder drug store from snyder drug store
[Read More]

Tracked on December 26, 2006 01:47 PM

» oxycodone from oxycodone
[Read More]

Tracked on December 26, 2006 06:28 PM

» ephedra illinois lawyer from ephedra illinois lawyer
[Read More]

Tracked on January 19, 2007 06:07 PM

» michigan boat insurance from michigan boat insurance
[Read More]

Tracked on January 21, 2007 08:19 AM

» online tax information from online tax information
[Read More]

Tracked on January 21, 2007 11:19 PM

» lottery search texas from lottery search texas
[Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2007 04:09 AM

» alabama course estate real from alabama course estate real
[Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2007 07:03 PM

» bonus free bingo signup from bonus free bingo signup
[Read More]

Tracked on January 27, 2007 12:41 PM

» delta bingo downsview from delta bingo downsview
[Read More]

Tracked on January 27, 2007 06:10 PM

» bridal wear brisbane from bridal wear brisbane
[Read More]

Tracked on February 13, 2007 11:46 AM

» discount sport coat from discount sport coat
[Read More]

Tracked on February 14, 2007 07:55 AM

» coat faux fur jacket from coat faux fur jacket
[Read More]

Tracked on February 14, 2007 07:56 AM

» linkin park dc shoes from linkin park dc shoes
[Read More]

Tracked on February 16, 2007 06:45 AM

» red jacket inn from red jacket inn
[Read More]

Tracked on February 16, 2007 07:56 AM

» eva moen from eva moen
[Read More]

Tracked on February 17, 2007 11:00 PM

» beach sex spying from beach sex spying
[Read More]

Tracked on April 21, 2007 08:06 PM

» girl getting fucked in the ass from girl getting fucked in the ass
[Read More]

Tracked on April 22, 2007 09:56 PM

» keri sable internal cumshot overload from keri sable internal cumshot overload
[Read More]

Tracked on April 23, 2007 07:06 AM

» natural pink sapphire necklace breast cancer from natural pink sapphire necklace breast cancer
[Read More]

Tracked on April 23, 2007 05:28 PM

» sex comic incest from sex comic incest
[Read More]

Tracked on April 24, 2007 02:25 AM

» video clips of female black ebony sex from video clips of female black ebony sex
[Read More]

Tracked on April 24, 2007 10:05 AM

» Lexapro. from Lexapro.
Lexapro. [Read More]

Tracked on June 1, 2007 03:25 PM

» Lexapro. from Lexapro.
Lexapro. [Read More]

Tracked on June 7, 2007 02:21 AM

» Ultram. from Ultram.
Ultram. [Read More]

Tracked on June 18, 2007 04:29 PM

» Ultram addiction. from Genric name for ultram.
Ultram and tylenol 3 with cod. Ultram in mexico. Ultram er. Addiction to ultram. Ultram medicine ultram. [Read More]

Tracked on June 24, 2007 01:09 PM

» Ultram tramadol. from Cheap ultram.
Ultram drugs amp vitamins drug library drugdigest. Ultram. Pain medication called ultram. Buy ultram. How the medicine ultram i. Ultram ortho mcneil. [Read More]

Tracked on June 24, 2007 08:50 PM

» Cheap cod ultram. from Ultram.
Ultram. Genric name for ultram. Buy ultram cheapest site. Can you snort ultram. [Read More]

Tracked on June 26, 2007 11:43 AM

» Parnate antidepressant. from Antidepressant associated hypomania bipolar.
Antidepressant brain mechanism. Antidepressant ki value. Antidepressant. New happy antidepressant. Allegra antidepressant effect. [Read More]

Tracked on July 4, 2007 01:51 AM

» Buy cymbalta. from Buy cymbalta.
Buy cymbalta. [Read More]

Tracked on July 7, 2007 10:28 PM

» Buy cheap trazodone. from Buy cheap trazodone.
Buy cheap trazodone. [Read More]

Tracked on July 14, 2007 01:21 PM

» affordable life insurance from affordable life insurance
Life insurance online at affordable rates and quotes. [Read More]

Tracked on July 16, 2007 12:54 PM

» affordable life insurance from affordable life insurance
Life insurance online at affordable rates and quotes. [Read More]

Tracked on July 16, 2007 12:55 PM

» Ultram addiction. from Buy ultram cheapest site.
Ultram. Dependency ultram. Ultram pain reliever. [Read More]

Tracked on July 23, 2007 09:40 AM

» Lexapro. from Lexapro medicine.
Alcohol and lexapro. Lexapro side effects. Lexapro. Lexapro and alcohol. [Read More]

Tracked on July 26, 2007 03:40 PM

» Buy lexapro. from Buy lexapro.
Buy lexapro. [Read More]

Tracked on July 29, 2007 03:21 PM

» Cheap comment message preview tramadol. from Cheap tramadol.
Cheap tramadol. [Read More]

Tracked on August 28, 2007 05:34 AM

» Tramadol cheap no rx free overnight shipping. from Cheap tramadol.
Cheap tramadol. [Read More]

Tracked on August 30, 2007 05:02 PM

» Experian Viewreport from Experian Viewreport
[Read More]

Tracked on May 11, 2008 01:02 PM

Comments

pharmacy technician

Posted by: pharmacy technician | January 5, 2007 12:26 PM

discount viagra

Posted by: discount viagra | January 10, 2007 08:00 AM

buy levitra online

Posted by: buy levitra online | January 12, 2007 10:32 PM

order soma

Posted by: order soma | January 14, 2007 09:09 PM

carisoprodol soma

Posted by: carisoprodol soma | January 22, 2007 08:35 PM

drug soma

Posted by: drug soma | January 30, 2007 06:12 AM

xxx videos

Posted by: xxx videos | February 2, 2007 04:47 AM

sex dvd

Posted by: sex dvd | February 2, 2007 05:15 AM

play casino games

Posted by: play casino games | February 7, 2007 08:43 AM

discount viagra

Posted by: discount viagra | February 7, 2007 02:26 PM

carisoprodol soma

Posted by: carisoprodol soma | February 7, 2007 05:58 PM

term life insurance

Posted by: term life insurance | February 8, 2007 09:34 PM

carisoprodol soma

Posted by: carisoprodol soma | February 14, 2007 07:29 AM

buy levitra

Posted by: buy levitra | February 16, 2007 04:04 AM

buy levitra online viagra

Posted by: buy levitra online viagra | February 19, 2007 03:34 PM

cam live sex web

Posted by: cam live sex web | February 22, 2007 12:26 AM

levitra softabs

Posted by: levitra softabs | February 25, 2007 09:43 PM

levitra line pharmacy

Posted by: levitra line pharmacy | March 12, 2007 01:37 PM

forum levitra

Posted by: levitra sample | March 17, 2007 05:06 AM

Three phrases should be among the most common in our daily usage. They are: Thank you, I am grateful and I appreciate.

Posted by: penis enlargement | April 7, 2007 12:11 AM

cheapest car california insurance

Posted by: insurance car cheapest quotes | April 22, 2007 05:32 AM

the of tiger eye lyrics

Posted by: of columbia the tiger eye | May 2, 2007 05:04 PM

carisoprodol buy soma

Posted by: no buy soma | May 3, 2007 04:26 PM

viagra can buy

Posted by: viagra buy paypal | May 5, 2007 05:08 PM

viagra online

Posted by: viagra online | May 5, 2007 08:32 PM

viagra pill

Posted by: viagra pill | May 6, 2007 05:45 PM

soma aura

Posted by: myth soma | May 9, 2007 02:16 PM

shelf carisoprodol

Posted by: pharmacy carisoprodol | May 10, 2007 07:30 PM

buy on levitra

Posted by: html levitra buy | May 10, 2007 09:49 PM

car by cheapest insurance

Posted by: cheapest car insurance rates | May 11, 2007 07:58 AM

soma buy accessory

Posted by: buy soma a | May 12, 2007 01:59 AM

soma relaxers

Posted by: soma institute | May 12, 2007 05:08 AM

sale settlement structured

Posted by: settlement structured cna | May 12, 2007 09:33 AM

viagra illegal buy

Posted by: buy brand viagra | May 12, 2007 10:49 PM

cars you chasing

Posted by: dog cars chasing | May 18, 2007 09:24 PM

cars you chasing

Posted by: dog cars chasing | May 18, 2007 09:24 PM

soma cheap online buy

Posted by: cod online soma buy | May 22, 2007 11:35 PM

soma cheap online buy

Posted by: cod online soma buy | May 22, 2007 11:35 PM

soma buy

Posted by: soma buy | May 24, 2007 06:43 AM

cheap airline tickets

Posted by: airline tickets cheap | May 27, 2007 09:06 AM

I believe this one applies "Unless each man prodiuses more than he receives, increases his output, there will be less for him than all the others", doesn't it?

Posted by: Delia Corp | May 28, 2007 02:56 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: best penis enlargement | May 29, 2007 11:44 AM

carisoprodol

Posted by: carisoprodol | May 29, 2007 02:58 PM

carisoprodol

Posted by: carisoprodol | May 29, 2007 02:59 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: free penis enlargement | May 29, 2007 03:54 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pills | May 29, 2007 05:24 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pump | May 29, 2007 08:53 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: real penis enlargement | May 30, 2007 02:01 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: alternative viagra | May 30, 2007 03:44 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: best herbal viagra | May 30, 2007 05:37 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: herbal alternative viagra | May 30, 2007 07:32 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: herbal viagra alternative | May 30, 2007 09:31 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: herbal viagra | May 30, 2007 11:25 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: natural alternative to viagra | May 30, 2007 01:13 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: alternative cialis | May 30, 2007 03:07 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: how to last longer at sex | May 30, 2007 09:17 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: how to last longer in bed | May 30, 2007 11:10 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: how to last longer in sex | May 31, 2007 12:58 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: how to make sex last longer | May 31, 2007 02:36 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: last longer at sex | May 31, 2007 04:09 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: last longer sex | May 31, 2007 05:51 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: last longer | May 31, 2007 07:38 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: ways to last longer in bed | May 31, 2007 09:15 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: free penis enlargement | May 31, 2007 12:37 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pills | May 31, 2007 02:55 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pump | May 31, 2007 05:54 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement | May 31, 2007 07:36 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: real penis enlargement | May 31, 2007 09:14 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: alternative viagra | May 31, 2007 10:53 PM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: best herbal viagra | June 1, 2007 01:08 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: herbal alternative viagra | June 1, 2007 03:07 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: herbal viagra alternative | June 1, 2007 04:44 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: herbal viagra | June 1, 2007 06:20 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: natural alternative to viagra | June 1, 2007 08:12 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: alternative cialis | June 1, 2007 09:46 AM

herbals@durgs.com

Posted by: cialis alternative | June 1, 2007 11:30 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to last longer at sex | June 1, 2007 03:03 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to last longer in bed | June 1, 2007 05:28 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to last longer in sex | June 1, 2007 07:08 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to make sex last longer | June 1, 2007 08:44 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: last longer at sex | June 1, 2007 10:16 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: last longer sex | June 1, 2007 11:41 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: last longer | June 2, 2007 01:19 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: ways to last longer in bed | June 2, 2007 03:03 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: best penis enlargement | June 2, 2007 04:41 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: free penis enlargement | June 2, 2007 08:11 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pills | June 2, 2007 09:46 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pump | June 2, 2007 11:29 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement | June 2, 2007 01:19 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: real penis enlargement | June 2, 2007 03:18 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: alternative viagra | June 2, 2007 05:42 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: best herbal viagra | June 2, 2007 07:13 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: herbal alternative viagra | June 2, 2007 08:44 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: herbal viagra alternative | June 2, 2007 10:29 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: herbal viagra | June 3, 2007 12:09 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: natural alternative to viagra | June 3, 2007 02:02 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: alternative cialis | June 3, 2007 03:56 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: herbal cialis | June 3, 2007 05:35 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to last longer at sex | June 3, 2007 08:42 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to last longer in bed | June 3, 2007 10:19 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to last longer in sex | June 3, 2007 11:57 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: how to make sex last longer | June 3, 2007 01:39 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: last longer at sex | June 3, 2007 03:39 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: last longer sex | June 3, 2007 05:58 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: last longer | June 3, 2007 07:37 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: ways to last longer in bed | June 3, 2007 09:12 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: best penis enlargement | June 3, 2007 10:51 PM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: free penis enlargement | June 4, 2007 02:12 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pills | June 4, 2007 03:50 AM

herbals@drugs.com

Posted by: penis enlargement pills | June 4, 2007 05:16 AM

herbals@drugs.com