Shock Value - Real Value?
Recently, PSA launched a video about climate change featuring exploding children and airborne body parts. To say the video has significant shocking value it's an understatement. But was it a good value? Apparently not. Sony UK stopped its support to the 10:10 campaign (an effort to reduce carbon emissions 10% per year) and had issued this statement.
"Sony condemned the release by 10:10, the climate change campaign group, of a video entitled ’No Pressure’ that Sony considers to be ill-conceived and tasteless...[This] video risks undermining the work of the many thousands of members of the public, schools and universities, local authorities and many businesses, of which Sony is one, who support the long-term aims of the 10:10 movement and are actively working towards the reduction of carbon emissions."
Sony was not the only company disturbed by the ad. Due to the violent nature of the video, I chose not to show it. The picture above should give you a pretty good idea of what is all about. I've personally seen very few messages (on print or video) that achieved their intended shock value. Most of them have gone too far - like this one - thus diminishing the value, and not increasing it.
Do you have any examples of shock value advertising that worked? If so, please use the comment link below.
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