Here in the UK there is a new road safety campaign to scare teenagers into looking as they cross the road. The unquestionable propaganda that goes with this campaign makes is a bone of contention to even consider challenging it. And if you do challenge it, you will be accused of being callous and insensitive, with the usual emotional knee jerk reaction:
"What if it was your teenage child?"
Fair point, up to a point. But the picture above on the left (if you are of a sensitive disposition, don't click on it) is really disturbing, and aimed at kids. It depicts a side on view of a young actress playing a corpse lying on the road, staring with sinister cadaver eyes. It draws you in by appealing to your morbid fascination, and it is easy to get transfixed with deep subconcious fear as you get further and further sucked in.
On television, there is a 9pm watershed to protect children from disturbing images, scenes etc, but the rules are a bit different when it comes to billboard advertising. This advert is aimed at teenagers specifically, but regardless of who it is aimed at, people of all age groups have to walk past this advert, from little kids to sensitive elderly people to even paranoid schizophrenics. The trouble is, for those with a weak will and morbid fascination, this image is irresistible to look at, and affects people on a subconscious and even unconscious level.
I see this as a 'silent weapon for quiet wars' offensive - an attempt to simulate the traumatizing effects of war in a non war zone, to generate fear, to create submissiveness as another manipulation trick to coerce conformity. At the same time it will desensitize us even further as our sub conscious minds swim in the excessive and ubiquitous snuff movie like clutter that the corporate media relentlessly doles out to us that, for the less strong minded and the faint hearted, what is to stop an unexpected nightmare from being triggered by having these images buried in their heads? Who is going to protect them from apparent road safety propaganda?
Is it any wonder that there are so many people on anti depressants and anti psychotic drugs? Granted, teenagers can be clueless, especially when it comes to road sense, but does that justify living in a world of disturbing imagery?
Anyway, enough of my spin on it. Below is the press release/propaganda. You have the opportunity to weigh it up against my take on it, and make your own mind up about it. You may not agree with me, but as a result of a devil's advocate opposing perspective, you will see it in a less biased and more neutral light.
A STARK new road safety campaign from Transport for London (TfL) urges teenagers to 'Think! Look out for your mates'.
The campaign's theme, 'Don't let your friendship die on the road', highlights the fact that friendship is one of the most important things in young people's lives.
As teenagers are more likely to be involved in a road collision than any other age group, compelling posters will be put up close to schools and busy areas across London.
They show young actors who appear to be lying against a wall, however, a second glance reveals them to be lying on the road as a result of a collision.
The message is a clear call to action: 'Think! Look out for your mates'.
In addition to posters, a radio advert dramatises the effect of young loss as a teenager reads a eulogy for a best friend at their funeral, while a series of online banners will appear on popular websites including Bebo and MSN Messenger.
This year TfL is spending £57million on road safety measures in the capital.
Chris Lines, head of the TfL London Road Safety Unit, said: 'These adverts serve as a stark reminder to young people of the importance of taking care when using, or nearby, London roads.'
No comments:
Post a Comment