No, I'm not advocating banning all religion. I wanted to share with you a segment from a television show here in Australia called The Gruen Transfer. The show is about the inner workings of advertising mixed with a bit of comedy from the host. The panelists are usually agency staff who comment about advertising campaigns and genre's of advertising.
The video you'll watch is from a segment is called 'The Pitch' where two agencies are challenged to sell the unsellable. The shows producers think that banning all religion is unsellable. I had a very interesting interaction with them and others on the show's Facebook page (It is a very popular page so you will need to scroll down quite a bit).
Many agencies turned this particular pitch down which is a first for the show because it is extremely popular here in Australia. They turned it down because of the controversial nature of the segment.
Here is the challenge for every Christian denomination and churches. Can we create compelling advertising the promotes Christianity? Is Christianity 'sellable' in the 21st Century? Should we?
Check out the pitch segment. For some of you this segment will challenge you and even be offensive. After you watch it let me know what you think about the video and my question, is Christianity 'sellable'?
Note: This segment even got featured on Richard Dawkins site.
Interesting in light of the fact that "religious" people are nicer ... http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/gods-truth-believers-are-nicer-20110908-1jzrl.html
Posted by: Wayne Field | 09/09/2011 at 01:11 PM
Apparently we are! How about that?!
Posted by: Steven Fogg | 09/09/2011 at 01:16 PM
Like a lot of advertising, these ads rely on disregarding and/or misrepresenting historic and scientific fact. Just sayin'
Posted by: Cindy Telisak | 09/10/2011 at 12:09 PM
I have nothing against media/advertisements, but I'm pretty tired of the amount of emotionally charged adverts with hidden agendas.Nobody likes manipulation.
Should we then consider advertising Christianity? The reality is,it cannot even be a consideration,for how we live our lives as Christians is the ultimate 'public advertisement'.Whether we want to or not,like it or not.
Is Christianity 'sellable'?You really can't sell what has been paid for (by Christ on the cross),you can only share it and display it,truthfully!
Ultimately, whether it 'sells' or not, it's pretty much up to God!
Posted by: Account Deleted | 09/10/2011 at 02:14 PM
our lives as Christians is the ultimate public advertisement, Alex great insight!
Posted by: Steven Fogg | 09/10/2011 at 02:16 PM