If I remember correctly, we had a discussion last week about propaganda. As we gazed at a slide showing Mao’s face looming over a city square in communist China, Brockett made a comment to the effect of “We don’t really have a context for this type of propaganda in our culture – it’s pretty rare that you see a huge face on the side of a building in Kansas City.” Well Brockett, this is your lucky week!
If anyone has driven by the Plaza lately, you could not have missed the 8-story portrait of Lance Armstrong on the side of the American Century building. His face is accompanied by the tag line: “Put Your Lance Face On”… nobody really knows what it means or why it’s there… but suddenly we have someone watching over us.
Is this a type of propaganda? The Kansas City Star ran an article on the strange advertisement, revealing to its readers that the CEO of American Century recently beat cancer and felt an expression of solidarity was necessary – but does the entire city need to know? To associate Lance Armstrong and cancer with American Century doesn’t make too much sense to begin with – but we’ll have to assume it’s there for a reason. And until we find out what that reason is: we can rest in knowing that Lance is watching over us.
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2 comments:
I as well saw the the Lance, and I read the article in the paper but I still do not understand the reasoning behind it. There is supposed to be some sort of fund system for research or just helping cancer patients, I don't know. It reminds me of the altruism or exploitation argument. Like when companies donate x amount of money and then turn around and spend 2x that telling everyone. I can't imagine the funds would be any different if Lance's face was not on an 8 story banner
I can join the bus of people that have seen the Lance Armstrong banner. I honestly really liked it! talk about an attention getter! I think it would be interesting to hear what the people that work in that building say, because they went from prime plaza birds eye view, to living behind a large piece of plastic marketing. I personally think it would be design and pop culture teaming up if we got a full size print of that size of Sheryl Crow. now would that not be smart?! it would involve the community more (get them talking) and would be an excellent way to advertise something. Personally, i love the large sized banners. let's turn the plaza into our own KC times squares!
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