Outdoor Advertising, Subliminal Advertising, Search Engine Marketing, Advertising, Viral Marketing, Guerilla Marketing, Social Media, Email Marketing, Event Marketing, Experiential Marketing, Evangelism

Anthony Olszewski
aolsz@bellatlantic.net

This ad involved tremendous expense at every step: developing the concept, taking the picture, producing the billboard, renting the space, and installing the billboard. Nothing in the image is a chance element. As the only purpose is to sell shoes, the why is clear. Right now, we can start to discuss the what. The how is a big question that will need much more data and thought.

The picture shows an attractive and happy young woman whose feet are bound by shoes with extensions / protrusions that are intended to make her taller, more erect. She’s not standing, but instead is squatting while manipulating with her fingers a delicate musical instrument that has an orifice and a lip. The model is wearing skin-tight shorts and a very military-style (if not some actual uniform) jacket.

Clearly, with the wearer to one degree or another crippled, high heels have no practical value. For the current crop of heavy leather foot armor, there’s nothing delicate or pretty. (Cinderella surely didn’t dance in any of these.) This style of footwear is a dramatic exploration of sado-masochism, a ceremonial jousting match between women out in the aura.

The top image shows female and male legs sticking up from underneath a pile of candy-colored inflatable mock musical instruments. To the left, there’s a man mounting a piano and a woman sitting on a juke box. From top to bottom, from initiation to consumation, the images form a clear series. As the models all have the echo of one (wo)man bands, there’s a don’t ask, don’t tell tone to the collection. The viewer’s subconscious can accept the message any way that it prefers.

With your feet ball-and-chained by Aldos, you might not be ready for running, but the images create the strong suggestion that you will be perfectly prepared for running around.

Anthony Olszewski
aolsz@bellatlantic.net