Art & Copy

Today, in Creativity class, we finished up watching Art & Copy, a powerful film surrounding advertising and the inspiration that keeps the business growing and evolving. The film showcases some of the most influential advertising creatives, and the work that they have done which has undoubtedly shaped our culture. Funny thing is, many of these giants are unknown outside of the advertising industry. Their signature does not go in the bottom corner of the tangible variations of their big ideas. It is this sense of anonymity, I think, that keeps those in the industry pushing forward, experimenting with new and unusual ideas, which creates the potential for viewers of this art form to experience and challenge the work put forth.   

I found this clip of Lee Clow and Jeff Goodby, two of my favorites from the film, discussing the impact and intricacies of Art & Copy. I also am a big fan of Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, David Kennedy, and George Lois, just to name off a few of the most fantastic creative people in the advertising industry, but here is a taste of the two long-haired dudes with a huge passion for what they're doing:

In the film, both Lee Clow and Jeff Goodby made similar points that really hit home for me:

"We are in the art business, when we do it well." -Lee Clow

"Advertising is the same as making art." -Jeff Goodby

It seems that their comrade, crazy & sharp Mr. George Lois, would agree with their take on advertising as art;

"Maybe it's not art with a capital A, but it's some kind of art." -George Lois

I'm a fan of looking at advertising from their multiple perspectives of the industry as having the full potential and leeway to be included in the category of art, when done "right," of course.