I understand advertising on TV and radio, where you can choose to turn off. But billboards in the public realm really piss me off. Whether its being sold the latest car, a meal deal from McShites or fake tan & boob job, they are a distraction to your mental silence whilst you listen to Rage Against the Machine in your car, you are already angry enough. In short, they just look shit - visual pollution. Your eyeballs are attacked every day as you drive, pedal and walk around the city scape to upwards of 3,000 ads per day. Think Stirling Highway and Scarborough Beach Rd?
In 2007, the world's fourth-largest metropolis, São Paulo - Brazil, became the first city outside of the communist world to put into effect a radical, near-complete ban on outdoor advertising with the mighty kahunas of Mayor Gilberto Kassab. Corporations and advertisers cried foul and argued 'advertisement' was culture. Peh! Many thought this would render the city colourless, grey and dull, but it has had the opposite effect, opening the way for public art to fill the void and allow architecture lost behind signage and advertisement to be seen again. You can see the difference in the before and after photos here.
Adbusters Magazine - Sao Paulo A City Wihtout Ads
The Fox is Black - Grey City Street Art
and a little piece of RATM to keep your mind peaceful - HERE