Friday Art Reflection – Branding & Advertising
Day in and day out, we are bombarded with advertising. Whether it is on TV, through radio, in print, online or even on our own clothing, branding and advertising have become powerful forces for shaping our worldview and influencing our choices. Few people recognize how deeply these ads impact the way we perceive and respond to the world around us. It effects the way we do ministry, “promote” our churches and communicate our vision. It is everywhere.
Before anyone thinks I am an alarmist, the fact is that not all of it is bad. Without question, much of it is bad, but it is also a matter of degree. Despite all this, we, as the church, need to be more intentional about recognizing and countering the negative. Naomi Klein once had this to say about the dangerous impact this has had in our society:
“We are looking to brands for poetry and for spirituality, because we’re not getting those things from our communities or from each other.”
The reason this is posted as an art reflection is because I believe that part of the power and impact of these ads comes through the use of creativity. Perhaps the answer to responding lies through the use of artful creativity as well.
What are your thoughts? How have you seen ads & branding negatively impact the church? Wider culture? How many we counter it?
