Ad Review - Hitler vs. Chaplin

Trying a new feature this week to get our Creative Department active on the blog. Each week we'll try to get at least one interesting print, outdoor or television ad up on here with their reviews. If you have something you think looks good and would like them to check out, leave a comment we'll get back to you. Okay, so here's the ad for this week:

While I like the simplicity of the ad, and there is a school of thought to using bad things vs. good things to sell a product, I think this ad takes it way too far in their references. To say “it’s the hat” that can make a man go from a monster to a comedian makes light of the horrible impact Hitler had on the Jewish community and the world. Would you use Jeffery Dahmer to sell referigerators or hot dogs? Leaves a bad taste in my mouth that doesn’t even compare to the Holocaust. Most good ads are simple. Life usually is not. I believe you have to weigh both sides before moving ahead with a concept. Cori Marx

I think the ad is rather ingenious. I didn’t see the title of the ad so it took my brain a couple of minutes to figure it out. And, because of that...I think it’s pretty smart. It made me think, which is what I totally like about this and any other ads that force me to make a connection. Are they thought provokers or are they just making a sale? I think it takes a very special client to want to make a very simple statement, which ultimately becomes a very strong statement. In this modern world of clutter and multitasking it’s a breath of fresh, clean, simple air. Ruben Munoz

This ad is a perfect example of how the best ideas are the simple ones. Like Luke Sullivan points out in Hey Whipple, Squeeze This, a good idea can be scribbled on a napkin and this make sense. This idea could be and probably was scribbled out first. So often people(companies) get caught up in details or trying to cram too much into an ad. Nowhere in this ad did they go into details on the fine construction of the hat or that it comes in different sizes or that it was on sale or any of that. The message was simple – the hat makes the man – and that’s all we need to know for this to be an eye-catching, clever ad. Holly Ringerud

I appreciate the ad for its simplicity but I would be hesitant to use Hitler as a reference for anything. Are they suggesting that if Hitler had a nicer hat that maybe he wouldn’t have been such a tyrant and have been responsible for millions of people dying? That would be a mighty powerful hat. If only it were that easy. Ashley Duncan

About the Author: Eric Reid

I am the Social Media Services Manager for Off Madison Ave. I've been with the company since 2006, when I was hired to do SEO, and link building in particular. When social networking sites started cropping up, at first I started using them to create backlinks - but they weren't the best for that, given all of the "nofollow" attributes. However, I did see the potential for all of the direct referral traffic they represent. Since then I've been actively pursuing both tactics for clients: Links that can help them for search, and social postings that get them involved in the conversation. It's about the coolest job you could ever get. ;)