Winston Cigarette Ad

This Flintstones advertisement for Winston cigarettes conveys the idea that smoking is cool, with absolutely no health precautions, disclaimers or warnings. We can see from the video the drastic changes that have occurred in both technology and attitudes since the time this commercial was aired in 1961.

The ad features Fred and Barney Flintstone enjoying a smoke while they lazily watch their wives hard at work. In attempt to sell their cigarette, Winston uses the cartoon to endorse smoking this particular brand. The characters claim the cigarette has the best taste (“the way a cigarette should be”), a pure filter, and comes from the finest selection and process of tobacco. The advertisers use a popular cartoon to promote their product and reach out to the television audience.

Today, a commercial such as this would raise much controversy and likely be banned from television. It could be argued that this particular commercial was targeting a young audience, since the Flinstones is a program typically viewed by children. In the sixties, this concept was not thought twice about – for one, we were not aware of the dangers of smoking, and secondly, programs aired on television were much more liberal. In some perspectives, we have come a long way since this time: obviously, we know the effects of cigarette smoking and ads such as this are banned. Children are not targeted (at least not up front), and it is mandatory that cigarette ads provide health warnings. Endorsement by such entities would provide a bad reputation, while in the time of this ad it was an effective way of sale. Still, we often come across ads or programs that give the idea that smoking is “cool.” While it may not be as direct as this ad, cigarette companies are still finding ways to promote their deadly product to audiences of every kind.

How I Go - Yellowcard (Big Fish)

Yellowcard’s “How I Go” was written about the movie “Big Fish” after its release in 2003. The hit film tells the story of a young man who feels his father’s life has always been a mystery; the elder (Edward) is known for his extensive tales about his adventures in life. The son, William, is determined to find out who his father really is, and as his dad is dying he begins to finally piece his life together. He asks his father’s help in revealing his true self, only to get the usual response that he has already told of his life through his stories.

In this video, the song is put to clips of the film to depict the story. Though the clip shows only a glimpse of the movie, we get a strong sense of the story through the words that go along with the clips shown. The song takes us through Edward’s adventures while his son attempts to sort fact from fiction. We see scenes from Edward’s experience with giants and circuses, and his endless quest to win over the girl he knows he is supposed to be with.

The line from the chorus of the song, “… this isn’t how I go” stems from Edward’s story of how he once looked into a witch’s glass eye and saw his death. This is another tale he tells his frustrated son; even on his deathbed he is “telling tales.” However, we can gather from the song the true moral behind the story: “Son, I am not everything you thought that I would be… but every story I have told is part of me.” Without watching the movie, we see the story through the combination of the song and clips. Edward may have elaborated his life to make it more interesting, but William soon learns that not all his father told was lies. The clip, and also the movie, ends with Edward’s funeral, where William sees characters from many of his father’s tales come to honor their friend.