Some time ago I began writing my posts from Flickr. It allows me to find an image that matches the emotion of my post, or to create some dialogue between the text and image. I always try to find some image that will create some tension between my writing and ideas and the visual story that is being told in the photograph.
Every now and again I come across a photo that stops me in my tracks. Often, I add them to my Flickr favourites thinking that I will come back to them, but never do. But this one was a little different. It was a picture that came with a story … actually it is a picture that came with a fully-fledged conversation … follow the link under the photo to see the unabridged tale.
What I liked about this was the title (which I have kept for this post) — "About Beauty (please read)". It is a gentle request that matches the emotion of the image, and immediately prepares you for a story that starts from the photograph but rolls out into a community conversation.
Marketers often work hard to find a correlation between image and message (and sometimes we win, and sometimes we don’t). But what we often forget is to ask for permission, or to invite our audiences into the creative tension we have created. We forget, though we shouldn’t, that our art is creating stories for many that need to resonate with our audiences one heart beat at a time.
S.
Gavin,
Incredibly touching… Breathless me.
I like the soft but yet so intense power between this photo and the text linked to it. As an advertising person I think for a fraction of a second (reflex-thinking, probably) : Dove campaign. Then, the next millisecond, as I start reading, I forget all about it and the message leads my eyes into a long loop (scrolling up and down) between text and image.
Then… about your message : “…art is creating stories for many that need to resonate with our audiences one heart beat at a time” – Wow! Yesss… definitely. And agree 200% with you: “… asking permission” is definitely a key now (2.0) more than ever!
What I see is intimacy, and with that trust. They cannot be faked; they need to be real. What created them? Probably the true vulnerability of the subject — food for thought: in business we prefer to deliver messages from a place of expertise and ‘almost’ perfection, leaving no room for our customers to be in the space with us…
What I love about these types of discussions is the number of different tangents that can be followed.
The whole beauty and women discussion is one of profound interest to me as the father of a 5 year old girl. I fear for her because our society puts such unreal expectations on beauty and I have known far too many women who have suffered from it. I worked in the fashion world at one time and saw the impact up close far too many times.
Then there is the whole “one heart beat at a time” thing… which is beautiful poetry Gavin… and it’s so real and true. We have to engage deeper and in a more meaningful way- or at least we should. With efforts of many of the fine folks I have met in this marketing world (current company included), I have great hope that we are working to change the face and soul of marketing.
Like the post. And thanks for the tip about blogging from Flickr – I didn’t know you could do it but have just tried it and its great! Hope the weather’s good in Sydney…
Too true, Tim … the representation of women in media (and advertising) is an explosive topic. I actually don’t think it is a question of beauty — but a question of what is considered desirable. On a simplistic level, it seems to me that beauty is something that touches the generosity of our souls — and is something that radiates from the Other. Desire, on the other hand, comes with a sense of claim (from me) over the Other.
Hmmm … may have to think more about that one — and I bet that would be an INTERESTING conversation.
You had me at:
“But what we often forget is to ask for permission, or to invite our audiences into the creative tension we have created. We forget, though we shouldn’t, that our art is creating stories for many that need to resonate with our audiences one heart beat at a time.”
I’m convinced you should write a book, Gav. This was/is an amazing post. To think with all you’re enduring that you’re communicating so articulately amazes me. One of your best.
Tell us more stories, please.