Patrick Burgoyne

Editor - Creative Review

Patrick was in again on monday and what he got us involved with carried on form the 'think of me as evil' publication and also linked in with Tara's talk in the sense that ethics and your own personal stand point on the ethics of design were touched on. Once separated into groups of (roughly) six we were given a point to argue for or against. Our group was given the question 'Is advertising a force for evil?', and we were given the initially unenviable task of arguing that is was in fact a force for good. However my favourable attitude towards the contrasting argument turned out to be miss placed, this was undoubtably a cause of a lack of thought towards my point of view on the matter.

Starting to look into the matter we came up with several reason why advertising my be conceived as a force for good.

1. Advertising forces an element of competition to develop between companies.
2. It pushes creativity
3. It informs the viewer of the choice they have, it doesn't tell them to do anything.
4. It contributes hugely to economic growth.
5. Advertising subsidises a variety of media. tv, magazines, radio. Also public services, tube, buses etc.

It all came down the the crux of the matter which was whether we trust our own ability to make our own decisions, or do we need the state to make them for us. My view is that we as people should put more trust into our ability to not be influenced by people that are trying to do just that.

Patrick asked a final question at the end of the talk which was 'would anyone avoid working in an advertising agency due to there moral standpoint?'. I found myself saying no to this question, and I wondered that if that was because of the attitude I had developed towards the question we had been given, or that because of during my up bringing and great emphasis has been put on money and that I should not limit the amount of opportunities  I have for making a living.