Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA02338 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 4 Sep 2001 13:32:39 +0100 From: "Lawrence DeBivort" <debivort@umd5.umd.edu> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Words From Our Sponsor: A Jeweler Commissions a Novel Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 06:31:22 -0400 Message-ID: <NEBBKOADILIOKGDJLPMAOEONCFAA.debivort@umd5.umd.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2919.6600 Importance: Normal In-reply-to: <20010904115422.AAA26469@camailp.harvard.edu@[205.240.180.52]> Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
No such thing as a free lunch...true, I regretfully suppose. Is it not
important to know who is selling it? Was the Bulgari sponsorship disclosed
in the book, or was it meant by the author and publisher to remain secret?
If there is adequate disclosure, I suppose the ethical issue is largely
addressed, but if not the deception deserves condemnation. Murdoch -- ugh.
I do like your suggestion, Wade, that product association with nasty
characters might backfire. I consciously boycott some products based on
their objectionable presentation in commercials/ads.
The most egregious example of product placement that I can think of off-hand
is FedEx and the movie Cast Away. Apple seems to be limiting their
placement of Mac laptops to the 'smart guy' in movies.
- Lawrence
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk [mailto:fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk]On Behalf Of
> Wade T.Smith
> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 7:54 AM
> To: Memetics Discussion List
> Subject: RE: Words From Our Sponsor: A Jeweler Commissions a Novel
>
>
> Hi Vincent Campbell -
>
> >> "It is like the billboarding of the novel," said Letty Cottin Pogrebin,
> >> president of the Authors Guild. "I feel as if it erodes reader
> confidence
> >> in the authenticity of the narrative. It adds to the cynicism.
>
> >> Does this character really drive a Ford or did Ford pay for this?"
>
> Back in my James Bond reading days (and smoking days), I was very happy
> to think I might one day get to Morlands and order myself a custom blend
> of cigarettes. Or drive a Bentley.
>
> But, yeah, those were things the character used, and, in more than a few
> ways, it was one of the definitions of that character.
>
> The FBI TV show, a Quinn Martin Production, was sponsored by Ford (I
> think), and that meant, literally, that the _only_ brand of cars you ever
> saw were Ford models. It made for a strange dislocation, not seeing a
> Chevy, or a Chrysler, or anything else, anywhere.
>
> It may have been Breakfast at Tiffany's, but there ain't no such thing as
> a free lunch.
>
> - Wade
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