Zwol.org

Ignorant Cretin · Forum Member Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 6

Why, why!

http://qpon.quiznos.com/landing_intro.html

If there's one thing worse than torture that Scott has linked to, it's torture that sells out.

Guest · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 11:55 am Post subject:

Whoah. Is www.rathergood.com doing commercials now...

DecafSilicon · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:49 am Post subject:

Yeah, it sucks when artists sacrifice art to the altar of money...

Like when they sell wallpapers...and comics...and books...

Seriously, I was mad at Rather Good until I realized they already had a gift shop. Then cognitive dissonance reared its ugly head (oh, my cognition is butt ugly, lemme tell you), and I decided that I was only ticked by the commercial for reasons I can't yet explain.

It feels like selling out, but I can't distinguish it from the sales an artist makes with t-shirts and bumper stickers. I read far too much Cat and Girl to say "sell-out" with a straight face. And I'm a writer, so I expect to get paid for what others provide for free -- commentary and stories. My work is far more derivative and money-driven than Rather Good -- or, for that matter, than Scott's work.

Know what'd be cool? Artist endorsements that the artist chooses. If someone like Scott has the power to sign on companies, rather than vice versa, it will mean more to me than if Acme Ink buys a banner on his site. I'm thinking along site-referral lines, clearly stated as paid referrals, but with more interaction than mere ads.

I know this is nothing new; just tying it in to Rather Good in the hopes that you'll only remember hearing this fantastic idea from me.

jturner · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:15 am Post subject:

I've ofen thought that it would be good to have paid ads/endorsements for products that I like on my site... I've just never tried to pursue it. Often this idea returns to me when I'm posting my drunk comics, when I specifically refer to brands that I was drinking at the time:

http://www.strongmanpress.com/drunk/miracle.html

Though I suspect any beer company worth their salt would not reallly want to associate themselves with my drunken ramblings.

In related subject matters, writer Jim Munroe mentioned many products by name in his novel Everyone in Silico, and then sent invoices to the companies. He posted some of the responses on his website, and it is kind of funny...

http://nomediakings.org/invoice.htm

Fett101 · Regular Poster Joined: 28 Apr 2002 Posts: 31 Location: TN

Surlyben · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:21 pm Post subject:

I don't really see what's wrong with selling out. If someone were to plunk down a pile of cash in order to use some of my art to sell a product, I'd say yes in a second. Even if they wanted to change it to better sell their product. The degree of change might alter my price, of course, as would the product being sold, and the art they wanted to use, and it's possible that I would want to charge more than they would want to pay (for example, if an evil cigarette company wanted to use a heavily modified version of one of my zine comics to sell tobacco to children, I expect my price would be out of their range), but I can't think of any good reason not to sell out.

I hate garfield because it is offensively bad, not because it sold out. (Presuambly part of the selling out involved making the strip a bland pile of suck, for which I hope Mr. Davis was fairly compensated.)
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fluffy · Guest

You may not realize this, but Joel Veitch has been using his insane kitten-flash for ads for MTV for a while.

On a similar note, Weebl (the guy who does Weebl and Bob) has been doing ads for various dairies and so on too.

And I'm totally fine with it.

nobody · Guest

You know the sell-out I hate the most? Michaelangelo. That bastard would pimp it out for ANYBODY. The church, the merchant aristocracy. Leonardo DaVinci? Patronage whore. It's sad, really.

Why can't artists just agree to starve while amusing us for free?

If you read the rathergood.com faqs he lists his corporate jobs. The idea that there is something wrong with this baffles me. Who cares?

Guest · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject:

I'm not totally bothered with them going commercial, either. I just have to ask...We Like Da Moon?

Ignorant Cretin · Forum Member Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 6

L Jonte · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:20 pm Post subject:

While I am thrilled for the folks at rathergood.com for hitting the big time, I have to say I loathe the commercial.

The eyes, the teeth... not appetizing.
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DecafSilicon · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:28 pm Post subject:

I wasn't clear before.

My gut reaction is disgust for the "sellout," but as soon as I think about it, I realize that I readily accept artists who sell their work. Then I must, to some degree, accept those who sell merchandise derived from that work. Then it's not a long leap to those who sell their popularity, their brand. They're just extending their lovemark.

Yeah. So I'm pro-commerce, and not the elitist git I sounded like in my earlier post.

I even disagree with Scott's interpretation of art in UC. But I know he's OK with people disagreeing.

Guest · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:24 pm Post subject:

This commercial is hillarious! Does anyone honestly think the artist should have made the spongmonkeys cute and cuddley? Of course they're gross looking; but look at the response the commercial has evoked.
Kudos for the artist...it's not selling out; it's called "making a living..."
and kudos to Quizno's for realizing a lesser known artistic talent in a national marketing campaign.

William G · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 3:01 pm Post subject:

I've thought about what I would say to some company that wanted to give me money for my art, then I realized that my reply would be:

"How much? That much?! Yes."
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Josh · Guest

The commercial from Quizno's with the singing MONKEYS (thats what they are) is probably the greatest commercial ever made. It draws peoples attention and its randomness sets it above all other ads. Any one who cannot see its imagination most likely doesn't have a very large one themselves.

-Josh

Guest · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:10 pm Post subject:

Absolutely classic.

IronSpike · Regular Poster Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Posts: 27

Horrifying.

But in a good way.
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Tim Mallos · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:25 pm Post subject:

I think they are, technically, SPONGE monkeys.

Tim
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john burke · Guest

it's not that you "sellout" or make it by getting a high paying corporate gig it's who you decide to get in bed with. Joel V. just made a bad decision in choosing Quizno's.
you can make money with talent and help not facilitate more enviornment damage and poor eating habits.

bad on you Joel. shame.

Dae · Guest

The SpongeMonkeys rock!! I think this is their best commercial yet.
Josh is right-'anyone who can't see it's imagination probably hasn't got one themselves' [/quote]

Tim Mallos · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:47 pm Post subject:

You call it selling out, I call it buying in. Let's call the whole thing off.

Charities and philanthropic organizations don't need sponge monkeys to convince people to buy something. "Environmentally damaging" companies do.

What if Joel V. used his proceeds to buy a car that ran on sunshine and happiness, would you forgive him?

Tim
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Rip Tanion · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 5:16 pm Post subject:

I finally saw that Quiznos ad on the tube. Boy, is that annoying.

As for selling out, I didn't realize "We Like The Moon" was such a revered piece of art in the first place. I don't blame the guy for cashing in while he can. A man's gotta eat.

Of course, I never ate Quizno before, and this new commercial isn't making my mouth water for a franchise sub. Personally, I could probably go to the supermarket, and make myself a much better sandwich. Then again, I've never been a fan of franchise food to begin with.
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Ben Sutter · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 2:23 pm Post subject:

If you are offered money to sell something that you have worked on, eouldn't you sell it? To think that by not selling something that wants to be bought is "noble" or "the right thing to do" is dumb. Ideals are ideals, but in this world where everything costs *money*, I see nothing wrong with selling anything.

And I've still never used e-bay.
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Rip Tanion · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:26 pm Post subject:

Hey, I wouldn't begrudge Scott if he licenced out his Improv characters for commercial endorsments.

Brimley the Walrus could sell frozen fish-sticks.

The denizens of Monkey Town could peddle bananas.

The Bucket Kittens could shill cat food.

Uninformed Bob could be used as an example of why you should go out, and buy your kids a set of encyclopedias.

The money-making opportunities are endless.
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