Why PSA's?

Ive been examining my fascination with Public Service Announcements and why I was drawn to make my own (even when so many others already exist).

For one, Public Service Announcements (with the exception of Laurie Anderson's) seem so ineffective in their approach and results. Slogans like "Im not a chicken, your a turkey!", "This is your brain on drugs", and "I learned it from watching you dad!" have become the butt of jokes rather than bolstering mantras for the ill-fated youth and his/her peers. Whether Pee-wee Herman, Smokey the Bear, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He Man, or any other iconic figure of my time, there is something about PSA commercials which makes you feel like turning the whole thing in on itself in a display of youthful revolt--chuckling under your breath the whole time at the absurdity of it all.

Lets face it, when my fellow friends and students in high school donned on their D.A.R.E. shirts and shoe laces after the D.A.R.E. rally , they had'nt exactly "bought in" to the message, but where mocking, sticking their tongue out, proclaiming that their own created world and culture had yet to be penetrated by the outside adult world.

It was folly. They failed in their delivery of values (although admittedly good ones--forest fires, crack, and bullying should be avoided). They failed in a comical way, a way almost as absurd as someone wearing Groucho Marx glasses with accompanying mustache in order to slide all "stealth" through the crowd.

And maybe it really is all in delivery. Im reminded of the story of the two monkeys who wanted bananas from the same tree. In order to resolve the argument, they decided to cut the tree and each take half to their respected homes. Of course, as we all know, the monkey with the top half of the tree enjoyed his fruit for a few weeks until it all rotted and withered away, while the second monkey planted his half with the roots down in good soil, producing a healthy banana tree which bore fruit for many years thereafter.

Its instant gratification verses long lasting, deep rooted change...

...which, frankly, drew me in to making Public Service Announcements based on philosophic and spiritual axioms. Good philosophy and spirituality does exactly that--it digs deep within a person's fiber and root/value system, exposing any rotting tendrils, pruning them, watering them, and tilling the surrounding soil. The effects may not be instant, but over time (and with steady attention), the results become visible and self-sustaining.

So maybe I really am trying to do and say the same things as all the other PSA's and D.A.R.E. programs--only Id like to think I invited myself in for dinner and conversation, as opposed breaking and entering with a "to do" list.









(PS. for all you facebook friends who get the feed from this blog, the embedded videos wont appear on the page for you. Here are the URL's . Enjoy.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0YeZDvcMFI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FAiULKymCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhqJf-g5hA4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RNwdCdY7iE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhpafrU-0-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glePYKhXDyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teukbNm5hWs