Be informed

My blog used to be dominated by the Germans’ willingness to advertise products that are deadly, when most other countries had banned the advertising of cigarettes. But for many years I photographed what I saw on the streets and wrote a short derogatory commentary on the stupidity. There were many campaigns for all the major brands. One of my favourites was Gauloises’ Vivre le Moment (examples left and below right). You simply had to because the product will kill you. Take the moment, for sure.

Fewer readers come to my blog since the ending of cigarette advertising. I have not found a replacement topic that so attracts (admittedly I have not been trying too hard). But my recording of billboards was only for a short time. The history of these images and the campaigns behind them goes back much further. Every now-and-again someone puts together a portfolio of historical images that are compelling. And so it was yesterday in the Guardian newspaper under the heading: Shock of the old: 11 vintage, vaginal and downright dangerous cigarette ads.

Incidentally, the Germans still do things that are not allowed in other countries. The most shocking remains driving down the motorway at absurd speeds in cars that should not be on public roads.