Thomas Feiler

Advertising Will Save the World* (*results may vary)

This thesis focuses on methodologies and strategies used in advertising to bring comprehension to our understanding of the Anthropocene. ADVERTISING WILL SAVE THE WORLD* builds on Timothy Morton’s concern of lack of temporal and spatial recognition of “Hyperobjects” by focusing on photographs and videos of everyday household single-use plastic objects coupled with ubiquitous, albeit, “bent” advertising disclaimers. The thesis incorporates advertising directed narrative approach to messaging in pursuit of answering the growing call for artistic responses that can effectively break down the complexity of the current environmental crisis. Does the embracing of advertising seem counter-intuitive when seeking a solution to the growing amount of plastic in the world? ADVERTISING WILL SAVE THE WORLD* asks us to consider the possibilities while declaring that *results may vary.

 2019