Sony Bombs the Subway

With our tiny attention span, we lost interest in the Sony Graffiti story after about a week-- but the news just keeps rolling on! Last week, Graffiti-hating councilman Vallone announced his intention to fine Sony for their fony outdoor graffiti advertising, and this week, tons of people started spotting the fony characters in subway stations. Janelle even spotted a few hung upside-down; we couldn't figure out if that was done on-purpose or not-- you know, because all the kids find upside-down fake-graffiti so much more authentic than right-side-up fake graffiti. Is this the end of the story? We can only pray!

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By Jake Dobkin in News on January 16, 2006 11:41 AM

Comments [rss]

the constitution's ghost

Has anyone here ever heard of the First Amendment? I personally think the Sony ads are lame, but how could an ad with no obvious profane content be illegal in this country? Have we all gone mad?

The Mad Capitalist

If you haven't noticed already in these comments, capitalization is a lost art.

tien

the ones in the subway are actually ads like every other ad in the system. i assume paid for and put up by mta employees. they weren't spraypainted into the space.

Brightliner

Okay, as much as I applauded Vallone's anti-graffiti campaign, this is going over the line. Either people know it's fake graffiti or they don't. If they know it's fake, then they're not going to get any ideas about how "kewl" it is. If they think it's genuine, then Sony's ad campaign fails because only a few hipsters pay attention to graffiti. Everybody else knows it's only done by people who are desperate for attention and can't sell their "work" and "skillz."

And yes, Sony did pay for every spot their ads appeared on. Vallone's going to be laughed out of court on this one.

causeIam

Ritalin, look into it.

Matt

How do you know they didn't pay for that space in the subway?

janelle

tien is the new jake! ;)

Frankybonz

It's one thing calling Sony "Fony" it's another when you're trying to use the actual word. Last I checked, if it's a name, you CAPITALIZE IT! At least put it in quotes or italics.

Like I said; copy editor. Look into it!

tien

yes, here are lots more fony pictures. i wonder how sooo many people tagged the photos fony, isn't it.

diabolix

Talk about lame adverts, not even as interesting as some of the worst graffiti in the tunnels. I'd say fine Sony for that reason alone but I agree with Toby, if they paid for the space, meet the guidelines (no nudity, profanity, etc.) then they shouldn't get fined no matter what the message is or the style.