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Top 50 Shockvertisements

Controversial Ads

— March 25, 2008 — Marketing
Creating an emotional connection is crucial to effective marketing campaigns. One common technique is to arouse the feeling of shock.

Some of these ad campaigns really push the limits of what could be considered an effective visual. They include print ads, TV spots, online virals and guerrilla marketing campaigns. Many are disturbing, and most are controversial.

Regardless of one's own interpretation, these ads do what they're meant to do: they evoke emotion in order to create buzz. They get people talking. The ads circulate and the brand name is mentioned repeatedly and awareness is brought to the company. Whether you agree with the term or not, these advertising campaigns rest on the saying that "all publicity is good publicity."

If it's the sexier ads you're after specifically, check out the Top 69 Naughty Ads!

From sex and everything else that shocks, look at these trends...
6.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
48
Celebrity Banter
Celebrity Banter
Jimmy Kimmel is F--king Ben Affleck
<
47
Shock Factor Used To Boost Ratings
Shock Factor Used To Boost Ratings
Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston Kiss!
<
46
Best Rejected Advertising: Book & Website
Best Rejected Advertising: Book & Website
<
45
Controversial TV Campaign
Controversial TV Campaign
George Bush is American Psycho
<
44
Dirty Laundry Wines
Dirty Laundry Wines
The Rise of Shock Labels
<
43
Shock Advertising?  That's not a surprise for Virgin Mobile.
Shock Advertising? That's not a surprise for Virgin Mobile.
<
42
Shock Advertising
Shock Advertising
Elisha Cuthbert Depicted In Gratuitous 'Captivity' Billboards
<
41
Political Shockvertising
Political Shockvertising
"Hillary Obama" to Promote University
<
40
Flap Art
Flap Art
Alternative Book Covers That Shock
<
39
Severed Arm Holds DVD
Severed Arm Holds DVD
Guerrilla Marketing for Death Proof
<
38
Gorilla Snot Hair Gel
Gorilla Snot Hair Gel
<
37
Agent Provocateur's Guantánamo Bay Protest
Agent Provocateur's Guantánamo Bay Protest
'Fair Trial My Arse' Panties
<
36
Political Tape Ad
Political Tape Ad
Silencing Bush, Chávez, Sócrates & Berlusconi
<
35
Raunchy Wrapping Paper
Raunchy Wrapping Paper
Now Available for Men and Women
<
34
Eastern European Shockvertising
Eastern European Shockvertising
APFR Battered Women Ads
<
33
Controversially Viral
Controversially Viral
Virgin's Naughty Campaign
<
32
Shockvertising with Bite
Shockvertising with Bite
Stella Espresso Coffee
<
31
Kenneth Cole Uses AIDS to Sell Fashion
Kenneth Cole Uses AIDS to Sell Fashion
<
30
Funny Feminine Hygiene Ads
Funny Feminine Hygiene Ads
Tampax Swimming Pool
<
29
Celebrity Shock Virals
Celebrity Shock Virals
Sarah Silverman is F--king Matt Damon
<
28
Mutant Veggie Ad
Mutant Veggie Ad
Green Peace Uses Shock Factor
<
27
Shocking Cigarette Labels
Shocking Cigarette Labels
UK Follows Canada With Graphic Attempt to Discourage Smoking
<
26
Crap-vertising for Shock Movies
Crap-vertising for Shock Movies
Canadian Men in Diapers
<
25
Public Urination as Advertising
Public Urination as Advertising
Saatchi & Saatchi Use Mannequin for Privy Council Campaign
<
24
Bloodvertising
Bloodvertising
Red Cross Ad For Blood Donation
<
23
Gruesome Shockvertising
Gruesome Shockvertising
Sony PSP Retry Ad
<
22
Assvertise / Assvertising
Assvertise / Assvertising
Exactly What You Think: Everything is a Billboard
<
21
3D Activism Ad
3D Activism Ad
Graphic Anti-Whaling Campaign
<
20
Shockvertising
Shockvertising
Does It Work? Jury Still Out
<
19
Hershey's Cocaine Packaging
Hershey's Cocaine Packaging
Ice Breakers Pacs
<
18
Violent Advertising
Violent Advertising
Amnesty International Furious at Dolce & Gabbana Ad
<
17
Playful Guerrilla Ads
Playful Guerrilla Ads
Sexy Camera in Public Bathrooms
<
16
Difficult Advertising & Branding
Difficult Advertising & Branding
Olla Condoms
<
15
Self Defense Public Awareness Ads
Self Defense Public Awareness Ads
Pepper Spray
<
14
Hot Girls Dress & Act Like Guys (UPDATE)
Hot Girls Dress & Act Like Guys (UPDATE)
New JBS Mens Underwear Ads
<
13
Shockvertising
Shockvertising
PETA Slaughters Humans
<
12
Shock Advertising
Shock Advertising
Pedestrian Safety Ad in Brazil
<
11
Controversial Support Bra Ad
Controversial Support Bra Ad
Running Free
<
10
Strip and Switch
Strip and Switch
PETA Video Uses Stripping to Get You to See Animal Abuse
<
9
Naked Hairy Shock Advertising
Naked Hairy Shock Advertising
Burt Reynolds Strips Down for DirecTV
<
8
Dolce & Gabbana Gets Overly Sexual in New Controversial Ads
Dolce & Gabbana Gets Overly Sexual in New Controversial Ads
<
7
Youth Shockvertising
Youth Shockvertising
Statutory Rape Awareness Ad
<
6
Toyota Prius Campaign
Toyota Prius Campaign
Prostitute, Lover, Killer
<
5
Youth Shockvertising II
Youth Shockvertising II
CONCEPT 'Don't Lose Control' Child Abuse Ad
<
4
Tom Ford's Racy New Ad
Tom Ford's Racy New Ad
Controversial Cologne Campaign
<
3
About Face Website
About Face Website
Fighting Against Distorted Images of Women in the Media
<
2
Racy Product Placement
Racy Product Placement
Do Tom Ford's Vaginads Cross the Line?
<
1
Biomimicmarketing in Shockvertisement
Biomimicmarketing in Shockvertisement
French AIDS Campaign
<