Censorship is one of the things I hate most, and the most dangerous kind of censorship is the sly and subtle kind that creeps in without making a fuss or grand entrance. It's the little measures and twisted, undercover ways which go unnoticed and undisputed that abuse people's rights. That's why I am loving these prints that were recently used by the Brazilian Association of Press as a celebration of the World Press Freedom Day on 3rd of May.
While we have seen an abundance of shocking and disturbing campaigns to promote social awareness and good causes, these prints go for a more subtle and artistic direction to illustrate the stealth of censorship. The two ads show a seemingly normal, beautiful girl and guy that would fit right in a photo shoot. The trick, however, is that his eyes are covered with a blindfold while she is silenced with a wrap around her mouth. The censoring blindfold and wrap have the eyes and mouth drawn on them as to give the illusion that all is fine and dandy:
The accompanying message of the prints is, “The censorship never gives up. It always returns disguised.â€
Masking Censorship
World Press Freedom Ads
Trend Themes
1. Subtle Activism - Opportunity for subtle and artistic direction to convey important issues to audiences
2. Visual Metaphors - Opportunity to use visual metaphors to address complex social problems
3. Advocacy Advertising - Opportunity to use advertising as a tool for advocacy and social change
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Opportunity for advertising agencies to create impactful campaigns that advocate on important issues
2. Media - Opportunity for media organizations to highlight the importance of press freedom and to raise awareness about censorship
3. Art and Design - Opportunity for artists and designers to create impactful visual metaphors that convey important social issues and changes