# Pushing Limits of Emotional Advertising When Are Ads Too Shocking? By lourdes sanchez bayas | Published 2008-03-25 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shockvertising-when-is-advertising-too-shocking References: [lunaticadesnuda.blogspot](http://lunaticadesnuda.blogspot.com/2008/03/shockvertising-when-is-advertising-too.html) & [darkroastedblend](http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/01/creative-ads-issue-9.html) When is shockvertising just too shocking? What sort of parameters, if any, should be delineated to mark the division between so-called cutting edge, out of the box advertising and just plain garbage with a very high [shocking value designed to call attention](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/try-more-weird) to a product by whatever means necessary? But then again, isn't that what advertising is all about? By whatever means necessary...? I just ask the questions. 1.Ad in Campaign Brief Magazine - The sometimes painful birth of ideas 2. Leather bomber jacket - An atom bomb mushroom cloud 3 & 4.Radio Station - Jazz is not for everyone 5. Energizer battery - Keeps going even after it has been beheaded ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 65% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Shockvertising:** Exploration of advertising strategies that push limits with the intention of evoking strong emotional reactions. - **Unconventional Branding:** Incorporation of nontraditional methods in advertising campaigns to grab attention and create a lasting impression. - **Radical Messaging:** Marketing messages that challenge social norms in order to provoke conversations and stand out in crowded markets. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Advertising:** The constant need for businesses to differentiate themselves creates an ongoing opportunity for advertising agencies to innovate in their approach. - **Fashion:** Clothing brands have room to push boundaries and explore nontraditional forms of branding to appeal to the younger demographic. - **Consumer Electronics:** Brands can leverage unconventional branding techniques to disrupt the crowded consumer electronics market, where differentiation can be difficult. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Creative Ad Responses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kiehls-response.md) - [Humorous Mens Fragrance Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/axe-campaign.md) - [Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pure-rush-soap.md) - [Intense Elemental-Inspired Sportswear Spots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/engineered-for-whatever-ad.md) - [Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/out-of-home-campaign.md) - [Sound-Focused Ice Cream Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnum-ice-cream-ads.md) - [Provocative Tequila Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/censored-truth.md) - [Ad Inspiration Archives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nobody-reads-ads.md) - [No-Nonsense Grooming Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rock-face-makes-scents-campaign.md)